I visited her on Christmas a year before Gil and I got married.
I could not speak much English then and I was also nervous, but mom made a great lemony fish dish at the dinner and we drank two bottles of wine together! I started telling many jokes and we laugh, danced and cried together and had a wonderful night!
At the wedding, I told her "Thank you for accepting me" because I am a Japanese and she said "Don't say that! Gil decided to marry you and so you are my daughter! " She always love everyone no matter what.
I called her every weekend from Okinawa and talked about many things.
When we had hard days, she always gave me comforts and told me to be positive and smile and things will get better.
She gave me lots of tips to take care of my mini garden since she had a wonderful green thumb!
When I visited her every Christmas, I sat next her on her bed and she told me many stories and I learned to always love my life and help people.
She is my angel and I always love you.
Your Hija, Yoko