Work was full of wackiness. A bit more than usual, which can be equated to almost far too much. But all of us got a bit done and it was just another day at work with good company.

When I come home from these night shifts I sometimes get the day’s mail. Sometimes I’ll procrastinate until the next day. Maybe it was the hope that I actually would get something.

I parked at the designated lot and walked to the mailboxes. Sifted through the mail and what do you know… something from my Board of Education supervisor. From Kitakyushu. I literally smiled at it for a few seconds, out in the cold.

After throwing my shoes to the side, near the front door, I opened up the envelope. A Christmas card. “Various Japanese Foods” - I could actually discern the Japanese still.

How subtle a task this might of been for her, to mail this card out to me. Not someone necessarily close to me, but someone who just brought themselves in touch by way of a simple message; a message that didn’t go by way of e-mail, but by a tangible piece of paper. It may sound awkward, but I am moved by this.

Merry Christmas.