Viajero...blogging Ricks Journey: March 2022

At the 'Queen Mary' 1983

His smile was larger than life as we ventured through this most magical place. Our journey lead us from adventure, to fantasy and even into the future. Yet more than the magic, more than the journey ~ what became most spectacular, was nothing more than a mouse. Well, perhaps not just any mouse. No, this particular mouse goes by the name of ‘Mickey’.

More than fifty years ago ~ when Hiroshi Imaizumi and I first met. Since 1971 he has been known as Uncle ‘Mickey’. My father and Mickey would begin a partnership, no actually a brotherhood, that continued until my father's death in 2010. And his new name ~ given by yours truly ~ was after that visit to Disneyland, and his love of ‘Mickey Mouse’, so the name stuck. In such a way, that through his world travels over the past fifty years, no one calls him Hiroshi. Ha!

Mickey & Dad ... circa 1990

Those early years provided many memorable experiences with Uncle Mickey. But none greater than the infamous ‘Dune Buggy’ ride. I had become good friends with Shotoshi Takahasi, a foreign exchange student from Yokohoma, Japan, who was a fellow ballplayer, neighbor & best friend. Shos, as we would call him, had been in the States for six months when Mickey arrived for a two week stay. My father, by the same name, Rick and I had built a four seat dune buggy just the year prior. With a 2100cc VW engine, back seats that sat six inches above those in front and buggy reign brakes (for turning on a dime), this buggy remains as one of my most favorite memories.

It was a gorgeous Spring afternoon as the California sun glowed upon the Santa Clarita dry riverbed. Mickey & Shos sat in the back seats. Rounding corners and topping hills while completing 180 & 270 degree spins, made for nothing more than pure joy! And then came ~ ‘the spot ‘. Dad slowed ... glanced toward me and we both nodded. Ahead ~ a lone puddle, that appeared inches in depth. First, then second and third gears provided more than sufficient speed enroute to the puddle. As the front, then the rear tires hit ~ a wave of water, no, of mud lifted above the buggy and landed perfectly upon our unbeknownst passengers. Dad with excellent precision grasped the left buggy reign as we spun a perfect 180 degrees to a stop. What seemed like seconds of silence, the two passengers, with almost choreographed synchronization ... lifted their arms toward the sky and shouted ~~ AGAIN!

Mickey, Kuni & I ... Tokyo 07'

“Well done sir!”, the announcer proclaimed as Kunitaka crossed the finish at the 2019 Portland Marathon. His second place finish with a time of 2 hours and 46 minutes was more than sufficient for qualification to the famous Boston Marathon. Kuni (as he prefers to be called) and I ironically first met in Japan in 2007 at the Tokyo Marathon. I was in Tokyo for a weeks visit after a return from a training operation in Sri Lanka. Uncle Mickey took the two of us on a tour of his lovely city.

Autzen Stadium ~ Fall 2019

The 2019 Portland Marathon, my first ~ Ha! ... as I rode my bicycle around the city capturing video of Kuni and his run to his second place finish. It was our fifth of six meets while he attended the University of Oregon for nine months that year. A July visit even included his parents, Mickey & Kyoung Mee who traveled from Japan for a brief visit. Together we enjoyed Silver Falls State Park and also lovely afternoon baseball game watching the Salem Volcanoes.

Rick & Kuni ~ Go 'Red Sox'! Oct 2021

And now, months have past since Kuni ran with the top 3% in the 125^th running of the Boston Marathon. We enjoyed great lodging in Natick with my nephew Daniel, along with morning breakfast at 'The Bagel Table'. A beautiful ride out to the Atlantic coast. And let us not forget the 'baseball marathon'. Yes, the night before his race we had the privilege to enjoy great seats in the Major Leagues oldest stadium, Fenway Park, where the Red Sox were victorious in thirteen innings. Oh baby!

Kuni's Finish in Boston

How life so quickly changes. After Kuni’s return to Japan in late 2019, I began making tentative plans for a trip to Japan in the Fall of 2021. Then in early 2021 Uncle Mickey would have a stroke and later even diagnosed with cancer. Unbeknownst at that time that I would still have a Fall 2021 connection with the Imaizumi family. Only not in Japan, but rather Boston, USA.

Then came the news toward the end of January 2022, Uncle Mickey had died. Blessed ~~ I’ve been to have had him as part of my life’s journey. Blessed that Kuni made the University of Oregon his school of choice in 2019.

Not sure if their sons will have another twenty-five years in order to match the forty of which our fathers so enjoyed. What I do know ~ an ocean was never able to diminish their friendship. Not then, and not now.