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Five Years Old

"Today is my birthdaaaaaay!"

Osamu stood at the top of the steps leading down to the street in front of our house and called out his announcement to the entire neighborhood, like a town crier. More than a few times.

This came just minutes after Eri and I recommended to him to keep the birthday talk cool and maybe even on the down low. He literally took the advice and crumpled it up and tossed it in the trash and ran outside.

He also made sure to follow up with all passersby to make sure that they knew that this was indeed the big day that he is turning five.


Eri prepped the present. I'm not a fan of the genre, but I'm pretty sure my folks felt the same way about my birthday present requests when I was little.


The important thing to me is that he recognizes that being a good boy and reaching milestones will lead to rewards.


Later on we can talk about the bigger picture, like how doing the right thing and working hard usually only gets you intrinsic rewards. 


Eri made a dinner worthy of being called a full-on birthday party. As a non-cake-appreciating person I gotta say, the cake mama picked up was pretty good.










Happy Birthday Mu. Five years ago this morning mama announced it was time and I promptly announced I had to make coffee first, and then we left for the hospital and I forgot my wallet and had to go back.

Eri is going to tell that story in increasingly excruciating detail every year.


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