Since coming to Japan, I have learned MORE and MORE about the verse in the Bible about not throwing pearls to pigs! Unfortunately, I realized I am the PIG!
When Jun was just born, some students asked what she needed. Well, I really wanted her to have a winter jacket. I know NOW!!! Babies really DON'T need winter jackets, but how was I to know THAT when I'd never clothed a baby before?!?!?! My students, who are all veteran mothers/grandmothers, bought a pretty pink coat for Jun but it was way to big for her to wear the first winter. So, I took it back to the store to exchange it. That's when I found out it was a brand name coat...for a tiny tiny baby...and it cost the equivalent of $180.00 I fell over on my face and got a smaller size so, she barely wore it before she grew out of it and I passed it on to a new friend who had a baby girl. She doesn't look like a PIG, so she will probably appreciate it! LOL!
I have been given pottery, handkerchiefs, furoshikis, kimono stuff and food and bags and...and if I like them I keep them, if not, I pass them on to the recycle shop or to others. Never knowing if they are expensive or brand name gifts!
My most recent PIG and PEARL story happened yesterday - Saturday. Jun and I were on our way to meet Daddy at the In-laws. I was pretty exhausted after making a side-trip to CAJ's thrift store bazaar to get some BOOKS, so stopped off at McDonald's for a cup of coffee. I was told to pick up something for Jun for lunch, so thought I'd get her a hamburger and fries and feed her before we got to the in-laws - as she NEVER eats anything there. Well, she barely touched the fries and the hamburger was a no-thank you.
So, knowing FULL WELL there was an expensive tray of sushi waiting for me for lunch, and that my stomach capacity is NOT BIG, I quite contentedly and slightly guiltily sat and finished off Jun's cheap-o hamburger (the cheapest EIEIO sells!) and fries.
Yes, I am certainly a PIG - please keep your PEARLS to yourself!
2 comments:
Glad you were able to make it over to CAJ for your books. You had better weather than we did yesterday! Your story about the coat made me chuckle. I so did not get why Japanese people always give clothes that the baby can't wear until a year or more after birth at first. I have really come to appreciate that custom, though. Since I always got the newborn stuff (cute but quickly outgrown!) from American relatives and friends I had the best of both worlds!
Sue: Yes! I am always amazed that they can guestimate what size she will wear when. Before I thought to look at the chart in her mother/child book to see what size she MIGHT be in so many months, I was ALWAYS buying the wrong size for the wrong seasons!
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