In June, my husband and I celebrated the 20th anniversary of our first date in Japan. A long time ago, he asked me to spend time together for his 28th birthday.
First, we went out as friends. I drove my car and picked him up. We talked about our families and favorite foods. In a few months, I was planning to study in Spain. By coincidence, he had studied in Spain exactly one year ago, and his great-grandfather was an immigrant from the Canary Islands to Cuba.
After he returned to America, I went to see him. We lived together for several months. We grew up in different countries, but we had similar backgrounds. He worked as an engineer while attending graduate school. I was 22 years old and had some savings. We were mature and felt comfortable with each other.
Before leaving Japan, I told my mom a lie that I would be back in 3 days. After arriving in Florida, I told her about my boyfriend. She hung up the phone immediately. My boyfriend quit his job and came to Japan with me as an apology.
When we arrived at my parents’ house, my grandfather was there. He took us to a restaurant, and we talked a little. My grandfather looked at my boyfriend and smiled. Then he politely said to my boyfriend, “Please stay with my granddaughter forever.”
My boyfriend agreed. My grandfather had always worried about me. I loved and respected him. I wanted to introduce my future husband to him as soon as possible.
After graduation, I became an office worker. And two years after the marriage proposal, I married him in America. I invited my grandfather to the wedding, but he already had terminal cancer. My mom didn’t approve of our marriage, so only my dad attended our wedding. The following year, my grandfather passed away.
My husband remembered the place where we had our first date. We visited with our kids there.
The same Ferris wheel
- 2005
- 2025
Nagoya Port / CRUISE PORT GUIDE OF JAPAN
He was a good street performer. 😊
<true story>
Photos by LILI
2 responses to “Port of Nagoya 名古屋港”
@Lili – Nice long story short.
Grand parents are so much influential people in our life. Thank you for your story.
Say out hai to your family.
Thank you. 💐 I visited my grandparents grave in June. I felt that 20 years was short.