Seasonal Serenity: My pen pal Rob

In 2023, a year filled with an overdose of unfortunate events and bad news in the world, I'd like to share a partial antidote through a heartwarming personal story. Let me take you back two decades when I worked as a contract employee in a government office in Hiroshima, handling inbound phone calls from English-speaking foreigners. Despite the language and cultural barriers, these calls often led to fascinating and unexpected conversations.

One such encounter was with Rob A., a retired gentleman from California deeply passionate about Japanese culture and peace promotion. Although Rob is a pseudonym, the events recounted here are entirely true. Our first telephone conversation was spurred by his inquiry about his city's peace promotion delegation visit to Hiroshima which also revealed Rob's captivating storytelling and genuine interest in diverse subjects.

As a retired businessman with a rich background in multinational companies and stints in Latin America and Asia, as well as membership in the Adventurers’ Club, Rob had a remarkable ability to share his life experience. Our first call, lasting about two hours, ignited my interest in his fervent opinions on life, peace, and squeezing the most out of life.

After that first chat, our sporadic correspondence through email led to exchanges of opinion, occasional disagreements, and an evolving pen pal friendship. Despite having no direct connection to my work or personal life, Rob offered insightful comments based on whatever I’d been writing about in the Rising Daughters blog or about international affairs in emails, and he expressed genuine interest in my family's endeavors.

A few years passed and our exchanges touched on various aspects of life — from his overseas work experiences to my adventures in new fatherhood. Rob, an unrepentant Baby Boomer, occasionally hinted at feeling too old to travel outside the U.S. At one point, he shared plans for what he considered his "last trip" to Japan. Seizing the opportunity, I offered to take him on a personalized tour of Hiroshima, an offer he accepted.

Our virtual friendship came to life during his visit. Meeting Rob face-to-face felt surprisingly familiar, like reuniting with an old friend. The photo above captures a moment at one of my favorite viewpoints of Miyajima, overlooking the Seto Inland Sea. It was a fine day, and I knew he genuinely appreciated the hospitality and the view.

I hope Rob reads this. (As far as I know, he is still alive.) He is a good human being with a thirst for life that is infectious. When I was considering how to bring a bit of holiday cheer to this blog, I thought that an account of this pen pal exchange across time zones and generations would be fun. I suppose the recipe of folksy advice and common interests were what left me smiling whenever I read one of his pointed questions or while crafting my responses to him. It was a kind of gift of knowledge and experience. It is a nice memory for me and reflects the spirit of Christmas in many ways.

Keep on keepin’ on, Rob!