"Family, Friends, and the Spirit of Christmas (Part One)"

12/25/01 1:58am To begin this entry, I would like to thank everyone who has wished me a Merry Christmas over the past few days. For me, Christmas has always been a lonely time. The only Onishi`s I know of that reside in the states are currently under one roof. When holiday rolls around, I am often deprived of a `big family` type atmosphere, what with all my relatives living in Japan. Therefore, hearing from my friends that I`ve made over the years really helps to bring my Christmas spirit up. And believe me, I sure could use the boost this year...
Unless you are one of my closest friends, you probably do not realize the importance that family has on me. I have nothing but respect for my parents, and I owe every bit of my happiness to them. My father, who many of my friends think is half white, has been a successful business man throughout most of my life. He`d moved often because of the job, but when I was already settled in Houston during my middle school years, he opted to go work in Japan by himself - away from his children, his wife, his home in Texas... A few years later, he chose a lower paying job to come back to the states, this time relocating to L.A. I was still attending highschool in Houston, but being on the same continent was definitely a step up. His constant sacrifices has always ensured our family financial stability, and I had never taken that for granted - I am a lucky, spoiled, little brat. My father is currently retired, enjoying a peaceful life back in Houston.
My mother has always been thetypical house-wife/mother. My mother is the most caring and thoughtful person I know, and I am proud to say that I`ve adopted many of her finer qualities. She always knows what`s going on in my head, and is always there for me in my time of need. Under the constant supervision of my highly intelligent sister, I can honestly say that I`ve grown up in a wonderful family atmosphere.
Yet, this year might not be the jolly Christmas season that I had hoped for. My parents often get into arguments, and god knows it is the hardest on the children. My parents are currently going through some kind of conflict that I am not fully aware of, but it has definitely gotten my Christmas spirit down. I had originally asked Santa to bring me an X-Box this Christmas. Now, all I want to see are the smiling faces on both of my parents again. But rather then getting lost in disparity, I`ve decided to salvage this Christmas by focusing on the other finer aspects of my life.