CONNECTIONS - COINCIDENCES - STORIES - LIFE'S TREASURES
2026-06-11
JUNE 10, 2026 = AN “8 DAY”
A NUMBER OF POWER & KARMA
Today was lunch at Sushi Joa on Mercer Island with Elaine, Darrell & Zen Kitamura. This occasion involves “karma” with the first meeting at the Seattle Public Library, two weeks ago where my daughter, Kelly, was a speaker for AANHPI (Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders) in the United States conference.
As Elaine was passing in front of me at the lunch break she stopped and asked, “Are you Kelly’s mother? I’m Elaine Kitamura.”
I recognized the name as she confirmed that they were the family that ran the Kokusai theater until the 1980s, and I mentioned, “I knew your mother from Ontario, Oregon, where I grew up and have been trying to connect with her.”
Elaine started to cry and pulled out some kleenex, “Everyone knows my dad, but you are the first person I’ve met that knew my mom. She was quiet and never talked about herself. I want to bring my brothers and hear some stories about her.”
Today, Elaine brought her two younger brothers and I was able to share some of what I knew about their heritage when I was 10-yrs-old. Everyone got excited and agreed to work on a book as children of business owners in Seattle’s Japan Town, after WWII. The siblings confirmed they were with their Dad as he interacted with various business owners dealing with cash exchanges. Subsequently, we agreed to keep getting together and writing a book.
Sitting at the next table, Mike George of Bezos Academy, couldn’t help but say something about our excitement. Elaine, with her irresistible nature, drew him into possibly working with us!
My life continues to be a series of coincidences and serendipity situations! Love it!!