A Day-off in Houston.

I spent 7 years of my life in Houston between 2012-2017. Of course, I have lots of memories and friends here. It’s one of my many homes I feel lucky to have around the globe.

A few hours after my flight landed, I was at Bistecca. It is an Italian restaurant with a baby grand piano. I got to play for 25 professionals from the Japanese community, giving my spiel as “Dr. Pianist” about my mission to promote music as a healing agent.

Half of the people gathered that night were my friends that supported me through my 7 years in Houston, including my attainment of my doctorate, various performances including the fundraising after 3.11 earthquake and tsunami in 2011, and my persecuting a stalker. One of them had been in an accident recently, and nearly severed his spinal cord. He had gotten out of the hospital a few days earlier, meeting his goal to make it to my performance that night. He and his wife were all smiles – I was so happy to get to hug them, and play music for them again. I also got to see a ten-year-old I have known since he was a toddler. He had gotten over his shyness he always displayed around me, or any women. Now, he actively showed interest in my piano playing, approaching me at the piano when I played, asking me questions. I promised him a piano lesson during my stay this time.

I feel lucky to get to share life’s transformations, progress and set-backs, with my friends, and offer them my music and communal experience along the way.

Each city has its own tempo. People walk, talk and do business at different pace. Houston is relatively relaxed. Here, every morning, I jog for two miles the first thing when I get up. My hostess is a retired dancer, who teaches Gyrotonic. She often has me join her in her own personal morning routine exercise. Her high-rise apartment overlooking Houston is my office while I write and do my administrative work. I am happy here.