...

Hmm.

How do I start this? At this moment, I'm half-laughing at myself, half-scratching my head. How do I begin to explain to my long-lost, abandoned 3.5 readers what in the freak happened to KGJ, and how I hope you can find it in your hearts to...scratch that...

Um, let's just say that with this entry, I officially forgive myself. Crazily, I've been MIA from the blog-iverse for over a year. Damn. I'll just offer this simple maxim:

"Life happens."

Surely, y'all can understand that and will accept my masked apology. Take me back. Please baby, baby, please. Now, I'll attempt to scan the highlights of the 2006-2007 KGJ timeline:

• After over 3 years of living together, my white American, very liberal-minded roommate, Aaron, decided to get engaged and move out, only giving me about a month's notice to decide on where to live.
• After dispiriting bouts of housing discrimination from the Japanese company which managed my building (the one I'd dutifully paid rent to for over 3 years) as well as a white American-run housing agency (which I was referred to by my company, I might add), I was forced to leave my apartment, helplessly having to concede to lesser housing accomodations in, literally, the only apartment building in the city (commonly derided as the "gaijin ghetto" by its inhabitants) which accepted foreign residents without the endorsement of a Japanese guarantor. Said roommate got a sobering civics lesson in racism, inspiring a sense of guilt and a humble apology to me for my troubles. I accepted.
• I attempted to live with my girlfriend, who initially was eager at the idea, but lost the nerve after finally revealing her relationship with her African-American boyfriend (yours truly, natch) to her very Japanese parents after having dated almost 3 years, simultaneously announcing her intention to leave the nest for the first time in life to go live with said boyfriend. Whoa. Talk about dropping a bomb (no pun!). This culminated in a discussion with her father, who very level-headedly advised her to try living independently before moving in with a significant other. I actually kinda agreed with the man. Subsequently, said girlfriend got cold feet and backed out of the deal, leaving said boyfriend hanging with a 2-bedroom apartment and double his previous rent. I accepted her apology also.
• One day, after a discussion confronting the reality of said boyfriend's ultimate desire to leave Japan for good, and said girlfriend's desire to remain in Japan, for good, said boyfriend and girlfriend sadly but amicably decided to become just friends.
• Bachelorhood ensued, and "clubbin'" became a weekend mainstay.
• As a 50th birthday tribute, I flew my moms over for a couple weeks during a sweltering summer break to see, smell, hear, touch, and taste the many offerings of Nagoya, Japan. It was a memorable visit.
• Capoeira training and play continued. I got a new cord and my skills improved. I heart capoeira!
  
• One of my worst fears came true, and I had to get emergency dental care in Japan, after suffering a major toothache. Fortunately, An American friend recommended his family dentist, Dr. Masuda, who turned out to be excellent, could speak limited English, and had one of the nicest dental offices I've ever been in. He saved my tooth as well as some other work. I was also shocked to discover how cheap dental care is compared to the U.S.--even without insurance; I figure I may have had close to $1K worth (US) of work done for less than $200. I gave Dr. Masuda's craft and chairside manner A's overall. The only thing I couldn't follow was his advice not to floss, claiming that flossing damages the gums. My reaction was "Mm..Perhaps a little, but what about cleaning out the cavity-causing crap from between your teeth?" Apparently, most Japanese people do not floss, though I know some do, as I've seen floss sold in pharmacies. I guess the habit of not flossing is a Japanese thing--I wouldn't understand.
• I performed in an international music festival in downtown Nagoya, called Spring Fest 2007, to promote international culture and ecology. I did a big set, rocked a crowd filled with friends, and sold my CDs as well. It was the type of venue I'd dreamed and struggled to be a part of since I'd come to Japan 5 years earlier. Ironically, that dream would finally come true, albeit 2 weeks before I left Japan for good.
• That's right. I said "Sayonara" to many great friends and Planet Japan after 5 challenging, educational, and awesome years abroad. Many factors came into my decision to leave, but most simply, the time had come, and the itch for newness and change had been intensifying over the previous year or so.

Now, as I've returned to the U.S. a more seasoned young man, I've realized that I remain the "Black Foreigner," facing new struggles, as I try to become reacquainted with my hometown, build new friendships, strive for independence, and try to figure out how a young African-American man such as myself can best apply my gifts and fit into this deeply troubled, beautiful, complex puzzle called America.

So stay tuned. From here on out, I won't promise you popsicles, but I pledge to make an effort to lend my humble yet stellar prosaic anecdotes to your world. Thanks for welcoming me back. It feels good to be home!