"My Little Sister Can't Wear a Wedding Dress!"

Oreimo 2 wasn't my favorite Spring anime. In fact, if I ranked all the anime I've seen, it doubt it would make the top thirty... maybe not even forty. But its tenth episode often comes to mind. The episode's content doesn't matter much to me; just the title. I keep thinking: "Kyousuke, the wedding dress isn't even hers. Just wait until the real thing comes!" (Assuming it comes, and that Kirino gets over her brother complex... I don't want to think about all the ways the Oreimo relationships could go).

In the near future, I'll have my bathroom drawer back, the bedroom next to mine will be empty... and Lil Sis will be married. She's not just wearing a wedding dress. She's saying her vows, exchanging rings, and riding off into the sunset.

If I were to tell the story Oreimo style, here's what I'd call the episodes:

1. "My Little Sister Can't be this Mature!"

2. "My Little Sister Can't be Serious About a Relationship!"

3. "My Little Sister Can't be this in Love!"

4. "This Young Man Can't Possibly be this Respectful, Respectable, and Responsible!"

5. "My Little Sister Can't Try on Wedding Dresses!"

6. "My Family Can't be planning a Wedding!"

7. "I Can't Write a Wedding Toast!"

8. "The Wedding Day Can't Come this Fast!"

Of course, just like Oreimo titles, the truth is that the "'t" part of "can't" should be removed. Lil Sis not only can be and do all these things: she is. I was reluctant to get attached to future Bro-in-Law at first, but he is for real. He earned and kept Dad's respect. That's saying something, because Dad is good at calling Bologna Sandwich.

I'm just trying to be a good big sister. Kyousuke and I have very different situations, but I can identify with him as he tries to support Kirino. For a while, he didn't feel needed or wanted by her. When she demanded that he help her with her secret otaku habits, he seemed relieved to have a place in her life again. 

I've felt insecure with my sister before. As she got older, she didn't seem to need me much. She was never mean like Kirino, but we both had some growing up to do during high school. Now, I have a defined role as her sister. I'm her maid of honor. It's my job to look out for her throughout this whole wedding business. I probably take the role too seriously, actually. I'm just excited to have a place that I fit in her life.

Sometimes, I wonder what our relationship will be like after the wedding. Will they invite me over to try out their ice cream machine? Will she still want the next Nancy Drew game for Christmas, like I get her every year? Will she still play it with me? 

I'm not the cool big sister I once hoped to be. Any relationship advice I give is based on books, not on personal experience. In fact, Lil Sis has to help me when I do social stuff that's new to me. She gives me makeup tips and helps me when I'm too nervous to send a text or make a phone call. She's ahead of me in many ways... yet I'm still the older sibling, and my job, like Kyousuke's, remians the same: support my little sister. She doesn't need much protection from me, and she usually doesn't need much advice. But she does need my support. I think all she needs is to know that I love her, and that I'll always be available if she needs anything, even just a listening ear.

Part of me wishes I could pause our lives and say, "My Little Sister Can't Wear a Wedding Dress!" But it's a very small part. I'm truly happy for Lil Sis. In the months and years to come, she'll be busy with her work, her husband, and her home. I'll be busy with school. We'll probably be in separate cities for a while... maybe even separate states. Our relationship will change as we continue to grow in who we are. Still, instead of trying to deny it, I'm going to embrace it. The important things won't change. We'll always be sisters, both by blood and in Christ. My door will always be open to her, whether to play Nancy Drew games or just to talk. I'll let future Bro-in-Law come, too. And who knows? Maybe I'll start calling him "Big Bro" on here instead...

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On related note, this wedding stuff has me pretty busy. In fact, I probably shouldn't be writing this at the moment. I have other responsibilities to attend to. I'll have a lot of blog posts to read and anime episodes to catch up on when the wedding's finally over. That's something to look forward to. 

Me and Mutta: An Oldest Sibling's Pride

I started this post at the end of December and completely forgot about it. It’s been over five months since I wrote the first several paragraphs, and I’ve already learned more about contentment in the time that has passed. Yet I wanted to return to these thoughts, finish them, and share them before my next couple Space Brothers releated posts. Anything I add to what I wrote in December will be in [brackets], and what I take out will have a strikethrough. 

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Lil Sis is growing up. I’m not going to tell you what prompted that statement; she’d kill me if I blabbed about her business to the world wide web. But it’s true. Sometimes, I forget she’s still in high school. Yes, she still acts her age on occassion, but in other ways, she’s really maturing. 

Lil Sis and I are very different. Our interests rarely coincide. She’s tried various instruments and eventually, thanks to a program at our high school, landed on guitar and voice. I stuck to piano lessons until high school, when I decided formal training was too much for me to balance (though I still enjoy playing). She tried cheerleading, but volleyball ended up being her sport. I prefer not to have big, hard, round things flying at me, and I didn’t pick up running until after high school. She thrives in the social sphere. I’m more comfortable in the blogosphere, and that only when I have the energy.

Young Hibito and Mutta, Space Brothers, Ep 1

While our differences can make conversation topics difficult, I am thankful Lil Sis and I have rarely pursued the same fields. I’m not sure I could handle the competition. I’m pretty sure she’d be like Namba Hibito from Space Brothers, while I, insecure and painfully practical, would be left behind like the older brother, Mutta.

Mutta has the same delusional idea that I’ve often had: the older sibling should always be one step ahead of the younger. That’s a pride issue that I’ve had to ask forgiveness for. When we were younger, I thought I always needed to be taller. For the sake of my pride, I put the idea behind me before she surpassed by height by two inches. I once thought I should graduate college two years before Lil Sis. For mental health reasons, I took a year off, so I’m only a year ahead now. I also wanted to get married and have kids before Lil Sis. It’s not like she’s engaged or anything, but at this rate, I won’t be surprised if she’s married years before anyone courts me (to me, courting means dating with a purpose, with God and family involved). Lil Sis is ahead of me socially, and I’m learning to accept that. 

Mutta, too, had to come to terms with his brother reaching his dreams long before him. In episode 30, I believe it was, when he’s at NASA waiting for Hibito to launch into space, Mutta compares his feelings to the uncertain weather of the day. He’s proud of his little brother, of course, but he’s also jealous. It’s a 50/50 split, and he can’t decide which way his feelings will go. 

I’d like to say I’ve never been jealous of my sister. I’ve told myself that several times. I’m a Christian and a supportive, loving older sister, so I can’t be jealous! But, if I’m honest with myself, jealousy pops into my heart at times. My sister is beautiful. I don’t consider myself unattractive (except perhaps in the morning), but I don’t quite have the same charasmatic looks and demeanor as Lil Sis. I’ve bypassed jealousy by saying that it’s inner beauty that counts, or that our looks are so different that we’re pretty in different ways (which is true enough: people are always surprised to find out that yes, we’re sisters, and no, we’re not step- or half- sisters). Lil Sis has an amazing voice. And it’s not bias speaking there; it took me a while to enjoy her singing myself, thanks to her purposefully annoying screech-singing when we were younger. [I, on the other hand, have a passable voice that’s usually on tune if the song is in the right range and I haven’t had too much milk or something else to clog my throat and the sun is the right position in the sky...].

Thankfully, I have my own strengths, areas where Lil Sis probably won’t surpass me. This could be a bad thing, depending on how you look at it, since it can feed my pride if I’m not careful.

Added 6/8/13: I don’t like it when I’m prideful. It twists how I view myself and others, keeps me from seeing things with a Godly persepective, and opens the door to unpleasant feeings, including jealousy on one end and contempt on the other. 

Ultimately, it’s about comparing myself to others, whether it’s Lil Sis or someone else. Using other imperfect people to measure myself is unpleasant and uneffective. Not only does it prevent me from being content with how God has made me, but it also keeps me from striving toward all God has for me. If I use Jesus as a measure, I find that I fall short in every way. In fact, everyone falls short the same amount. Any level of trait we have is nothing compared to the infinite goodness and power that Jesus has. And my nothing is neither better nor worse than Lil Sis’s nothing, or Namba Mutta’s nothing, or even yours. 

Like Mutta, I’m learning more about who I am, and I have less need to compare myself to Lil Sis or race her to our life goals. I’m taking my own path, at my own pace.

Pride is ugly, and I’ll always have to deal with it. Jealousy is just as ugly, and because of pride, harder to admit. I don’t want either of these to come between me and Lil Sis, let alone me and God. I’m so thankful that Lil Sis and I are overcoming our teen years and learning to be sisters, adults, and friends. I thankful that she loves me and doesn’t seem to be embarrassed of me in social situations, despite my past fears. And, pardon me for saying this, but I’m proud of her. Lil Sis is growing up. I was at school for much of her figurative growth spurt this past year, but I’m glad to be back and be a part of it. I continue to grow up myself, and it’s a joy as I continue to discover what’s in store for me and my loved ones. 

Watching my Community Mourn

My thoughts have not been completely present lately as I have watched the bits of mourning on Facebook. I needed to write, so here it is.

A young man died in my home community last Thursday night. I found out the next day. We were going to meet my aunt so the cousins and I could return to her house when the text from Dad came in on Mom's cell phone: the son of Dad's close friend had gone to meet the Lord.

I gasped when I read the text. Mom, who'd let me read it since she was driving, reacted immediately to my reaction. "What?" She asked, "What is it?"

I told her, and the tears came immediately. I thought that I might have to drive so she could cry. I was still in shock. Lil Sis had talked to him only days before. He'd expressed surprise when she told him who she was: "You're that little five year old girl who talked a lot?" Yep, Lil Sis leaves that impression on a lot of people.

I didn't really know this young man well. The last time I interacted with him, I was a young, painfully shy kid, and he was a teenager. I doubt I said more than two words to him. But I know his family. His dad and my dad, like I said, are pretty close. His mom is a kind lady who gives me hugs whenever I see her (which isn't very often, unfortunately). The older of his younger sisters talked to me when I was having a little bit of a hard time in middle school: she's a trustworthy, beautiful young woman. The youngest sister is only a year older than me. She was my playmate at one point.

He's five years older than me, so our social circles never overlapped beyond our families, but I still know plenty of people who are mourning him. Even I, who didn't really know him, feel the hole left in the community. I won't ever stop thinking of his family as a family of five. The only change will be remembering that only four are still on this earth.

Life goes on. My cousin is getting married, and I'm playing the Bridal March for his bride. I'm going off to college, and my sister is starting her senior year. But it's weird. How can I post about these exciting things on Facebook when my home community is grieving? It's hard. I'll post statuses about my life again soon, but not yet.

I talked on the phone with Mom earlier today and expressed my mixed feelings about being unable to make the memorial service. On the one hand, I want to be there as a silent (but empathetic and thus tearful) support. On the other, I'm relieved of the potentially awkward situation - I didn't know this guy, and I don't really have any business trying to comfort those who did. Mom caught the idea of my sympathies and suggested I send a sympathy card. Nope. Not happening. It's too sensitive of an area. I don't know the social expectations, and I don't know the family well enough. I'll just send my thoughts and prayers from afar.

I might only be an outside watcher, but I'm still affected. I had to pause Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood just a little bit ago because my thoughts were back in my home community, not on my own entertainment. This is the third time in four years that a young man from my home has died, and the second in this particular group of family friends. I've already said it, but I'll say it again: it's hard. I think all three were Christians, which is some comfort, but there are still three holes on earth that weren't there before. Granted, I didn't know any of them personally. The few times I met any of them, I was a shy young thing and hid behind the nearest friend or parent. But I know and love their families, so the holes are felt.

[There was a fourth young man, actually, a kid who would have graduated with my class. But I knew him even less that I knew the other three. My class grieved for him thoroughly, and there were lot of tributes to him throughout the rest of high school. It was hard, and I felt the hole, but for some reason, it hasn't persisted as long as the others.]

But life still goes on. The contrast between deaths such as these and the joy of my young cousins around me is striking. One family mourns; another celebrates a marriage. One buries their son; another sends their daughter to college.

These words were on my heart, and they had to be written. Unsurprisingly, a Bible verse pops to mind, though its content my surprise a few of you: "Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever." (Psalm 136:1) This is not a verse to comfort those who mourn. It is simply a praise to the God whose love endures, even in this broken world. It is praise to He who has conquered this world, and who will destroy it and rebuild it as His good kingdom. It is praise to the One who give me hope and salvation, who can make something good even out of what sin has corrupted. It is praise to the One who recently welcomed another young man into His presence.

The blog post is written and the Bible verse remembered. The melancholy has not left me, but I will push it aside and try to watch some anime before I go to bed. I will not forget this young man's family, but nothing good is to be gained from letting myself dwell in sadness.

Away from the Nest - Home is Changing

I’ve been busy lately. It’s been weeks since I last watched anime. I’m sure I’ll get back into anime near-obsession mode again soon. But for now, I’m content with my current focuses. 

One of the interesting things about being away from the nest is packing. Instead of packing to leave home, I pack my bag to go home. My parents’ house is becoming a vacation spot, rather than the place I always am. It’s strange, but it feels like a natural transition - probably because it is.

Of course, there are a few things about it that rock my boat. For example, last time I went home, Mom mentioned that she’d like to paint my room. She’d already switched the bed from my queen to a double. I was okay with that, even if she moved the bed away from its corner in the process. But painting it? Nuh-uh. I informed her that if she painted it this early, I’d cry. Change is hard enough for me; let’s take it easy. I love the current color in my room. I even remember the exact name of it: Bonnie Lake. I’m not ready for it to change, even if I’m away more often than I’m home. It’s bad enough that Lil Sis has taken over my drawer in the bathroom. No need to take over my bedroom, too. Not yet.

Another thing I’ve noticed: my parents’ house is longer my only home. The fact that I just referred to it as “my parents’ house” shows it. Similarly, my aunt’s house is longer just her house; it’s my home, too. This can get confusing, since “home” means different places depending on the context. I think it makes Mom a little sad when I’m with her and I talk about “going home,” and I’m referring to my aunt’s house. My parents’ house will always be my home, and it will always be special. But it’s changing. It four years, God willing, I’ll live on my own in another city, and “home,” my parents’ house, will really be a place I only visit. It’s a gradual change, and a little bittersweet. And I’m more okay with it than I’d have thought two years ago. 

I’ll have another home in about a month: my dorm at college. I don’t know for sure that I got into my first choice of the dorms. But either way, I will soon have a new room to call home. This time, I won’t live with any of my family. Yet I’m ready for this particular change, more ready that I would have been just a year ago. 

So, home is changing, and will continue to change. It’s a little sad, but very exciting. 

Noble, my aunt's cat and my buddy.
I'll miss him when I leave.

Away from the Nest: Writing and Tutoring

Written several hours ago: 

I sit on the bus, about to head home for a few days. I originally intended to work on the next chapter of At His Whim. However, I’m listening to fun music, and it doesn’t exactly inspire the suspenseful scenes I have planned. I could, of course, switch to the Kanon Wakeshima station on my Pandora. That would probably set the right mood. But I’m enjoying my Jonas Brothers/One Direction station too much (yes, I listen to Jonas Brothers, Hannah Montana, and Justin Bieber. Haters begone). So I thought, “Hey, I haven’t blogged in a while. Why don’t I do that?”

Thus, here I am. I must confess, I haven’t watched nearly as much anime lately. I’ve been distracted. The only anime I watched recently was Gungrave. Now, I’d love to write a post on that. I’ve watched it about three times now, and I could definitely rave on about it. However, a post about Gungrave deserves my full attention, something I couldn’t give it right now.

So what is this post about? That is an excellent question. One I’m asking myself right now, actually. Should I even post this rambling? Whatever. I’ll keep writing. I think I’ve thought of more pointed things to say, things about my time living with my aunt and cousins. It’s not anime related, but when did I proclaim this blog to be solely for anime? Never, that’s when.

Anyway, as you may know by now, I’ve been living with my aunt since February and tutoring my cousins. I’ll leave in less than two months to see my family before I go off to college. It’s been quite the experience, living here. 

To begin with, it’s my first time leaving home for more than two weeks. Strangely enough, I never got the least bit homesick. In fact, I now feel that my aunt’s house is a second home. Granted, I’ve missed my parents and sister - something that hasn’t happened since I was about eight. But I visit them, and I don’t miss them too much. I suppose it’s a sign that I’m ready to leave the nest... even if it’s just to help out at my aunt’s nest for the time being.

I’ve become closer to my aunt, which is only natural. I love our long chats after the kids go to bed, and I know I’ll miss her when I leave. She’s a hardworking, single mother with a lot on her plate. But she’s also funny, kind, and loving. Aunt contributed her perspectives as I made my final college decision, and then helped multiple times with filling out and faxing relevant documents. We’ve talked aunt to niece, parent to tutor, and single woman to single woman. She’s more than just my aunt; she’s my friend. Getting to know her better has been a delightful bonus to living with her.

Of course, I originally came to tutor the boys, ages twelve and ten. Working with them has been a very rewarding experience. I’ve taught the twelve year old directly from his sixth grade math book, filling in holes as I went. Math accomplishments with him are very tangible - a finished or skipped lesson, a mastered concept, and written problems all show the fruit of his work. I’m also continuing the spelling program with him that Mom tutored him in last summer. He’s retained an encouraging amount of phonograms and spelling rules over the year, and the A on his spelling quiz proves it... even if a diagnostic test still puts him over three years below grade level. Of course, I don’t tell him the exact level he tested at. All he needs to know is that he’s improved since last year.

The ten year old has less to work on, so I work with him for only half the time. Still, our accomplishments feel just as good. He has his multiplication facts down solid in flashcard form, and we’re working to apply that progress on his worksheets, too. Even more notable, and less due to me than him, is his grasp of long division. They just learned that at the end of the school year, and he has it down pat - which is more than I can say for a few of his classmates! He’s eager to keep improving in both math and spelling, and it’s a joy to see his smile when he makes yet another accomplish.

This summer, I’ve also started spending a few minutes with their eight year old sister. She doesn’t really need the help, but it doesn’t hurt to keep fresh over the summer. She has no problem with tutoring, either. In fact, she loves the attention and will happily tell her friends that, like her brothers, she has to come inside for tutoring. 

Between the three children, I’m really learning a lot. I’ve never taught anyone between the second and third grades, so it’s interesting to see how the younger children think. The abilities and ages among just my three cousins are varied enough to give me quite the experience. I spend a few weeks in the ten year old’s fourth grade class, too, which gave me more perspective. 

Yet I do not intend to change my major to elementary education. Nuh-uh. As much as I like teaching these kids, I’d rather teach high school math. Besides, that’s more fun to study. 

In addition to tutoring, I’ve spend several hours a week watching my cousins. I’m often in charge in the mornings, which can be... interesting, to use a euphemism. They’re sweet and sensitive, but they are far from angels. 

Lastly, I’ve had to drive a lot more - to the store, to the vet, to hair and doctor appointments, etc. Let’s be clear on something: I do not like driving. It’s not just because of my car accident last fall, either. Further, I need my GPS the first five to ten times I go anywhere further than a block away. Yet I’ve become more and more comfortable, especially on certain routes. Granted, I’m not completely at ease, but the driving experience certainly helps. I’ve been on the freeway, in the suburbs, and even downtown. I’ve driven in pouring rain on a rutted highway with kids in the car. I’ve searched for parking spots and maneuvered confusing streets. And amongst it all, I’ve retained my sanity.

Yes, my sanity is intact. I’ve even kept from getting very anxious, something longer term readers may remember is a problem for me. I’m trying very hard to stay on top of my anxiety, avoid procrastination, and tend to my responsibilities in a timely manner. I’ve stumbled and delayed multiple times, but I’m doing better - probably better than I would if I’d stayed home.

I think I’ve gained a little maturity by living away from home. I’m still young, and there are many areas where my lack of confidence gets in the way. Yet I’ve made another step. And, unlike this time last year, I’m ready to go to college. 

Well, I believe it’s time to end this, change my Pandora station, and get started on the next chapter of At His Whim. I’m trying to stay on a weekly posting schedule again. I think this chapter will end up being ten pages long, so if I don’t start it soon, who knows if I’ll finish it by Saturday?

Forum Signatures, Decisions, Writing, and Such

I haven't uploaded since last month, and I'm beginning to worry I'll miss May altogether. So, here's a post. Is it anime related? Well, I suppose I can make it anime related. Here:

I've been making forum signatures again, and greatly enjoying it... other than the fact that I have to use Pixlr instead of Photoshop, that is. The one above has Killua and Gon from Hunter x Hunter. I took the chibis from a screenshot.

In other news, I'm trying to write more on my story, At His Whim. And when I write more there, I tend to write less here. But hey, it had to come at some point. I'd neglected the story for five months, and lost readers in the process. It was about time for me to go back to it! I've passed the 65,000 word point, which I feel quite good about. Even if it took me a year to get there.

I also made my college decision (finally!). After taking a year off, hemming and hawing for several months, and recalculating financial aid offers, I now know where I'm going next fall. I'm so excited! It was definitely the right choice to take a year off, too. If I'd gone to college this past year, I'm sure I'd be a train wreck. Actually, I was a train wreck already at this point last year, so I'd be a train wreck on fire in the middle of an earthquake.

Yeah, it's a really, really good thing I took a break.

In the meanwhile, I'm living at my aunt's house and tutoring two of her three high maintenance kids. I've been here since February and will stay until I go to school. It's been a great experience. I'm getting a little cash, enjoying long chats with my aunt, and learning how to be pro-active in avoiding anxiety. Plus, I share a room with my eight-year-old cousin: that should warm me up for my college roommate.

So, I might not post again this month. I'll try, but it's not guaranteed. I mean, I'd also like to get at least one more chapter of At His Whim up on Wattpad, get caught up on anime, fill out college documents, and keep my sanity in this crazy house. Oh, and maintain my new habit of exercising. And probably get my wisdom teeth out (I actually don't want that one, but my teeth don't care how I feel about it). I can't do everything, so this blog may suffer. Oh well.

Meeting the Boy - "You break her heart, I'll break your face"?

Just a scrap I felt like sharing, inspired by recent events. Ella’s personality is a bit different from mine, and I’m far too shy to actually talk like this. But this kind of scene runs through my head often when I think of my little sister and any interested guys.

 

Ella looked the boy up and down. He was cute, she had to admit. But he wanted to date her little sister, which definitely lowered him on her “like” scale. If he thought his brilliant smile would win her over, he had a lot to learn.

She really wanted to say something classic, something along the lines of, “You break her heart, and I’ll break your face.” But she didn’t think that was the Christian thing to say. Plus, the only thing she’d end up breaking was her own fist. That didn’t exactly sound appealing.

So she studied him, letting him squirm as she searched for the perfect words to say. He shifted his weight and looked a little nervous. Good. She was just the preliminaries; the boy still had to go through their father.

Finally, she found her voice. “So,” she began casually, “Samuel, was it?”

He nodded. “Yep.”

“Well, Samuel, do you intend to pursue my precious little sister?”

“Um… yes?”

Ella raised her eyebrows at his uncertain tone. “To what end, if I may ask?”

“Um…” Samuel rubbed his nose. “To get to know each other, I guess. Maybe… I don’t know. We’re in high school, I mean, what do you expect?”

“Uh-huh. You’re in high school.” Ella paused. “Now, I’m sure Dad will make things perfectly clear to you, so all I’m going to say is that I think holding hands is very sweet, and Alice agrees with me. Any other contact, however…” She let her voice trail off. “Any way, I’m sure you’ll be a perfect gentlemen.”

He bobbed his head. “Of course.”

She smiled. “Now, I’m sure you understand that we love Alice very much. She is the baby of the family, and we will be most… put out if something happens to her. We don’t mean to be hostile, but it might just… flow out in stressful circumstances. We’ll try restrain from negative thoughts and actions, but we’re not perfect, and sometimes, when provoked, things just… come out. I’d hate for you to be on the receiving end.”

Samuel swallowed. “I understand.”

“Great.” Ella turned to the stairs and called for her sister. “Hey, Alice, Samuel’s here!”

Sharing The Prince of Tennis

There are some anime I can see myself watching again, and again, and again. Vampire Knight, Naruto, Gungrave, and Initial D are a few them. Another is The Prince of Tennis.

I never imagined myself liking sports anime before I watched The Prince of Tennis. I mean, I don’t like sports very much, and I don’t remember a single live action sports movie that I enjoyed. But The Prince of Tennis showed me that sports anime can be entertaining enough to watch around one hundred and seventy episodes of it, and then still be longing for more.

Last night, as I did dishes and watched a few episodes of The Prince of Tennis for the third time, my younger cousin walked by. He struggles with reading and has no chance of reading most of the subtitles, but it piqued his interest anyway. He watched two episodes with me before I sent him to bed. And he loved it, even though he couldn’t understand a single Japanese word!

This excited me, of course. The last show I introduced to him, Initial D (dubbed), turned out to be a flop. Hulu has it listed as TV-PG, but with the swear words and relationships, it really should be listed TV-14. I’d completely forgotten about those, and after watching a few more episodes by myself, I decided not to show my cousin any more. I didn’t think he’d be interested in anything subtitled, so I didn’t bother to show him The Prince of Tennis or Hikaru no Go. Imagine my surprise and delight when he liked The Prince of Tennis! Maybe I’ll track down a manga for him next time he comes over – it might help him with his reading, too.

I imagine that my eagerness to share anime with him is similar to what Dad felt when he first watched The Lord of the Rings with me. When you come across something you love, you can’t help but want to share it with your loved ones. You hope they enjoy it as much as you do. It becomes common ground, something to share with each other. As my cousin grows older, I find this especially important. I want to build a lasting relationship with him, and that means doing more than tutoring him in math.

It hits me that I’m much more excited to share anime than to share Jesus. Why is that? Is it because it’s easier to share anime, or because I spend so much more time getting excited about anime than learning about Jesus? It’s something for me to chew on, to be sure. After all, as amazing as some anime is, the Gospel is a bit more important.

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Image belongs to the creators of The Prince of Tennis.