okinawa – Monday Morning with Mona

My Favorite Local Artist

I met Kyoko Nakamoto the first week of January 2019. She is a local artist that displays her art at the boutiques on the military bases here on Okinawa, and I met her at the Marine Gift Shop back in 2019. I was immediately drawn to her art and her vibrant spirit. Over the courseContinue reading “My Favorite Local Artist”

The Nutcracker

One of the fondest holiday memories I have is the year that I got to go back to my hometown early enough in December to get to attend the ballet as my father’s date. Most years, my husband and I would roll into town a couple of days before Christmas, and “The Nutcracker” would haveContinue reading “The Nutcracker”

An Unexpected Yet Glorious Artistic Surprise

I am the kind of person that doesn’t watch trailers before starting a movie. I usually let my husband pick out our movies, or I choose them based on recommendations. I also don’t read the synopsis of a book before I check it out of the library. I rely heavily on authors I enjoy orContinue reading “An Unexpected Yet Glorious Artistic Surprise”

Bloom Café

Back in 2016, I used to see my amazingly funny friends no less than twice a week. We played kickball together, and our team had fun. We won some games. We lost some games, but it would be tough to find a team who got along as well as we did. In addition to kickball,Continue reading “Bloom Café”

Tour of Homes

I think the first Tour of Homes that I ever attended was on Okinawa, and it was December 2019. I had heard of Tour of Homes. They have them on most of the bases, but I was never in any of the clubs that hosted them, and I never felt like I was missing out.Continue reading “Tour of Homes”

Above and Beyond

Even if you aren’t a fan of American Soccer or “Football”, as the rest of the world calls it, I am pretty sure that you heard about the Japanese cleaning the stadium after their match. After the Japanese defeated Germany, their fans spent hours cleaning up the stadium. I’m pretty sure they left it cleanerContinue reading “Above and Beyond”

Growth, Leadership, and Filling the Hole

I moved to Okinawa in August 2018. It was an exhausting summer and a very challenging move across the world. Anytime you move, it is tough, but moving to another country adds another layer to the experience. Add in the loss of your father, and a move to the other side of the world seemsContinue reading “Growth, Leadership, and Filling the Hole”

I couldn’t do it.

For those of you who actually read the blog, please pardon the redundancy. For those of you who are new, here is the three sentence run-down. I tried to run the island of Okinawa last April, and my friend and I ran seventy miles from south to north. Last weekend I tried to run itContinue reading “I couldn’t do it.”

Okinawa Travel Part 1

I’m from Texas, and in case you didn’t know: TEAXS IS BIG. If you haven’t driven across it, it’s hard to comprehend how BIG it actually is. I used to tell people that it is SO big that you can get from Beaumont, TX to the Atlantic Ocean faster than you can get from ElContinue reading “Okinawa Travel Part 1”

Climbing Mount Fuji

I like to write my blog in real-time. I feel like if I wait too long, then I forget some of the details, and the details are where the good stuff is. That being stated, if you read my last blog, you will understand why I am so late in writing about my Mt FujiContinue reading “Climbing Mount Fuji”