We live in an unincorporated area of Los Angeles in the San Gabriel Valley. For postal purposes our address says we live in San Gabriel. For educational/schooling purposes we live in the Temple City School District Boundaries.
Every Thursday my girls bring home their "Eagle Folder." Their Eagle Folder contains important information for parents and parents are to read over the paperwork, do whatever they choose to do with it, sign on the inside of the folder and return the following day (Friday). Well one Thursday as I was thumbing through all the papers, many of which are advertisements local sports teams or activities, I came across one that was inviting all first graders (boys and girls) to a playdate to select children for the Royal Court for the Temple City Camellia Festival on January 14, 2012 from 9-11:45. Interested children were to preregister by 12/27/11. I talked with Emi to see if she was interested and that went without saying!!!! I filled out the bottom portion and put it in the mail. A couple weeks later we received a confirmation for her to attend.
The date was soon approaching. That Friday January 13, we received a call from Jason's mom said Jason's paternal grandpa who had been diagnosed with blood and bone marrow cancer a few months earlier was going downhill quickly and he would most likely be joining his wife, siblings and parents that weekend. I quickly cleaned up and gathered my things at school and headed home. Grandpa Sakamoto lived about 15 minutes from us. We have been blessed to spend almost every Friday night with Grandpa since we moved down (and until we moved when Emi was about 6 months). He would also join us for activities at the girls' school, trips to the beach, while we worked in his yard or we would just head over and enjoy dinner and play time at his place. Grandpa was able to spend the last few months living with my mother and father in law. The Sunday before we celebrated Kaida's birthday at their house. From his hospital bed, Grandpa joined in singing Happy Birthday. Now back to Friday!! I got home, gathered up a few toys for the girls, got Chieko and Jason and headed over to pick Emi and Kaida up from school. We spent all evening with Grandpa. Saturday was to be a busy day but as we knew his departure was eminent, we debated whether we should spend time with him or go on with our plans. We decided that we would go on with our plans. We felt good knowing we had spent time with Grandpa while he was in better health and those memories are the ones that really count!!! This decision allowed Emi to attend to Royal Contest Play Date. I checked Emi in, they put a sash one her with a number and off she went (parents were not allowed in!!). Parents were ushered into a room where they did a little presentation of what the kids would be doing. While there they told us that if your child was NOT chosen you would receive a phone call between 2-2:30. If you did not receive a call during that time you should remain home from 2:30-6 as you would be receiving a visit from the officials!!! She spent the next 2 hours 45 minutes there while I took Chieko to her ballet class and ran a few errands. I picked Emi up on time and she was very excited and enthused!! She was very confident that they were going to pick her. We did lots of talking about how there were A LOT of kids there and since we don't know what they were exactly looking for she needed to be prepared NOT to be picked. Well she wasn't going for that and nicely kept saying they were going to pick her. This went on for quite a while!!! While we had a short limbo at home before heading over to a birthday party that started at 1:30, Jason's mom called asking for a couple things. I got the things together and Jason took them over while I took the kids to the party. Well.....2 came, 2:15 came, and 2:30 came and there was no call. I panicked a bit thinking what if they call the house and not my cell. Well at about 2:40 Jason calls me and says he thinks he better just come for her. By the time they got home, there was already a call on the answering machine saying they had stopped by and to please call them back as soon as possible. Jason called them back and they returned. Unfortunately I wasn't home for the big announcement. They brought her balloons, a rose, a big poster congratulating her, a poster announcing the festival and a candy lei. They brought me a big thick packet of information and paperwork to fill out!!!! 10 children are chosen, 5 boys and 5 girls. 2 girls and 2 boys are banner carriers and the others are princes and princesses. Emi was chosen to be a banner carrier. Come to find out, all the banner carriers are from her school and 1 little guy is her good friend and classmate!!! (They were in the same Kindergarten class and now the same first grade class!!)
Since I didn't grow up here I didn't realize what a big deal this Festival was to the city.
Needless to say we are very proud and excited for our Emi!!!!
You can check here for pictures of the Royal Contest Play Date.
On pages 31 and 32 have the pictures of them coming to our house!!!
