Happy Mother's Day Mom!
Dear Mom,I'm sorry we couldn't be together today.
You are an amazing mother and friend and hanging out with you
is always such a great time. The hangouts will resume shortly...11 weeks left!
Instead of moping around feeling guilty about you spending Mother's Day childless---some pals picked me up for a roadtrip to Hirosaki Castle in Aomori Prefecture. It was so fitting for me to be amongst gorgeous flowers and cherry blossoms, as you enjoy the nature scene so much. "Sakura" is a special time in Japan, symbolizing new beginnings and spring. Hirosaki is THE best spot to view sakura in Northern Japan and I was fortunate to have friends to bring me there...6 hours in a crammed car wasn't all that lovely, but I snapped some pics for you. The pink, white and lite purple sakura were incredible (despite missing their 'peak' by about a week...) I was quite impressed by hundreds and hundreds of cherry blossom trees....too innumberable to count, it looked like a blizzard of blossoms. Hope you enjoy them ( I will post a link to all the other shots soon) and enjoy your Mother's Day in Minnesota!
あいしてる！ I love you! ~anne. 
Taneichi pals: Junko, Hatsumi & Taira