In Memory of my Friend

I worked for a Japanese company with offices across the US. Over the years I learned a few Japanese words and used them here and there. 

Many Japanese employees in that company spoke Japanese in front of others and some people considered it rude.

 A now departed colleague and friend in the LA office spoke fluent Japanese but she never uttered a word of it in the office. Mana was related to a high-level Japanese executive at the Japanese parent company. She also was a manager and had been in many meetings over the years and heard many details of company business spoken in Japanese at the meetings, that others assumed she could not understand. She also heard them joke at her expense, calling her fat. 

After 30 years when close to retirement, Mana opened her mouth one day and addressed everyone in fluent Japanese. To say the least the people in the LA office were horrified and aghast! Lol Mana took particular delight in telling me that story. She was a smart cookie!

I suppose the moral of today’s story is she who laughs last laughs best 😉