Yoko as Citizen Philosopher

I went to Tampa this morning to get Yoko to her final interview with the INS. She had to get up to Tampa by 8:30 AM, which meant we needed to leave at 6:50 AM, which meant we had to be up before 6 AM. We got there on time and everything went well. She passed her interview with a recomendation that her application be accepted. The only thing left now is the swearing-in ceremony, which will happen next month.

We had Bill Flynn, an immigration attorney with Fowler and White, helping us with the process and attend the interview with her. Having an attorney there turns out to have been unnessary, but we took the precaution in case of some unforseen trouble. As her husband, I could not attend the interview and we've dealt enough with the INS to know that they can be difficult.

Yoko was nervous about this interview for months now. She has been studying over the last few months as if she were sitting for the bar exam. She had her civics lessons in hand every free moment and has now discovered that she is actually finding civics and politics interesting. I hope that she will continue to study and deepen her interests.

On January 7th Yoko was awarded a Paul Harris Fellow for her community service work with the Peace River Rotary. It is an honor that Rotary Clubs around the world bestow on people in the community to honor community service. Our club awarded the Paul Harris Fellow to Yoko by making a $1000 contribution in Yoko's name to the Rotary Foundation. She received a metal, pin and certificate to evidence her award. She wore the pin for the first time today, hoping it would garner some merit with the INS and, in effect, say " See? I am a good citizen before I have even become a citizen!" Isn't she cute?

Now Yoko wants to write a book and teach Americans about how to be happy.... She thinks we, as a people, are not happy and don't know how to be happy. She clearly sees some of the issues of our society. She wants to teach us how strong morals and ethics (not "God" per se) can lead to a happy life. This is her next project. I hope she will follow through. She has a lot to teach us.