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DiaryfromSendai,Japan(PartI)
March11,2011
byBravenSmillie
Sendai,beforetheearthquakeandtsunamithatstruck
onMarch11,2011
March11wasacold,slow-movingFridayafternoonatourhomeinSendai.Asa
freelancewriterandtranslator,Iwasmakingatransition,familiaronsuchidle
afternoons.Havingfinishedabitofurgentdeadlinework,Iwasshiftinggearsto
workonalistoflong-termprojectswithmorevaguelydefinedobjectivesand
prospects.Iturnedtoahobbyforafewminutestopassthetimeuntilourtwo
daughterswouldreturnhomefromschool,androutinedistractionswouldfree
mefromthoughtsofwork,businessandmyownfinances,untilMonday.
AlsoroutinewasabriefshudderundermyfeetasIstoodatanupstairs
bathroomsink,whittlingonapieceofdry,whiteclayIhopedtoturnintoa
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porcelainfigurine.MinorearthquakesarecommonplaceinJapan,andhaving
livedherefor20-oddyears,Ithoughtnothingofit.Amomentlater,Ilookedup
frommyworktotakenoticeofanother,moreassertiveshudder.Thoughstill
faint,thisonehadaninsistent,snatchingcharacterI'dfeltbefore,andalways
seenassubtlymenacing.Thewindowswhisperedratherthanrattled,andall
returnedtonormal--briefly.
AnaerialphototakenoffiresandfloodinginSendai,
immediatelyaftertheearthquakeandtsunamion
March11,2011
Isoonsetmysharpcarvingtooldownontheglasscounterasthefloorvibrated
againinafineverticaltremorthatseemedtodrawoutlonger--thisonewasn't
fading.AsIhaddonehundredsoftimes,Idecidedtowaitandseewhatwasinstore.Theverticalvibrationslowedinfrequencyandincreasedinintensityas
horizontalwavesbegantosnatchatthefloorandwalls,gentlyatfirst,thenmore
powerfully.Thequestionnowwashowmuchdramawouldbeappropriatein
frontofmywife,Chiaki,whowasathomewithme.DoIdiveunderatable,
coveringmyhead?Certainlynot!Standunderadoorway?Reasonable.AsIstood
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inthebathroomdoorway,suggestingthatChiakidothesame,therewasasense
underfootofridingaskateboardovermarblesorpebbles.Disorienting,butones
feetcouldstillbetrusted.
Thehorizontalandverticalvibrationsthenproducedwavelikeshocksthat
combinedintocrazedtwitching,lurchingmotionsofallfrequencies.Myworry
nowwaswhetherIcouldmakeitdownthestairstotheentrywayofourhome,
whichIfeltwasthemoststructurallysafeandunclutteredplaceinourhome.As
therolling,jabbingmotionsofthefloorandwallsgrewbeyondallpast
experience,Ifeltallconfidence,allsenseofappropriateearthquake
comportmentslippingaway.Nolongerconcernedwithdrama,Ireachedfora
railingasIlurchedforwardoverthetopstepsofthestaircase.Idonotremember
grippingormissing,onlyjoltingforward,downandaroundtowardtheentryway.
Themotionsbecamemorerhythmic,likeridinganoverspeedtrainasit
threatenedtojumptherailsatanymoment,thendid.
Ibrieflynegotiatedwiththeurgetoclingtonormalconcerns,asImoveda
sculptureI'dmadeoftheMadonnaandChildoffofanendtablewhereitmadea
totteringtop-heavydisplay.AsIplaceditontheshiftingfloor,thesoundofbig
thingsfallingdeepinsidethehouse,andofshatteringglass,snappedalast
tenuousthreadconnectingtothedelightfullyidleconcernsofaminutebefore.
Chiaki?Whereareyou...whereareyou?Iyelledtomywife,implyingthatshedbetterbeunderatable.Infact,Chiakiwasdoingherbesttoformarighttriangle
withherbodyineffortstobraceupaprizedantiquewritingdeskwithglass
cabinetabove.
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Idonotremembertheendoftheearthquake.Itmayhavestoppedsuddenly,and
itmayhaveslowlyreceded.Ionlyrememberputtingonsandalsandajacket,
thenwanderingoutintoalightsnowfalltowatchtheevacuationatTakamori
ElementarySchool,wheremydaughtersTina,10andElena,7,areinthesecond
andfifthgrades.
Amap,showingtheepicenteroftheearthquake.
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DiaryfromSendai,Japan(PartII)
March11,2011
byBravenSmillie
Somehomesandneighborhoodsweredamagedmore
thanothers.
Whenthefloorandwallshadstoppedtwistingandjolting,therewasawoozy,
slowswayingoftheground.Neitherclearlyhorizontal,verticalorperiodic,it
producedanoddsensationsomethinglikestandingonsolidgroundafterdaysor
weeksatsea.
IcalledtomywifeChiakiagain.Findingthatshewasunhurt,Itrottedoutintoa
lightsnowfallandheadedtowardthenearbyelementaryschool,whereI
imaginedIdfindmydaughtersTinaandElenaenjoyingabreakfromclassesout
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ontheplayground.Idonotknowwhymyfirstthoughtwasntadesperateneed
toseeandprotectthemimmediately.Ididntrun,butstrolleddowntothe
school,handsinpockets,jinglingkeys.
AsImovedthroughthestreet,Isteppedoversmallcompressedripplesand
rupturesinthepavementeverywhere.Isawfinebutserious-lookingstructural
cracksinwalls,scrambledroofingtilesandbrokenwindows.Somehomeswere
spareddamage,somenot.Noonewascallingout.Isawnooneonthestreet.And
thelightdustingofsnowdampenedallnoise.
Attheplayground,thechildrenwerefilingoutofthefive-storybuildingin
orderlyfire-drillstyle.Itwasfreezingcoldandsnowingafterhavingbeenwarm
inthemorning,sonoonehaddressedwarmlyenough.Iwalkedaroundthe
assembledgroupofabout200studentsandfeltabitfrustratedasIcouldntfind
mydaughters,orevenidentifyanyofthekidsIknow.Nonesmiledorwavedat
meastheyusuallydo.
Theyweredifficulttodistinguish,andnotjustbecausetheywereeachwearinga
standard-issuesilver-grayfireretardantheadcovering.Therewassomething
elsecommonintheirappearance.Everykidhadthesamemask-likefacial
expressionathousand-yardstarethatisastonishingtoseeonachild.
IfinallyidentifiedElena,myseven-year-oldandwenttoholdontoherandmaybeclownaroundalittletocheerherup.Shewasshivering,soItriedtogive
hermycoat.Shesaid,I'mnotshakingbecauseImcold,its...that...andshe
couldntdescribeit.Itdawnedonmethenthatthesekidswereallinshock,
probablyforthefirsttime.Imadeherputonmyjacket,andweheldontoeach
otheraswesquattedonthesandyturf.
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Thelazyswayingofthegroundbeganagainandwelookedacrossthe
playground,watchinglong,low,quickswellspassacrossthesurface,andthe
groundvibratedlikegelasaftershockscamethrough.Sometimestheground
seemedtorotateslightly,asthoughtheplaygroundwereabowlofpuddingwith
usatthecenter,anditbeingtwistedbackandforthbysomeonegrippingthe
circumference.Thisisimpossible,ofcourse,eveninanearthquake.Andyetthere
itwas.
Whenoneoftheseweirdcontortionswouldoccur,whateverteacherorschool
officialwasaddressingtheassemblywouldpausebrieflyanduncertainlybefore
bringingthemegaphonebackintospeakingposition.Itwasonlyaslight
hesitationinwhatwasreallyaseamlesslyprofessional,well-drilledconductof
thesafetyprocedures.YetIcouldnthelpnoticingit.Idseenitsomewherebefore
anddecadesago,inacrowdwasitaplanecrash?Atrafficaccident?Afire?I
couldntremember.
Weheardaseriesofexplosions,softlyinthedistance.Butwhileseeingthesolid
groundturnliquidbeforeoureyes,werebeyondconcernaboutwhatthesemight
be.
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DiaryfromSendai,Japan(PartII)
March11,2011
byBravenSmillie
DamagedroadsinSendai(source)
AsImetmychildrenontheschoolplaygroundwheretheyhadevacuatedafter
thequake,Itriedtosplitmytimebetweenseven-year-oldElenaandten-year-old
Christina.ButIsoonrealizedthatElenaneededmoreimmediatecare.AndIwas
startingtofeelthebiteofthebitterchillaftergivingElenamyjacket.Don'tYOU
startshaking,Daddy!shesaidatonepointasIshiveredfromthecold.Wecan,butyoucan't.Iheldontoherforawhile,partlyjusttokeepwarm,thenleftto
checkonChristina.
Tinahadjoinedasquattinggroupofclassmateswhowerehuggingand
encouragingeachotherinanimprovisedscrum.Forthefirstofwhatwouldbe
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manytimesinthecomingdays,IheardmyselftalkinawayInevercouldhave
beforewithoutasardonicsmirk:Ineedyoutobestrong,now,Tina.Canyoubea
strongbigsisterforme?Herresponsewasequallynewandraw,somethingId
havecalledhiiiighdramajustanhourearlier:Icanbestrong,Daddy.Gotoher.
Ithinksheshavingherfirstearthquake.
IwentbacktoholdElenauntiltheteachersconfirmedthatallwerepresentand
unhurt.Theythenbeganreleasingeachchildtoparents,carefullyconfirmingand
matchingfamilyidentities.Notonlydidtheteachersactinacalm,professional
manner,buttheseamlessproceduresextendedtotheparents,whohadalso
preparedforjustsuchanevacuation.Iwasthere,Idthought,onlybecauseChiaki
happenedtohavethoughtofcheckingonthekidsbeforetheyweresenthome.In
fact,shedsentmetotheschoolasonewell-definedstepinaprocedurethatwas
secondnaturetoeveryonebutme.
Asthethreeofuswalkedhome,Inoticedthatmydaughtersteethwerenolonger
chattering.Webegantotrytofindwaysoftalkingaboutwhathadjusthappened.
Theytriedtalkingaboutthequakeastheywouldtheanticsofaclassclown,a
sceneinascarymovie,aboastofsomethingamazingtheywereprivyto.It
wouldntfitintoanyoftheusualframes.ItriedtomakethemlaughSorryabout
thequake.Donttellanybody,butIthinkoneofmybigsneezessetitoff.They
werehavingnoneofit.Itwasntgoingtobethateasytogetbacktonormal.We
walkedsilentlyforawhileandIrememberedthemask-like,stunnedexpressionthatallthechildrenseemedtowearduringtheevacuation.Iwantedtogetatit
andfindoutwhereitcamefrom.SoIaskedthemeachwhattheysawanddid,
startingfrombeforetheshaking.
Initsbriefway,Elenasstorytolditall:Everythingwasshaking,shaking,
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shaking!Wewentunderourdesksandpeoplewereprayingandcryingand
screaming.Andthingslikebooksandbagswerefallinglikecrazy.Wewent
outsideandthenDaddycame.
Tinasstoryrevealsmoredetail,ofpeoplesreactionstochaosandofthe
evacuationstrategytakenbytheteachers:Weweredoingmathaboutshapes
anditwasFriday,andthenitshookandweonlythoughtitwasjustatinyonethat
stopsimmediately.Butthenitshookfromthefloor,andalmosteverybodywas
crying.Thentheteachersallopenedthedoorsandwindowssotheywouldntget
stuck.AndourteachersaidDuckdownunderyourdeskandsaveyourhead!
Itwaslikewewereonabigboatandwewereholdingontothefeetofourdesks
anditwasgoingbackandforthandbackandforth,likerowingaboat.Andit
shookupanddownandsideways,soIbangedmyheadandithurt.And
everybodywaspraying,andalltheboysweresayinginJapanese,It'sOK!Were
surviving.ItsOK.Wecandothis!Andthenwhenitstoppeddowntoalittletiny
bit,likebetweenthebigshakes,welinedupreallyreallyfastandwerandown
thestairstogetoutsidebeforeitstartedshakingbigagain.Theteachersand
principalwerereallygood.Theywereoutinthehall,andsaying,Areyoustill
alive,fourthgraders?Youreok!Bearwithit!Youredoingfine!AndIdidntthink
iteverwouldstop.Weheardsoundsintheroadlikeboomboom,echoing.Ithink
thatwasthecrackswesawintheroadlater.
Thenwegotoutsideandwefeltreally,reallysafe.Andafterthat,westarted
thinkingaboutourmomsanddadsandallofusstartedcrying,eventheboys.I
washoldingontotwoofmyfriends.Wetriedtobebravebutwewereshakinga
lot.Iwasreallycoldandshivering,butalsobecausewewerereallyscared,and
theshakinginourmindsandinourlegswasreallyreallymakingusshake.Then
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daddyarrivedandwenttomylittlesisterElena.Itwasherfirstbigearthquakeso
shewasreallyreallyscared.
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DiaryfromSendai,Japan(PartIV)
March11,2011
byBravenSmillie
Peoplewereliningupoutsidegrocerystores,which
helddwindlingsupplies.
AsmytwodaughtersandIwalkedhomefromtheirschoolafterthequake,I
begantothinkaboutwhattodonext.Whatdoyoudonext?Thoughits
contentshadbeenmoreorlessrandomized,ourhomeappearedtobespared
structurally.Ihappenedtohavebeenreadingafewapocalypticnovels
recently,likeOneSecondAfter,LucifersHammerandTheRoad.And
suchstoriesoftenstartoffwithasceneinwhichthemanofthehouse,
discerningdoomsquietapproach,stridestothebathroomtofillthetubwith
water.Iwasjustabouttodoso,whenChiakisuggestedthatIgotothebathtub
andfillitwithwater.
Hereshowshespenttheafternoon:
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Iwasatthekitchencounter,doingsomepaperworkwhentheshakingstarted.
Idknownthatalargeearthquakehadbeenforecastasverylikelytostrikethe
areawithinadecade.Soasthetremorgrew,Ibegantothinkthiscouldbethe
one.
Imovedbackafewstepsbehindmeandsquatteddown,bracingmyright
handontheglass-shutteredbookcasethatwasthetophalfofanantique
writingdeskIfelttheneedtoprotect.Iputmylefthandagainstourdining
tableasIwatchedaheavycast-ironlightingfixtureswingbackandforthfrom
theceiling.ItsweptacrosswideningarcsuntilIwasafraiditwouldhitthe
ceiling.
Bravencalledtome:Whereareyou,Chiaki?AreyouOK?Theshakingwent
onandonuntilInoticedthelightingfixturesswingbegintolosemomentum.I
steppedbackintothekitchenareaandfeltsomethingsandyunderfoot.
Granularsugarandshardsofshatteredglasscoveredpartsofthefloor.The
waterstillran,buttheelectricityandgashadshutoff,andIrealizedthatI
mightnothavethemagainsoon.IaskedBraventogototheelementaryschool
topickupourtwochildren.
Soonafter,IwentoutsideandsawTinaandElenacominghomewithBraven.
AsIwalkedtowardthem,TinasaidMommy!andwehugged.ThenIalsohuggedElena,thenboth.Theywerecryingabit,butseemedrelieved.
Sowewereallfourhomeandunhurt.Butastheshadowsgrewlong,eachone
ofuswouldsometimesabsentlyfliponalightswitchonlytoberemindedthat
wewerenowwithoutelectricity.Thefaucetssoonwentdry,andasrooms
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grewdim,webeganprioritizing,rushingtocompletethemostbasicchores
beforedarknessfell.Simplethings,likesecuringcandles,findinganancientBic
butanelighter,acampstoveandenoughfoodforthenight.Aftershockswere
continuous,andaddedtothedisorientationanduncertaintythatcamewith
thedark.
Hadwereallycheckedthestructureofthehouse?Shouldweevacuate?The
childrenhadseenanemergencysheltersetupattheschoolgym.ChiakiandI
wonderedaloudwhatweshoulddo,andthatwasabigmistake.Thekids
sensedouruncertaintyandpanicked,convincedthatwewouldalldieifwedid
notsleepintheshelter.Wedbuiltthishousetwoyearsbefore,andtook
specialcaretomakeitstronginanearthquake.Idecidedwedmakeasafe
roombyclearingoutallheavyobjects,establishanevacuationpath,andsleep
togetherthere.
Thatnight,weallprayedtogetheramidcontinuousaftershocks.Iheldone
daughterineacharm,feelingthemwinceeverytimetheroomjoltedagain.
Eachtime,theyinsistedthatitwouldgrowintoanotherbigquakeandkillus.
TheyspokeofdeathmorefranklythanIthoughtpossible,andsoonexhausted
themselves.BeforeImyselffellasleep,IprayedthatIdchosenright.
Onthemorningafterthequake,thingsstartedlookingup.Withvirtuallyno
phonesormedia,andlotsofbasicoldfashionedhousechorestodoincludingfetchingwaterthenextfewdayssometimesfeltlikeacandle-lit19th-Century
idyll.WejokedthatElenasroomactuallyseemedtidierafterthequakethan
before.Neighborstookwalkstovisitandhelpeachother.Theentire
neighborhoodexchangedfoodandassistance.Ibecameahandymanofnote,
specializingintheingeniousmanipulationofneedlenosepliersandaluminum
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wire.Withoutambientcitylight,westrolledwithcandlesatnight,and
reallysawthestars.
Then,aroundthethirdday
afterthequake,thenuclear
talkturnedserious.When
spottycellphoneservice
resumed,Ilookedaroundat
theInternetandbegantodrink
oftheavalancheofnews,
scuttlebutt,official
admonitionstoremaincalm
andscientificanalysesboth
reassuringandalarmist.Some
friendswerethinkingoffleeingthefallout.Newsreportsshowedabulls-eye
ofconcentriccirclesonamapofourregion,withredinthemiddle,wherethe
reactorswereburning,andshadingtoorangeandyellowfurtherout.Wewere
outsidethepaleyellow,butnotfarenoughforcomfort.
Signsofseriousconcernsometimesvergedintopanic.Andnomatterhow
muchIstudiedthefactsandtriedtoremainrational,itaffectedme.Thesigns
ofincipientpaniccameinwaves,somefromacrosstheworldinurgent
Facebookmessages,andsomefromconversationsinthelinesthatsnakedthroughtheparkinglotsofblacked-outsupermarkets,whichwererationing
diminishingstocks.Warningswerebroadcastagainstdrinkingtheiodine
solutionscommonlysoldasadisinfectantgargle.Andexpertsexplainedhow
youcanwashradioactivedustoffofyourbodywithsoap.
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Andthentherewasthatexpandingbulls-eyemapwithChiakiandour
daughtersandmesomewherebeyondtheyellowcircle.IcouldseeitwhenI
closedmyeyes.Whenoneofmydaughtersaskedmewhatthebulls-eye
meant,Isaiditwasjustsomethingabouttheweather,andfeltlikeId
swallowedcoldlead.
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DiaryfromSendai,Japan(Final)
March21,2011
byBravenSmillie
Photostakenonthedayoftheearthquake.UploadedontheblogofSendaiTakamori
PublicElementary,wheremydaughtersattendschool.http://www.sendai-
c.ed.jp/~takasho/takasho_blog/
Duringourlow-techpost-quakeidyll,Idtakentomakinglong,careful
reconnaissancetripsonmybicycletolookatthestateofroaddamage,changesin
trafficpatterns,storerationlinesandthegasstations,allofwhichwereeither
closedorhadkilometer-longlinesofcarswaitinginhopesofafutureration.The
quakehadimmediatelydisabledelectricgasstationpumps,andasubsequentrun
onfuelemptiedstoragetanksthroughoutnorthernHonshuthatsmytheory,at
least.Soweresistedthetemptationtousethecartoziparound,visitingfriends
andrunningerrands.IknewIhadjustoverhalfatankofregularabout23liters,
andlookingatthosegaslinesmadeitseemworthsaving.
Ononeoftheserecontrips,IbegantosufferfromaconditionIcallcoffee
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deprivationheadache,andstoppedataroadsidevendingmachineforsomequick
caffeine.Twoyoungmen,perhaps19or20,hadgottherebeforeme,andwere
feedingin1,000-yennotes(worthabout$12each),methodicallyemptyingitofall
itsdrinkskerplunk,kerplunk,kerplunk.So,itscometothis,Ithought,androde
onwithoutmyfix.Thisindignity,asmuchasanythingelse,tippedmeinthe
directionofleavingtown.
Irrationalorsmart,ifweweregoingtotrytodriveouttoanairport,Ifeltwed
havetodoitimmediately,beforetheroadscloggedupwithothersjustlikeus.
ChiakisparentswereclamoringforustocomestaywiththeminTakarazuka,near
Osaka,wellsouthwestofanypotentialdanger.So,strugglingtocontrolournerves
andsoundcasualforthekids,wepackedupandtookatentativedriveofanhour,
westfromSendai,acrossthemountainstoafriendshouseinYamagata,wherewe
enjoyedrunningwateragain.
Buttheedgysenseofimpendingpanicremained.Allworkingbusandairtravel
outoftheSendaiareawasbookedsolid,andwefoundthatthesamewastruein
Yamagata.Wehadntrunintoheavyroadtraffic,though,possiblybecausefewhad
enoughgaslefttotrygettingout.
Tensehoursofsearchingamiddiminishingoptionsyieldedusfourseatsonaflight
outofthelocalairportinAkita,adriveofabout4-1/2hoursnorthfromYamagata
bythemountainroute.Justlikeanydadabouttotakethefamilyonaroadtrip,Ididafewthumbnailcalculationsoffactorslikemileage,weatherandroad
conditions.Butonthistriptherewouldbenomarginforerror.Theredbenohelp
orgastocountonalongthewaytoAkita,andanysimplemishapcouldputusin
serioustrouble.Wouldthesnowbepackedorfresh?Wouldfreshsnowhide
cracksintheroad?We'dhavetoforegotheheater,useneutralgeardownhill.
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Wouldouroldbrakepadshandleit?Theredbedozensoftunnelstopassthrough
upthere.Wouldtheybedamaged?Heavysnowfallwasforecasttostartinhours.I
triedtothinkofeverypossibleflawintheplan,butknewIdmisssome.
WesetoutfromYamagata,andruraltownroadsgavewaytoagradualclimbinto
lowmountains.Arounddark,IwatchedtheodometerandfuelgaugepassapointI
wascallingV1,thepointofnoreturn.Moremilesandhourspassed,eatingup
preciousfuelontheclimb.IbecamesofocusedonmileagethatIevenslowedthe
windshieldwipersdown,hopingitwouldsaveanounceduringthetrip.Andwhen
thethoughtflashedthroughmymindthatthegirlsfightinginthebackseatmight
costuspreciousfuel,Irealizedmynervesweregettingfrayed.Itwasthen,about
50kilometersoutofAkita,thatIsawinthedistanceatinyyellowdotshining
throughthesnowinthedark.CouldthatbetheyellowofaShellsign?AsIdrew
closer,Isawtwotaillightsbrightenbrieflyandveerlefttodisappearintoit.That
glowwasaShellsign,whereamanwouldsell9litersofhigh-octaneandsaveus.
Therestofthetripistravelogue.
Thenextmorning,thefourofussatinapassengercabin,watchingthevideo
screenwithafeedfromacameraunderthefuselage.Iwatchedthedottedlineon
therubber-scuffedrunwayslidebackunderusanddrawaway,concernedabutthe
carIdjustleftbehind,mywifesparents,work,andhowIdjugglethecreditcard
billswedrackedup.Cartrouble.In-laws.Bills.IclosedmyeyesandthankedGod
forreattachingathreadthathadsnappednearlyaweekbeforethethreadconnectingustotheordinaryconcernsofapampered,modernlife.
Ourheartsgoouttoallthepeoplewhohavelostlovedones,theirhomes,their
freedomandpeaceofmindinthedisaster.Andatthisminute,bettermenthanme
areatthecenterofthatbulls-eyemap,bychoice,facingdownthefearsweran
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from.Theyrefightingtosavetheirfamilies,communities,countryandindustry
fromfurtherdisaster.Bywritingandpublishingthisstory,Idontwanttoimply
inanywaythatwerepresenttherealvictimsorothersmostdeeplyinvolvedin
thisunfoldingdisaster.Oursisthestoryofaclosecallonly,andlotsofpuredumb
luck.Imsureitchangedthefourofusinwayswellunderstandintime.Weall
madealotofdecisionsinthepastweek,andIknowwe'llstandbythem,asa
family.
***Anyone with an ounce of compassion will feel compelled to do something immediate to helpthe people now spotlighted in the media. But its not clear that sending money to Japan is
whats needed. Please consider the many superb charities that help the forgotten earthquakevictims in Haiti and elsewhere in impoverished countries, where monetary donations canreally do some serious, long-term good. Our family, for instance, sponsors a child in Calcuttathrough Children International (www.childreninternational.org ). You can, too, with a fewmouse clicks. Charitable donations like this can help those who lack the hope that comesfrom Japans robust domestic economy and infrastructure, its world-class engineeringexpertise and the economic wherewithal to bounce back fast. Theres an immediate need forcivil engineering and linguistic expertise in stricken areas of Japan, but, as the New YorkTimes article linked below indicates, Japan does not lack for basic disaster relief necessities.
Meanwhile, messages of moral support and encouragement from people overseas really can
mean a lot to Japan's earthquake victims. If you would like to encourage the children,teachers and families of Sendai Takamori Public Elementary School, where I picked up Tinaand Elena on the day of the quake, please send a brief e-mail that a youngster wouldunderstand to the school at: [email protected]. Im sure any messages of prayer,encouragement and friendship will be of great help. Im also sure that they will be able toshare the messages with schools that have suffered more directly from the devastation. Youcan visit their website (Japanese language) at: http://www2.sendai-c.ed.jp/%7Etakasho/
Within the website, photos taken on the day of the quake have now been posted at:http://www.sendai-c.ed.jp/~takasho/takasho_blog/
And here is a link to the New York Times article on the questionable effectiveness of sendingcharity cash to Japan:http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/16/world/asia/16charity.html .