Ms. OP (a woman in her 70’s) O.P（７０代）

May 22, 2014 Women are tough having a family and community to protect and always thinking about how to protect themselves and those around. I’m currently thinking about my own life and soul. I want to save myself first and others and strongly feel that I want to take care of others. Returning something for the life I was given, the life that was saved, that’s my mission to live for those who lost their lives. Three years passed very quickly, and I have not been satisfied if I were not doing something all the time. It’s nice to have something you can devote yourself, something you can put your heart and soul. Relating with people on a regular basis is also important. A bed and breakfast run by someone I knew was washed away. But, the owner lady started a meal delivery service for senior citizens and became successful. That lady, when suffering from the disaster, remembered my Ikebana (flower arrangement) classes and started to come to take lessons. My ancestors said “evacuate to the shrine”, this turned out to be very true. At the shelter, I was also worried about cleaning up myself (hair, clothes). Having just hard biscuits was enough to fill my empty stomach and it was satisfying to share food with others. I was with my neighbors I’ve known, and we helped each other. No one tried to eat by oneself. It doesn’t worth worrying about small stuff. I thought the way you had lived your life was being reflected here and felt it would work out somehow as I didn’t have a critical feeling. My husband asked, “Are you going to continue Ikebana?” I immediately responded “I won’t give up”. There were Ikebana tools dirty but not broken, and I felt I could do it. I re-started my class in June 2011. Our everyday life seemed to have come back when students started to see each other in my class. This will make us forget about many things. You can lose physical goods, but you can’t lose your skills. I realized the importance of a community. Having room to breathe in life is also important and this will make you gradually realize what’s important. The first is the health of my family and me. I’m concerned about solitary death at temporary housing. Do not think you’re alone, value your neighbors and reach out to them. I want to open my house to others like a salon. It doesn’t have to be as large as a community center but a small tea party with just neighbors. It’s not where you are but who you’re with. There are different things you can do at a different age bracket. The elderly and the young are both needed to support each other. You don’t have to try to go straight but it’s ok to bend a little bit. Don’t be too serious with fears. I was adopted when I was in grade school and came to Ishinomaki City from Yamagata, being dressed in a red kimono. I grew up alone as a single child, so now I want many people to come to my house.