Ms. DC (a woman in her 70’s) E.Fさん（６０代）

September 13, 2014 I lost my husband for lung cancer when I was 52 years old. It was 16 years ago. I experienced what it meant to lose a person. It changed my life with the idea that I needed to do things that my husband couldn’t achieve. Getting married and losing a husband were two biggest events in my life. My husband was a member of the municipal assembly. I realized it is such a task for a wife of an assembly member to ask for a vote. My husband was a kind person with a big dream. I shared his dream thanks to him. When I was younger, I used to help the liquor store that my family owed. I delivered merchandise and helped with the customers at the store. I’ve always wanted to do something to help others. I started to dream about going abroad when I was about 20 years old. I started working when I was 18 years old at a company where people around me took care of me, taking out for meals and places. I wanted to do the same to help others when it was my turn. After my husband passed, I started to work in the insurance industry also worked as a receptionist at a law firm. If you work faithfully, jobs would come your way. You never know when you expire so you need to do things in moderation and to be yourself. Since I was younger, I’ve always felt it is important for women to be independent financially, socially, and emotionally. While I was raising my four sons, I met many people. Women are flexible, adaptable, and are capable of multi-tasking. After the disaster, I have been doing things that I am capable of as much as I am able. I had my son’s and friend’s family move in with me and ended up having 9 people in my house. I was thankful for the relief goods I received such as meat, vegetable, and fuel from my friends. I realized how important to have good relationship with neighbors. My son’s family stayed till this October and it was enjoyable to prepare meals for them. I love cooking for guests and I didn’t mind it, at all. We used to go pump water at people’s well or went to the local water source. We take more precaution with our safety and we escape to the higher hills when earthquakes come. I’ve been visiting hospitals, senior homes, co-ops and halls to put out consolation concerts since the disaster. I started to take Chanson lessons at the age 59 and won a prize at a competition at the age of 60. In June of 2011, my Chanson singer friends got together and did a concert. A famous Chanson singer came to Ishinomaki and joined us and we were all energized. At the day of the disaster, the singer was getting ready for a concert and she was victimized by the disaster. She shares the pain with the victims and she supports us. I also want to support others, following her lead. I hope I can visit more facilities to sing songs to cheer people up. All you need is a dream.