Ms. N (a woman in her 40’s) N さん （４０代）

May 6, 2016 I want to repay for support goods we received, as it connects with people for the future. As our lives were OK by having our own house and my husband’s work, I tried to record all the support we had received and return the favor. At that time, we were all up to the neck just trying to live and just accepting the goods. No one had any room to be able to make repayment, and I thought I was the only one who could do this now. I tried my best to welcome Prince William when he came to Ishinomaki, too. I was largely influenced by my mother who shared delicious things with others or provided food to others even she didn’t have any. She was from a family of pedigree. My parents were running a store. The first sale of the year was always busy and I was always sent away to my mother’s parents’. I helped the store with my parents and think I’ve learned people skills then. I remember my mother cooled lots of Kinpiragobo (fried burdock root) and gave to customers to take home. I started to cook when I was third grade. My mother was a type of a person who always had good luck. In February of 2011, my parents closed the store. On March 11, my mother was in the hospital for being terminally ill from cancer, and my brothers were also visiting her at the hospital as her doctor told us she had very little time left to live. We all worried about our father who was alone in the house. It turned out that he lost his life to the tsunami in the house, and we confirmed that on March 12. We informed about our father’s passing to our mother, and she passed away next day on March 13. Her doctor explained to us about her passing, and I became conscious of the existence of God. I felt there was God as I saw Self Defense Force looked for my father in snow and carried canned goods to help us. I’m thankful for policemen and SDF who tried very hard when traffic signals were out of order. I have a feeling that God is arranging people and events ahead of time for us. I was shocked to hear a doctor from a large hospital said that he wouldn’t be able to send doctors who cost 50 million yen to train to become a doctor to the areas that were hit hard by the disaster even though there were people suffering. But, later I understood why. We had bad sanitary situation and unsafe condition with thieves. We didn’t have water, either. I was lucky to have two brothers and my husband. I’m still struggling just to live but feel I’m privileged. A friend of mine found her husband’s body but it was just a lower part of his body. Death will come to us in the order of our parents first then me. We don’t have any children. When my husband was gone to England for a half year, my life was not as lively. We’ve been together 21 years, but I started to organize our belongings, dishes and inside the closets, and list things up so that my husband can find something easily after I’m gone. It’s important to care for others. I became acquainted with people who came from other cities. If you keep improving your character and personality, it will deepen your relationship too. A series of events is like a stream of water. I want to see the stream and be able to determine where it goes. I’d like to initiate a stream. People who are needed by others appear with specific rolls to play, build a road for us and go away.