Revision of Ms. CD (a woman in her 60’s)C.Dさん（６０代） from Thu, 12/03/2020 - 10:17

Item Description

March 29, 2014 I bring back the memory of the disaster from time to time. After the disaster, I used an old style heater to warm ourselves and cooked food. I also used an electric heater. I walked a lot, rode a bicycle and drove a car, and felt you needed physical strength. I felt it was important to live healthy on a daily basis. I cooked miso soup for volunteers and acquaintances who rushed to come to help us. I’d like to pay attention to the environment of the earth. I have been opening my house that had been repaired after the disaster, to the community to organizing a gathering of elderly from the neighborhood. Through these gatherings, I hear about when the disaster hit and find myself learning something new for the first time. For example, how our cat was doing. I realized the importance of interaction with neighbors including checking on each other by saying something. If you let your neighbor know when you are leaving the house, you don’t even need to lock the door. I feel “I’m forced to live. To live is being forced to live.” I didn’t become a victim of Tsunami but something in me changed due to the disaster. I feel much stronger now that “I must do something.” Not just by my own will but for those who lost their lives. Among people who lost lives, some lived on a higher ground but were happened to be at the ocean front on that day or escaped to a higher ground but returned home to a lower ground. Some People I know evacuated and survived by being beckoned by strangers. I think about the difference between those who survived and those who lost lives. Why did I survive? I feel like I’ve been told to “do something” for others. I ask myself what separates life and death when we were in the same place at the same time under the same condition. May be a true nature of a person will show up at the time of the disaster. I think about human nature, a way of life, and want to think about “moving forward”. I no longer attached to physical goods. My values on what’s important have changed. Connection with people, relationship with neighbors, words and actions in consideration of others are important, and quietly extending your hand for those needed and expanding your imagination seem to be of importance. Having various experiences will make your life rich and kind. What you need will come when it’s needed. Take care of the nature. The ocean returned black stinky slime back to us. I felt happy and our hearts were one when three of us, my husband, son and I (plus three cats) lived in a small room on the second floor of the house, which was saved from water. We lived with candles and battery operated light. Getting up with the sunrise and going bed after sunset. We humans should change the way we live. Do not think what we don’t have but think what we have. Nature will heal itself. We are taking over our friend’s coffee shop which had been closed since the disaster and starting our new business by August 2014.

Japanese Description

震災をたまに思いだします。旧式のストーブにより暖をとり、料理もしました。電気ストーブも併用。徒歩、自転車、車を使い、体力が必要だと実感しました。日ごろから健康に暮らすことが大切ではないでしょうか。駆けつけたボランティアや知人のために、みそ汁を作りました。地球環境に気をつけたいです。震災後、修復した自宅を地域のために開放し、近所のお年寄りとの集まりを開いています。このことにより、震災当時のことを聞き、初めてわかることもあります。たとえば、震災時、我が家の猫がどうやっていたか。声掛けなど、近所付き合いの大切さを知りました。留守にする時、近所に声をかけると、鍵をかけないで出かけることが可能。「自分は生かされている。生きることは生かされていること」と実感。津波の犠牲にならなかった自分。震災がきっかけで何かが変わる自分。以前よりもっと、「何かしなくでは」との気持ちが強くなりました。自分の意志でなく亡くなった人の分まで。自宅は高台にあるのに、たまたまあの日は海辺にいたり、高台への避難後、自宅へもどった人達が亡くなりました。他人に手招きされて、避難した方で助かった知人達。助かった人、犠牲になった人の違いについて考えます。なぜ自分が助かったか、“何かしなさい”と言われている気がします。人のために。同じ場所、同じ時間、同じ条件でいたのに、生死の分かれ目は何なのだろと自問。震災により、人それぞれの本質が出るのかもしれません。人間性、生き方について考え、“これから”について考えたいです。もう物に執着していません。何を大切にするかといった価値観が変わりました。人とのつながり、近所とのかかわり、相手を思う言葉や行動が大切で、そっと手を差し伸べたり想像力を働かせたりすることが大事かもしれません。いろんな経験をすることが人生を豊かにし、優しくします。必要なものは必要な時に来るのではないでしょうか。自然を大切に。黒い悪臭のヘドロを海から返されたのです。しばらく 2 階の６畳一間に夫婦と息子の 3 人暮らし（+猫 3 匹）が、幸せで心がひとつでした。ロウソク、電池式の明かり。朝日と共に起き、太陽が沈むと就寝。私たち人間は、生き方を変えるべきです。何が無いかではなく、何があるか。自然は自然を修復します。2014 年 8 月には、閉店した知り合いの喫茶店を引き継ぎ、喫茶店経営を始める予定。２０１４年３月２９日

English Description

March 29, 2014 I bring back the memory of the disaster from time to time. After the disaster, I used an old style heater to warm ourselves and cooked food. I also used an electric heater. I walked a lot, rode a bicycle and drove a car, and felt you needed physical strength. I felt it was important to live healthy on a daily basis. I cooked miso soup for volunteers and acquaintances who rushed to come to help us. I’d like to pay attention to the environment of the earth. I have been opening my house that had been repaired after the disaster, to the community to organizing a gathering of elderly from the neighborhood. Through these gatherings, I hear about when the disaster hit and find myself learning something new for the first time. For example, how our cat was doing. I realized the importance of interaction with neighbors including checking on each other by saying something. If you let your neighbor know when you are leaving the house, you don’t even need to lock the door. I feel “I’m forced to live. To live is being forced to live.” I didn’t become a victim of Tsunami but something in me changed due to the disaster. I feel much stronger now that “I must do something.” Not just by my own will but for those who lost their lives. Among people who lost lives, some lived on a higher ground but were happened to be at the ocean front on that day or escaped to a higher ground but returned home to a lower ground. Some People I know evacuated and survived by being beckoned by strangers. I think about the difference between those who survived and those who lost lives. Why did I survive? I feel like I’ve been told to “do something” for others. I ask myself what separates life and death when we were in the same place at the same time under the same condition. May be a true nature of a person will show up at the time of the disaster. I think about human nature, a way of life, and want to think about “moving forward”. I no longer attached to physical goods. My values on what’s important have changed. Connection with people, relationship with neighbors, words and actions in consideration of others are important, and quietly extending your hand for those needed and expanding your imagination seem to be of importance. Having various experiences will make your life rich and kind. What you need will come when it’s needed. Take care of the nature. The ocean returned black stinky slime back to us. I felt happy and our hearts were one when three of us, my husband, son and I (plus three cats) lived in a small room on the second floor of the house, which was saved from water. We lived with candles and battery operated light. Getting up with the sunrise and going bed after sunset. We humans should change the way we live. Do not think what we don’t have but think what we have. Nature will heal itself. We are taking over our friend’s coffee shop which had been closed since the disaster and starting our new business by August 2014.