fumie ishii

kamakura

my friend kazimira forwarded me this message from a friend of her friend, andrea. i like to share this letter with you. if you have a few minutes, please read it.
my grandmother always tells me detailed stories of the time especially after the war. I was not there and I am not there but there are always stories we can pass by.

—-

From my cousin Anne Thomas in Sendai, Japan where she has lived for the past
Decade teaching English. Very moving!!

Hello My Lovely Family and Friends,

First I want to thank you so very much for your concern for me. I am very
Touched. I also wish to apologize for a generic message to you all. But it seems
The best way at the moment to get my message to you.

Things here in Sendai have been rather surreal. But I am very blessed to have
Wonderful friends who are helping me a lot. Since my shack is even more worthy
Of that name, I am now staying at a friend’s home. We share supplies like water,
Food and a kerosene heater. We sleep lined up in one room, eat by candlelight,
Share stories. It is warm, friendly, and beautiful.

During the day we help each other clean up the mess in our homes. People sit in
Their cars, looking at news on their navigation screens, or line up to get
Drinking water when a source is open. If someone has water running in their
Home, they put out sign so people can come to fill up their jugs and buckets.

Utterly amazingly where I am there has been no looting, no pushing in lines.
People leave their front door open, as it is safer when an earthquake strikes.
People keep saying, “Oh, this is how it used to be in the old days when everyone
Helped one another.”

Quakes keep coming. Last night they struck about every 15 minutes. Sirens are
Constant and helicopters pass overhead often.

We got water for a few hours in our homes last night, and now it is for half a
Day. Electricity came on this afternoon. Gas has not yet come on. But all of
This is by area. Some people have these things, others do not. No one has washed
For several days. We feel grubby, but there are so much more important concerns
Than that for us now. I love this peeling away of non-essentials. Living fully
On the level of instinct, of intuition, of caring, of what is needed for
Survival, not just of me, but of the entire group.

There are strange parallel universes happening. Houses a mess in some places,
Yet then a house with futons or laundry out drying in the sun. People lining up
For water and food, and yet a few people out walking their dogs. All happening
At the same time.

Other unexpected touches of beauty are first, the silence at night. No cars. No
One out on the streets. And the heavens at night are scattered with stars. I
Usually can see about two, but now the whole sky is filled. The mountains are
Sendai are solid and with the crisp air we can see them silhouetted against the
Sky magnificently.

And the Japanese themselves are so wonderful. I come back to my shack to check
On it each day, now to send this e-mail since the electricity is on, and I find
Food and water left in my entranceway. I have no idea from whom, but it is
There. Old men in green hats go from door to door checking to see if everyone is
OK. People talk to complete strangers asking if they need help. I see no signs
Of fear. Resignation, yes, but fear or panic, no.

They tell us we can expect aftershocks, and even other major quakes, for
Another month or more. And we are getting constant tremors, rolls, shaking,
Rumbling. I am blessed in that I live in a part of Sendai that is a bit
Elevated, a bit more solid than other parts. So, so far this area is better off
Than others.  Last night my friend’s husband came in from the country, bringing
Food and water. Blessed again.

Somehow at this time I realize from direct experience that there is indeed an
Enormous Cosmic evolutionary step that is occurring all over the world right at
This moment. And somehow as I experience the events happening now in Japan, I
Can feel my heart opening very wide. My brother asked me if I felt so small
Because of all that is happening. I don’t. Rather, I feel as part of something
Happening that much larger than myself. This wave of birthing (worldwide) is
Hard, and yet magnificent.

Thank you again for your care and Love of me,

With Love in return, to you all,
Anne

my friends are organizing this event to benefit japan relief. i am donating my works, too. ( actually next one ) – please be a part of it, a part of this world.  more charity shows to come.

peacefulな日々が戻りますように
どうかどうか皆さんご無事で
私　何が出来るだろう

thank you for all your texts and emails. all my family are in tokyo and they are fine now.
my sister walked for 4 hours home from work yesterday.
my deepest sympathy for the people in north-east japan

he was my boss at 1 hour photo store in roppongi before i move to ny.
he was really nice and cool but always made some mistakes almost every week and was demoted and transferred somewhere else.
he smoked lark.