Momo's First Girl's Day



I have displayed the Hina Dolls for my daughter since she was born, however I did it especially for my granddaughter Momo this year for her first Girl's Day.

Every year family get-together dinner (or lunch in some occasions) is held on March 3 celebrating both Girl's Day and hubby's birthday. However it was held a week behind this year as I had a sticky cold that took me 3 weeks to get over. Persistent cough was really annoying.

Momo with Hina Dolls. She doesn't seem very interested in them.

 

After Momo went to bed, we started a late dinner. As it was March 10, the day before we marked the first anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake, I did realize how happy we were to get together like this.

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

I saw a movie about 9/11 titled "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" yesterday. And today I found out that Thomas Horn (the young boy with the major role) was the son of my blogger friend's friend's close friend. I'm not good at statistics, but "Six Degrees of Separation" may be right? lol

The movie was a little bit special to me because my daughter and I were involved in the incident separately; my daughter was at JFK airport and I was on a plane heading for New York when WTC was attacked. The bitter experience is still in my mind and every year at the time of memorial ceremony, the collapse scene of WTC showed on TV reminds me of the turmoil that morning.

I fully understand Oscar’s uneasiness, fear, unfocused anger and tremendous sense of loss since both my father and father-in-law passed away all of sudden like his father, not because of an irrational accident or crime though. How can you imagine that the person, who you talked with the day before, died the next day? The more tremendous the loss of someone you really love is, the deeper the loss is. However we human beings are strong enough to get out of the depth somehow. The key Oscar had found in his late father’s closet played a very important role to help him get out of the depth of loneliness. I believe that the core part of our spirit is soft, sensitive, vulnerable but yet flexible and tough enough to survive. I recommend the movie for those who want to be positive and go forward even in hard times.
I love Tom Hunks ：D

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Chocolate from my daughter's family this year. Already gone to our stomach though:D
Filled with their love, it was very sweet and tasty. The name of my 3-month-old granddaughter along with her parents' at the end of the message in the card, made me smile.

Wishing you Happy Valentine's Day!!

Gerontology

Gloomy Sunday morning. Looking back yesterday, I'm wondering what makes such big differences?

At the family-get-together lunch, being celebrated her 83 year birthday, my mom in law was very vigorous and cheerful. She was very pleased with the flowers we prepared.

After the lunch, hubby and I visited my mom (85 years old) in the hospital. It is about 3 weeks since she transferred to this hospital and seemed much weaker compared to the last time we visited her. Now she can hardly recognize me. I expected her descent to somw extent, however the reality is much severer than that.
Again I wonder what makes such big differences between them. That's why I'm interested in gerontology, I guess...

Recently I read the following books.
Aging with Grace
Disguised

Happy New Year of Dragon 2012

Whatever happens, time never stops.

We Japanese experienced an unprecedented catastrophe last year and still so many challenges and difficulties ahead despite of a massive rebuilding effort done so far. However we must go on...

May the year of dragon brings hope, good health, and happiness to everyone in the world!! 

Saying good by to the year of rabbit and hello to the year of dragon.

Our annual event. :D

The dawn on the New Year's Day.

The shrine, I usually stop by while walking every morning,

is ready to welcome the New Year.

Momo, our granddaughter was born in November last year,

which was the most joyful thing for my family.

She is now 2 months old. As you can see, she loves bathing a lot.

I will do anything I can for this little fingers.

Christmas Lunch

Christmas lunch now. Just like the gloomy weather today, I'm not in a Christmas mood actually because in a few days my mom is going to be transferred to another hospital, which will probably be the place for her to spend the rest of her life. But annual events should be done anyway to make me rise. Broccoli tree was made by hubby but simpler than the one made last year. :D Happy Holidays!!

Idaho Christmas in 1995

At this time of the year, I always remember the very special and precious 10 days we spent in Idaho.
Our daughter was studying there as an exchange student then and hubby and I visited her at her host family's. She turned 17 that year, and now a mother of a little baby girl. Time flies...
Viewing the video clip, various feelings vividly came back to me, our daughter's homesick, hospitality and warmth the host family showed to us, and the crispy air that night... This video clip was shot on the way back home from the Christmas party held at host mother's sibling's place.