IT"S HERE

We have been lucky in our city as we have had no reports of
the coronavirus.  Until today, one 60 year old gentleman tested positive.
We will have to close down our school from Monday until some time
in the future when things are looking better.
Hannah won't be going to school either.  I'll talk to the teacher on Monday. Because this
is an unusual situation she won't be marked absent, which is good.  Also the teachers
have prepared some homework for the students to do.
I am now in total stress and worry mode.  We have no real savings, we live
month to month.  With no real income this month and non next month I have no idea
how to keep going.  Creative meals so I don't spend a lot on food and don't shop that
often.
Tomorrow we are going to my mother in laws house to start cleaning out all of the
stuff that she has.  Going to be a marathon adventure to get rid of stuff.  Not only her
stuff but things that I have dumped there over the past 29 years!  It's out in the countryside,
away from people so should be safe!

This is cherry blossom season.  We don't usually go, the best places are always full. But
Christopher took some photos as he walked his dog!

From the car on the way back from somewhere

Near the house, lovely!

Corona virus ...yet again

In Lord of the Rings by J.R.R Tolkien Frodo says "I wish it need not have happened in my time"  to which Gandalf replies "So do I and so do all who live to see such times.  But that is not for them to decide.  All we have to decide is what to do with the time given us"
I think this is a great message for the time we find ourselves in.
I remember studying about WW2 and feeling very grateful that I wasn't born at that time, 6 years of hell for everybody, no body escaped, suffering was universal.
The same feeling with this pandemic. I wished it had happened at another time, when I'm not here.  But it is happening now and the question is what do we do?
I'm not happy with the Japanese government as they are asking people to isolate or social distant themselves but no orders.  Schools closed for March but should be back next week, is that a good idea? Also kids were roaming around shopping malls not staying home.  I'm having a hard time because I would love to close down my English school but it's my only income, if I close I would lose the house as we live month to month with no savings.  I am using a lot of bleach to wipe down all surfaces that get touched!  We wash our hands constantly, mine are getting raw from washing so much.  Also we don't go out, supermarket about twice a week, drug store the same.  I had to go to the dentist but I washed my hands, face and rinsed my mouth when I got home. I'm trying to be positive, to accept that this is our lot in life.  I feel sorry for my family and friends in the UK who are in lockdown.  I hope that everybody is staying safe!

To keep you entertained Hannah found these songs on YouTube.  I know this is serious and I know that many families are grieving and struggling but we need to laugh as well.  Enjoy!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdcS0Nbo7Ng&feature=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5azNpTwVk8&feature=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1OCZRann8w&feature=youtu.be

Mother in Law

My mother in law passed away April 1st.  She was 83 years old.  She had a nasty fall a few years
back and never really recovered from it.  The last year she was in a care home as she was
basically bed ridden.
My relationship with her had been rather hard. In one way I felt very sorry for her, she never really
had the life she wanted.  Taken out of high school at 17 because her father died and she had to work in the fields.  Married to her cousin because he was willing to change his family name to hers.  Widowed with 2 young boys at just 26.  Left to run a business in the 1960s in Japan, which must of been really hard, even today women are expected to marry, have kids and stay home, maybe just having a part time job!  So in the 1960s it must be hard.  My husband said that sometimes she would work 24 hours to get orders done!  I get she had a hard life but she also made our lives hard!
When I first met her she was alright, a bit crazy but rather fun.  I think as she got older, her legs became very painful, her body stopped doing what she was use to and it was hard for her to accept old age.  She became resentful of her life and blamed me for almost everything that was wrong. Made me sad because my kids, her only grandkids, started to not want to talk to her or be with her.  At one point Hannah was really scared of her.  Christopher had an especially hard time with her.  We were living together when he was in the 5th grade.  He was being bullied at school, by the whole class.  So until we could sort things out he stayed at home.  My husband explained this to his mother, her reply was that Christopher was being bullied because  he was stupid.  She said this constantly to Christopher, he would cry and feel really heart broken, he had no safe place to be!
So a real love/hate relationship.  In one way I feel her passing was for the best.  She was always very active, always on the go.  Her mind was still basically clear until the end, it must of been awful for her to not get up and do what she always did!

The next few weeks are going to be crazy for us.  There are no other family members so we inherit all of the land and house.  What to do with it all is the big question!