Many of you have expressed concern for my brother and his family. I just wanted to let you know that Alden has updated her blog today, and thought you might be interested in keeping up on what is going on with them. I am so proud of her and continue to be amazed by what a strong woman she is.
Here is her post: Wattsabi: 1 Year
Yesterday I landed in Atlanta with an even greater appreciation of family, friends, and the good ole USA than I did just 12 days ago. For those of you that don’t know, I flew on March 3rd to Japan to spend time with my brother and his family, and help out with my new nephew, Pete and his big brother, Chip.
Chip on a morning walk in Hayama
Pete and Big Brother.
The beach, just 100 yards from Rob and Alden's home in Hayama.
Our first week was amazing, spending time as a family, with mornings full of reading stories with Chip, cuddling with Pete, afternoon outings, and great conversations over coffee and home cooked meals. On the afternoon of March 11, our time in Japan completely changed.
In the midst of the earthquake, tsunami, evacuation, after shocks, and nuclear explosions, I did not have much time to process what was happening and how I was feeling. We had to be strong for each other and the boys, not allowing ourselves to cry, scream or hide.
Alden and I found ourselves using the phrase, “Too Soon” any time one of us tried to make a light hearted comment about the ordeals we’d faced or if we dared to think we were in the clear on natural disasters. (The minute we felt a sense of calm, a tremor would remind us that mother nature wasn’t finished just yet.) At this point, it’s ‘too soon’ for me to write about the last week’s events. I’m still working through my feelings and emotions, but I do know that I love my family so much, I am greatly fortunate and that there is too much suffering in this world.
While it’s too soon for me to put words on the screen, Alden wrote this lovely post 12 Days, on her blog, Wattsabi. I hope you’ll check it out. Alden wonderfully articulates the horror of the events, but also the beauty of family, children and the amazing kindness we experienced from the Japanese during a time of chaos, confusion and language barriers.
Thanks again for everyone’s thoughts, prayers, emails and posts. Your words of concern and encouragement made home not seem so far away.
Next week I’m going on an adventure…
Click here to find out what I’m going to be needing eight days from now. That’s right. I’m going to Japan. My mom and I are spending a week with my brother, sister-in-law, and nephew, who live overseas. My brother’s navy career has put them temporarily in Japan and I can’t wait to see their new digs. My sister-in-law, Alden, writes this amazing blog, Wattsabi, about their adventures in Japan so I’ve got a little taste of what is to come in the next week.
While in Japan, we’ll visit Tokyo, Kamakura (where Obama recently visited), and a Japanese hot springs for a night. And we’ll get to see Rob’s ship as well as stay in their home, near the Yokosuka naval base. Maybe we’ll even get to ride a few trains.
I’m a little nervous about the food situation in Japan. (Not while I’m staying at Rob and Alden’s, but when we venture out to restaurants.) I’m BYOSS (Bring Your Own Soy Sauce), and planning on using the restaurant card and Iphone App that explains Celiac in Japanese. This is my first trip to a foreign country since my diagnosis, aside from a disastrous trip to an all-inclusive resort in the Dominican Republic. So I’m packing snacks and Alden is stocking up on groceries at the Naval Commissary (which she tells me is about the equivalent of a 1980s grocery store: probably no GF bagels or Bob’s Red Mill but they do have Chex and peanut butter).
I have found this blog, which seems to be written by a woman who is gluten-free. Would love any thoughts or advice people have about international travel. There’s plenty of rice in Japan so I won’t go hungry!
Stay tuned for photos of our Pacific adventure!
This weekend I’m heading back to Washington, D.C. and Annapolis, Maryland for my friend, Becky’s, bachelorette party and wedding shower. The final trip in a month full of busy travel. Yes, I was just up in the Northern Virginia area a month ago saying goodbye to my brother, Rob, and his family before they moved to Japan. While I was in NOVA in late February, not only did I get to hang out with my adorable nephew, but I went to one of my favorite bakeries, Buzz Bakery and enjoyed an amazing gluten-free cupcake.
Doesn’t it look delicious? Not only is Buzz’s icing plentiful and oh, so buttery and creamy, but the cake part of the GF cupcake actually tastes like cake. Of course I love the bee on top, as a reminder that spring might get here some day. (Note: bee is not edible.) And if this yummy goodness that you see in the photo isn’t enough, when I dove into the cupcake with my fork (yes, I eat my cupcakes with a fork because I want to savor every bite), I found chocolate filling in the middle. Basically an added bonus of icing. Amazing.
I’m so glad I showed up at Buzz when I did because I got the sole, remaining GF cupcake for that Saturday. (My apologies to folks who came after me looking for the same gluten-free treat.) Buzz makes gluten-free brownies too, but while still yummy, the brownie’s just not the same as getting a cupcake. The gluten-free gods looked out for me that day. If there were no gluten-free cupcakes awaiting me in the glass case at Buzz, I would have felt a little bit like Clark Griswold in National Lampoons Vacation, driving across the country to Wally World, only to find Wally World closed.
