to my dearest Daughter

Do you remember the day--March 19, 1974?
You were only six years old.

My neighbor took you to the hospital around the midnight.
I was waiting for you at the back door of the hospital.

I said nothing.
You asked me nothing.
Large tears ran down your cheeks.

I took you to your father's sickroom.
He was lying dead in bed.

You said the last good-bye to your father—

“I'll be all right, Dad.
I'll keep my heart up and stay alive with Mom.
So, please rest in peace, Dad.”

You have been my best friend, Daughter.
You have been my LIFE, Daughter.
Your father should be proud of you, Daughter.

I’d like to say 'Thank you' on your birthday.

movie, 12 Years a Slave

Yesterday I went to Tachikawa Cinema again
and watched a movie “12 Years a Slave,”

「それでも夜は明ける」in Japanese title.

The film is the Extraordinary True Story
of Solomon Northup (1808 – 1863?).

He was a free-born black man in the pre-Civil War
United States.

He was spending a happy life in New York with
his family.

But one day he was kidnapped and sold into slavery.
He was forced to work as a slave in a few plantations
in Louisiana in the south of America.

Solomon Northup had been working for 12 years
when he saw a Canadian abolitionist of slavery.

With the help of the abolitionist, Solomon Northup
gained his freedom again and returned to his family
in New York.

Yes, the theme of this movie is Slavery.

How cruel, violent and heartless!

Solomon Northup never gave up.
Solomon Northup never grew desperate.
Solomon Northup never abandoned his dignity.
Solomon Northup stayed alive.

I couldn't choke back my tears at the last scene
where Solomon Northup came back to his family
in New York.

Solomon Northup wrote and published a book about
his 12 years as a slave in Louisiana:
“12 Years a Slave.”

This is an extremely impressive movie, I think.

on Sunday morning

Recently, I feel time passes slowly
and sometimes wonder what day it is today.

Am I mentally confused because of old age?
Oh, no. I know it is Sunday today.

It was cloudy early in the morning but now
the sky is clearing up.

It is going to be a fine day.

I'm sorry I can't join‘Green Road Walking Club’today.
I have a slight pollen allergy, I’m afraid.

I think I will go out and enjoy walking around here
by myself.

I'm sure it will make me refreshed.

Have a good Sunday, everybody!

(from my room)

movie, The Butler

Today I went to Tachikawa to watch a movie
“Lee Daniels’ The Butler”大統領の執事の涙.

I thought the movie was very good.

It is based on a true story.

It tells us the life of a White House butler ,
an African-American, who served American presidents
from 1952 to 1986. (from Eisenhower to Reagan)

It tells us how the butler and his family lived.

It tells us how African-Americans fought for their civil rights.

The names of John .F.Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr.
reminded me of my university life.

The Vietnam War---I remembered the days when I was always
carrying a bag on which was written “STOP THE VIETNAM WAR!”

I was watching the movie thinking back on my life.