A Year From Now...

Commencement into the future ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ Shanghai, China, World

Hats off! to Concordia International School Shanghai for their wonderful contribuation to Jonah's education. Actually, to all the high schools who have been busy preparing our youngsters for their next steps in life.  We need these educators to help us raise these children to be responsible global citizens. And happy, sucessful people. 

最近ジョナは高校から卒業しました。学校はすばらしいだので、新しい生活をできると思います。

After the weird year that we just completed, I'm super glad to celebrate the graduation from high school of my youngest child. Hand in hand with that joy, is the bittersweet feeling of watching these friends greet change and all of its scary and exciting elements at once.  Jonah had several good solid friendships develop during his two years in Shanghai.

一年間は少しい難しかったので、卒業することから、うれしいです。この四人友達たちは一人で怖いチャレンジをやってみるので、大丈夫と思います。

I love the energy and positive vibes you get around people this age, nothing is impossible to them. I think that their world view, and diverse experiences could lead to solving some of its problems some day, or averting disasters, such as war and poverty. But at least, and at best, I want them to enjoy a happy future, and keep in touch with their friends. 

Martin, remember twelve years ago . . . . . Franklin

To Martin> Yesterday, with Monica's help, you dealt with the return of our stored items from when we moved to Japan away from Tennessee so long ago.  The fact is, that lately, you have had to deal with a lot of challenges, on top of significant travel and with little support.  I really feel like you've grown quite sturdy and capable, and I think I will keep you.  

Here's some pictures to remind you (and our friends) of how much has changed in twelve years.  These are photos taken over the course of our last week living in Franklin, including the Tennessee style Sayonara Bonfire.  

  マーティンへ、昨日モニカは手伝ったので、あなたたちは十二年間で家財ことを倉庫を保管をした貰いました。テネシー州から日本にまで飛行したときについて話します。最近、マーティンは色々難問を処理をしたので、私は感謝の感じがあります。よくなったと思います。そして、これはテネシー州に住んでいたの最後の週間の写真です。十二年間は長いですね。皆は変わりました。そして、テネシースタイルのさよなら大かがり火のパーティも。 

写真にクリークをしたら、ガレリーに行きます。

If you click on any of the pictures, it will take you to the gallery with a few more.  

 

 

Survive, Languish and Rally, Emerge ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Jinqiao

Last Saturday, November 3rd, was the second anniversary of my catastrophic skating injury.  I had planned to mention it here that day, but it seems there was some kind of mental hurdle to overcome first.  It requires a thoughtful exploration. This is rather dense and serious, so I'm breaking it up with some photos of the Family Painting Wall in Jinqiao.  前の土曜日、１１月三日は私の大災のスケートの事故の二年間記念日でした。ここに買いたかったが、長い時間考えた後に、そして下に全部の説明を書きます。あれは密集なまじめな書き事から、近所の家族の塗料ことの壁写真も載せます。でも、日本語の翻訳をできません。

SURVIVE is my word for the first year after the injury.  Nov 3rd, 2010, while on an easy 40 km skate with my friends in rural Japan, I fell down and broke my leg.  It is now clear that a piece of debris had lodged in the frame of the skate just so, and when I went over a slight rise, it shifted, tripping me up, twisting the leg and breaking it in two places.  Even now, it's hard for me to think too much about that moment.  But it was such a freaky thing, I can only believe it was somehow meant to happen.  Crucial to my destiny, all that.  

Getting through the initial trauma and treatment, the language and culture induced communication deficit, the lack of pain control, the isolation, fear, and despair- it was almost too much to bear.  Japan has socialized medicine, so I had to wait my turn for surgery, laying in skeletal traction in a crowded six-bed-ward for TEN DAYS.  As a skilled critical care nurse, I knew that wasn't right, and tried hard to get the nurses to follow basic immobilization precautions, with little success.  Nursing practice is the most backward part of that otherwise progressive society that I have unfortunately had to experience.

 Finally discharged after the surgery, I started out in high spirits, trying to recover my strength and mobility - always moving, always striving, but unfortunately, within a few days, on Dec. 8th, I was back in the ER in the middle of the night with nearly fatal complications.  Surviving the intensive treatment, anti-coagulation, an array of further medical issues, it was a dark December for my family and me.

The new year dawned and went on with me trying to regain my mobility, and trying to manage the pain and other issues.  I often took myself to the hospital by taxi and crutches for outpatient rehabilitation, which is where I was when the earthquake struck in March.  Oh, what a tough time that was.  I hesitate to lament, as so many people lost their lives in the disaster, but the aftermath of the tsunami and nuclear disaster was quite stressful.  

Then, the big move out of Japan, sending our stuff and our lives to both China and Michigan, after living in the same place for ten years.  Those weeks of preparation were fraught with uncertainty and discouragement, not to mention physical exhaustion and pain, but that summer in Ann Arbor was a welcome respite.  Then, taking my daughter to college and leaving for China, and all that that would entail...  What a terrible year, but survival was the name of the game, and I did survive, thanks to much support from family and friends.

LANGUISH and RALLY characterizes the second year, which has just now come to a close.  A series of small advances alternating with discouraging weakness and lack of progress.  Hope and despair.  Small steps forward and frequent disappointments.  A year is a long time, so it is helpful to remember where I was just twelve months ago.  We lived in a two story apartment then, and going downstairs was difficult and painful; going up was exhausting and made me short of breath.  I couldn't move at all in the mornings.  My leg was a mess, there was still a lot of pain, and I had a severe limp which was causing hip problems.  More, it was the non-medical results of my injury that were causing just as much misery- changed body image, mental exhaustion, crushed spirit.  

But I was beginning with a trainer, which would end up helping tremendously.  The doctor visits started up again in China, with a new cardiologist, orthopedic surgeon, hematologist, as well as my internist and other consults.  Eventually, we traveled to Hong Kong for surgery to have five pins removed, which was a turning point, as recovering the full range of motion of my ankle made a surprising difference overall.  

Finally getting to meet my new granddaughter was a sweet event among the challenges.  Eventually getting through the uncertainties of Martin's job, helping him move to Michigan, and moving Jonah and I closer to his school here in Jinqiao, and managing with the drastic change in company support has ended me up where I am now.

EMERGE will be my word for this next phase.  Now that the third year post injury has begun, I desperately want to make up for lost time, to wake up and seize this opportunity.  The leg is good, the other issues are either resolved or controlled, I'm losing weight and feeling more like myself.  I'm staying busy doing several worthy activities, and I have a very special project I am working on every day.  I will have a few months, here in Shanghai, without an excess of distractions or pressures, and I really want to make something positive out of those two years of experience.  

My novel, that elusive book which I had always assumed was somewhere in me, is beginning to trickle onto the page.  Via some tools like 750 words, Nanowrimo, and Scrivener, I'm starting to get the words down, beginning to put together a story that is not about "me" but uses my calamity as fodder.  Hopefully it will be a well-written, interesting, entertaining and uplifting story of healing and emergence.  Certainly there is a legitimate concern that I won't get it written, I do have a serious issue with procrastination, so perhaps thats why I'm writing about it here.

Departures... Ann Arbor

So, Monica left yesterday, Jonah left today.  Jay and Megan leave tomorrow.  I have a couple more weeks to get everything done, till I have to go back to Shanghai.  (With a cool stop in Tokyo on the way.)  So, time for the next phase.  そして、昨日、モニカは出たので、今日ジョナも出ました。所で、日本に行ったので、前の学校に一ヶ月のカンプに手伝います。明日、他のの息子も出ます。私はアメリカにいるの二週間だけがあるので、上海に戻します。途中に日本に行って、楽しみにしています。あれから、次の間に入れます。 Everyone is wearing Jay's shirts.  皆はジェイのシャツを着ています。     Pefff Prints

Jonah - Monica - Jay - Megan.  Relaxing in downtown A2.

Goodbye Jonah.  Have a great experience as a counselor at ASIJ Summer Day Camp.  今日さよならジョナを言ったので、がんばって。とてもいい経験をできたら、うれしい。

One day... in Shanghai

This was yesterday.  Today was a crazy mess of sorting and packing and moving... but yesterday was almost normal.  Last week was so clear, but this week the polution is so bad, even Jonah has a cold.

これは昨日です。今日は複雑な何々が、選ぶことで、パッキングことで、引っ越すこともあらので、昨日は殆どの普通です。先週は晴天だけど、今週の空気はすごく汚染なので、ジョナも風が引きました。

Time for a little Toby time.  We will all miss Toby for the summer, but especially Jonah, who is watching sports on TV with his buddy.  トビはジョナの友達ので、夏に、トビは中国にいるので、ジョナhは旅行をします。ここに、トビとテレビで、スポーツを見ています。

Last training session with Malone.  Over many months, he has been an excellent trainer, and really helped me recover.  最後のマーロンとトレーニングをしました。たくさん月間でとてもいいトレーナをしたので、よくなることを手伝いました。

Here is the gym building seen at night while taking toby for a walk.  I will miss this place.

夜にトビと散歩をしながら、ジムを見ました。　この所を忘れない。

Two Flat Tires... Jinqiao, Shanghai

And Martin is ready for some new equipment.  Can't say I blame him.  Those blow outs are dangerous.  Wait just a minute... I meant maybe some new wheels... that Specialized bike looks way too serious.

最近二日のに、マーティンの自転車のタイヤは失敗しまいました。それから、新しい道具を欲しいと思うので、あれは危ない。でも、ちょっと待って、新しいホイールとか、その自転車はすごく高そうだよね。

Okay, fine.  Get some new bike shorts.  大丈夫だので、新しい自転車のショーツを買ったら、いいです。

This store boxed up Martin's bike for the flight.  この店はマーティンの自転車を飛行機の箱に入れました。
 This week, Martin had a few good bye parties at work.  The most important time, was when he said good bye to his China team of two dozen people, including the electric car battery lab.  He's worked hard with them, and cares about their future.  今週に、マーティンはいろいろ仕事のさよならパーティーに参加したので、一番大切間はは二十人のチームにさやならと言ったので、去年でがんばったと未来が心配だと思います。電気の車の電池のラブの人人とか。

View from kitchen, Pudong，Shanghai

This is the view from the kitchen, for five more days.  It was sunset, and the city looked pretty and clean from the 11th floor, looking east.  I will miss this view.

もう五日間に、これは台所からの景色です。月曜日に引っ越すつもりです。日没だので、町はきれいらし、きれいと思う。１１解部屋から東に見えます。この見ることを忘れないと思います。

But especially Century Park.  特に世紀公園。

May 31st, Shanghai

Thursday, we went out for pizza.  The next day, Jonah would complete his two week internship at the Department of Fun.  He would give a presentation to the team, including the director, a "fresh eyes" view of the TV commercials for his company.  He'd worked hard, and had a great 10 days, packed with experiences and lessons.  Maybe a life changer.  

日本語は下にある。

Photo credit:  Me.  　　　私は写真を撮りましたよ。

   Is that a really big pizza, or is the table just really small?

本当に大きいピーざーかどうか、テブルは本当に小さいですか？

木曜日の夜にピーザーのレストランに食べに行きました。次の日と言うジョナの２週間インターンシープの最後の日です。金曜日の予定はボースにチームとプレせンテションをするつもりでした。会社のテレビのアドに新しい目は見る。１０日間は難しくて新しいですが、とてもよかったです。ジョナはたくさん色々試験やレッスンも貰いました。たぶん、生活を高めると思います。