<Begin Segment 15>

MA: Are there any lessons or values that you remember your parents teaching you that you really, sort of, kept to this day?

MM: Well, she, she has given me a lot of... but I've tried to, but I think the most important, the most important thing that... see, she never was one to say warukuchi about anybody. And even though there were things of value that you didn't like, that person, she'd always say that that person is that way, that's why. But what did she say? I might not, I haven't speak in Japanese for so darn many years that I almost forgot how. You don't copy... it's right on the tip of my tongue. You know when you copy... copy, it starts with a "mani" something. Just because somebody does something good or bad, don't copy. She said if it's good, that's fine, but if it's bad, don't, you know, repeat it, just forget about it. She was one to say good things about just about everybody.

[Interruption]

MA: That's one thing that you remember about your mother, that she would never talk badly about anyone.

MM: Yeah, yeah. My mother never did, she really... but anyway, that's life, I guess.

[Interruption]

MA: Do you have any plans for the next few years?

MM: Me? No, I think... I don't really think so. I'm too... I'm too dumb to go to college or school, further my -- so I'm just going to take it easy at home.

MA: Sounds like a good idea.

MM: But I'm hoping that I can get out in the yard this year. See, I just love to work out in the yard.

MA: Like your father.

MM: Yeah.

<End Segment 15> - Copyright © 2006 Densho. All Rights Reserved.