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TI: And the way I got in touch with you was you've been published in three different books. And so I just want to ask you, so why is it important for you to write about these memories and share them?

FD: Oh, well, I don't know why it's so important, I just did it for myself. And if other people enjoy it, so much the better.

TI: When you say "do it for yourself," what does that mean? Why'd you feel the need to do it for yourself?

FD: Oh, it's like writing a diary. Just making a record of my memories, I guess.

TI: And when you complete it, what does that feel like, when you're able to kind of write down your memories and kind of maybe just have to remember things, write it down, probably revise it a couple times and edit it. When you're all done, how does that feel for you?

FD: Well, I'm not all done. I still have more to do.

TI: So tell me, what are your plans, what are you doing right now?

FD: What?

TI: What are doing right now?

FD: Oh, I'm still writing more about my experiences.

TI: And then the plan is to put it all in one book or something?

FD: Maybe. I don't have any plan per se.

TI: And how much are you writing? Is it like every day you write a little bit?

FD: No. I belong to a creative writing workshop, so I write a little piece for them almost every week. Some of the pieces are not worth saving and others are better than others. And, well, it's just sort of a hobby, I guess.

TI: Okay, no, and it's so valuable, too.

FD: Yeah, well, I'm just doing it for myself, that is, for the fun of it.

TI: But as a record of what happened, I think it's really valuable, too.

FD: Uh-huh. And then I take some... what do you call it... I'm so old that I'm losing my vocabulary. Literary license or whatever you call it, I embellish some things.

TI: So it becomes almost more like historical fiction?

FD: Yeah, I guess that's what you'd call it.

TI: Okay. So, I finished all my questions, is there anything else that you wanted to share or say that maybe I missed?

FD: No.

TI: Well, so Flo, thank you so much, this was really enjoyable. And I was telling you after the break, I think you have this amazing story, and I think it flowed together really well, so thank you.

FD: Well, you're welcome.

<End Segment 24> - Copyright © 2016 Densho. All Rights Reserved.