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TI: So when I think about that, so the war is over, I know George had all these ideas about business, why did he stay? Why did he keep working?

SA: He didn't work too long. He wanted to pursue his plans, so we weren't there that long.

TI: So after that then, after he quit the school, where did you go?

SA: We came back to Los Angeles. And then my parents were in Long Beach, so temporarily we settled there for a while, and George decided to go to Japan, but there was no airplane at that time, it was only by boat. And he left for Japan, and I moved to Boyle Heights because it was more convenient than living in Long Beach. And while we were, while I was in Boyle Heights, I kept looking for a place where we could settle, and there was a place called San Marino, which was quite a nice place, but they refused to sell to Japanese. So I started looking all over, and I found a home in Montebello. I liked it so well, I couldn't wait for George to come so I decided to buy it. So George was so worried until he came home, wondering what kind of house I bought, but he was happy I bought that house. We were all very happy about it.

TI: That's a good story, so you took a chance. You bought a house without George.

SA: Without George.

TI: Without George seeing it or even knowing about it, you just bought it without even asking him.

SA: I said, "I found a house and I decided to buy it." [Laughs]

TI: Now, did you ask other people's advice?

SA: No, only my mother-in-law.

TI: And what did she say?

SA: She stayed with us and she liked it, too. It was a lovely house.

TI: Well, and you had to get maybe a bigger place, because you had Linda also. Linda was also born.

SA: Yes.

TI: So two daughters.

SA: That's right.

TI: And your mother-in-law. That's a good story. When you first told George, what did he say about the house?

SA: He said, "I can hardly wait to see it." He wired back to me.

TI: But you said he was worried, though.

SA: Well, not knowing what I bought, I guess he was kind of worried.

TI: So he told you that later, that he was worried.

SA: Yeah.

TI: Good, that's a good story. It shows me how strong you are.

SA: [Laughs] I don't know. But I saw this house that I couldn't resist, it was so nice.

TI: But as I'm learning about your story, things like the chicken business, I mean, that's something that you wanted to do, your taking care of George when he was sick, moving to Minneapolis, buying this house, I mean, there's a pattern here about how you live your life that I'm starting to learn. So during this time, George is just traveling lots and lots.

SA: A lot.

TI: How was that for you, was that hard for you?

SA: Well, I accepted it. I figured that's what he wants to do, he should do it. And then my mother-in-law was so, wonderful person, I learned so much from her. So we had a very happy family.

TI: So that isn't always normal or usual, I mean, I've interviewed lots of people, and oftentimes the wife and mother-in-law relationship can be difficult for many families. Why was it so good between the two of you?

SA: Because she was good. She was a wonderful person, she graduated university in Japan, and she taught English in Japan. Then she got married to George's father, that was a second wife, the first wife passed away. And she came, oh, she was so wonderful. And then she became a teacher here, teaching tea ceremony, so I have a Japanese room where all the ladies gathered every week and had tea ceremony.

TI: Because she lived in this house, too.

SA: Oh, yes, we were always together.

TI: What do you think you learned from her? I mean, when you say she was wonderful...

SA: Oh, every little thing, like porcelain ware, if I received a nice gift from Japan, she would explain to me the background, And then I learned. And she was a reader, too, she read a lot. And she would tell me what her experience was reading certain book, always teaching me, she was just so wonderful. And then she was a good cook, so that was very helpful, too.

TI: How about helping raise Donna and Linda?

SA: Oh, she took care of Donna like her own daughter. They slept together, they did everything together, she was very close to Donna.

TI: Yeah, it sounds like a very special woman and relationship.

SA: Oh, I can't praise her enough, she is such a delightful person.

TI: George was working really hard, traveling, and then at one point, he got hepatitis? He got sick.

SA: Hepatitis.

TI: Yeah, tell me what happened.

SA: We were living in Montebello, and he was confined in bed for almost a year, and I took care of him all that time.

TI: So you would go, I mean, he was at the hospital or at home?

SA: No, at the beginning he was at White Memorial Hospital, and then after a while he was transferred home.

TI: And so you were taking care of him.

SA: I was taking care of him for almost a year, he was able to get back on his feet again.

TI: Now, during this time, was he still trying to do work and business, or was he just...

SA: No... well, yes, yes. That's right, because my sister was like a secretary for him, and she would come to the house or to the hospital, take notes down, and he was always interested in business.

TI: Oh, interesting. So your sister Vicky, was this like her first job?

SA: That's right. She went to USC and she graduated, and that was her first job, as secretary.

<End Segment 12> - Copyright (c) 2017 Densho. All Rights Reserved.