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SY: Well, how about now for you in your blindness, do you feel that you sense a lot?

YM: In my blindness I feel -- I think, I shouldn't say I enjoyed it at all, but at first I thought, "God, how awful." But now I find is a beauty even in being blind because the doctor I have, Dr. Francis, has been very kind, and he has made me realize there's more to life than just being blind. There's more to life.

SY: Oh, than just being able to see.

YM: Uh-huh.

SY: And what would you say that is? What is more to life since you have lost your sight? What have you seen?

YM: I think I am enjoying life because before when I used to get up in the morning, I said, "Oh God, another day," but now I get up and I says, "Gee, what shall I do today?"

SY: And you have more interest in life because you've been blind?

YM: Uh-huh. I think so. When I was younger, when I had my daughter, I was, I think -- I was kind of conceited, not conceited, but life was good to me, and I didn't think anything of it. I didn't think people died. I didn't -- I was maybe too young or maybe not enough.

SY: And you took things for granted?

YM: Yeah, I think I did. And when I lost my daughter, I think it changed everything. Well, when I got blind it really changed everything.

Yukiko M. Interview - Copyright © 1998 Densho. All Rights Reserved. - <End Segment 2>