<Begin Segment 13>

DG: And how did you meet your husband?

FH: My husband?

DG: How did you meet?

FH: [Laughs] You wanna know?

DG: Yes.

FH: Well, actually, my parents were good friends, you know, with the Hayashidas, the Nishinakas. So he claims he knows, he knew me since I was a baby, used to change my diaper, he said. I think, I think maybe so, but just kidding, I think. Yeah, he was a nice guy, you can't find a man like him.

DG: When were you married?

FH: When we were married?

DG: [Laughs] It was before the war you were married.

FH: Oh, yes.

DG: And had kids right away?

FH: Yeah, we went to Portland for honeymoon. [Laughs] On a pick-up truck, an International truck. I was afraid. Oil, gas sign said almost empty, he kept going and going. I was worried about that more than anything else, that we were gonna run out of gas, but I guess he know better. [Laughs] But we, we just went and came back. But he was a nice guy, you can't find a man like him. I'm sure that yours is just as nice.

DG: Yes. [Laughs] Did you miss Bainbridge Island after you moved to Seattle?

FH: We didn't go to Seattle very often, no. We shopped on the Sears and Roebuck magazine, catalog. It'd be news when we'd go to Bainbridge, I mean, Seattle.

DG: Was it hard after you moved to Seattle? Did you miss Bainbridge Island?

FH: No, it wasn't bad. I was afraid the children would not, hard to make friends, but the first day of school they came home with friends, and no problem. They did, they made friends right away, so I was glad. The children... yeah. They're, of course, my one, only daughter moved to Texas. That made me mad. He was working at Boeing at that time. After he graduated from A&M, he was an engineer, then he... Boeing was on strike off and on, so... and all that. He wanted federal job, so he applied for NASA, the space, he got the job right there, right away, so after one year he moved right back to Texas. And I was so mad, I cried every night. Finally, my husband got mad, "Stop crying. She married him and that's where she belongs, with her husband." But I was still mad. But now I forgave them. They're a nice couple, and doing well. So now I have... I lost one, my youngest, so I still have two boys -- two children, Neal and Nat. And they're, although she lives in Texas, she calls me about once a week, and comes quite often.

And I have grandchildren and my great-grandchildren. And I'm the luckiest one, and I'm ready when they call me. But I'm still here, living by myself, eat when I want, when I want, do what I want. I got over, I'm getting over the loss of my son, but I know, I tell myself life must go on. It's been almost one month since he passed away, so I'm back to my routine and doing my things, spoiling myself, going out for lunch and we play poker sometimes. [Laughs] It's fun. Life must go on, and I'm gonna hang on as long as they want me to. I just hope I could go peacefully fast, with no problem. That's the way I guess we all want. So thank you.

DG: Thank you. Can you tell me more about family to you? It sounds, I know it's very important and I was raised that way.

FH: My family?

DG: Just family in general. Tell me about how important family is.

FH: Oh, my family in Japan, my father and mother died. Father was hit by a car, I guess, that started his illness. And Mother died, my brother died. I have one sister left in Japan. And I'm looking for her, she's coming to see me in March 21 this month, this year, and I'm ready for her. She's coming with her oldest son and, and one granddaughter. We're all looking forward for her coming. And I, I plan to have her stay with me, and my nieces and nephews will help.

<End Segment 13> - Copyright © 2006 Densho. All Rights Reserved.