<Begin Segment 7>

FK: Is there anything else that's important to you that you'd like to say as far as your family or your relationships with the Japanese community or anything? Is there anything else you'd like to say?

AB: I'm thankful. I'm mean, I'm very thankful that I had such wonderful grandparents that had a great lifetime here with a lot of great, great friends. Right now it's just my two grandmas that are surviving, both of my grandparents.

FK: As your grandmothers get older, are there some things that you're concerned about or that you try to do as far as...

AB: [Becomes emotional] Whoa. I don't know where that came from. My grandpa John just passed away. So, it's pretty new. Wow, sorry... I'm sorry.

FK: That's okay.

AB: He just passed away right at Thanksgiving, actually. I don't even know what you asked me. I'm sorry.

FK: Oh, I asked, as your grandmothers get older and... are there any concerns you have for them or any things that are important to you as far as your grandmas...

AB: Oh yeah. In terms of my family, just that they're loved and we're here for them. But, I was just... my grandma actually drove me here. And, it's kind of her thing. "Oh, look at what's going up here. Look. Remember I... that used to be this and this." And it's kind of this tour of what was. Here, this is my dad's mom who, the one I mentioned was, or grew up on Eagle Harbor where she used to row to get to school. I don't know... just that they both have spent their whole lives here and I hope they just continue to enjoy it as much as it's changed. And, yeah. I don't... I'm sorry. I don't usually... so emotional.

FK: That, that's great. Can you think about why you maybe are emotional at this time?

AB: Oh yeah, like I said, my grandpa just passed away.

FK: Yeah.

AB: My other grandpa. I don't know... I just feel blessed. 'Cause they were both really great. And lived very modest lives, but really great lives. It's amazing, I actually just spoke at the service and there's three hundred something people there and that was kind of the big... the theme of the day. How could someone who wasn't wealthy -- wealthy in terms of material items, and had sort of limited power -- how could he command such a presence at his service? This is my dad's side. My grandpa Fiki was the same way. And... I don't...

FK: Well, they probably both...

AB: Wow, I didn't even really cry too much when I was speaking, I don't know.

FK: They were both very powerful internal people.

AB: What's that?

FK: They were both probably powerful internally.

AB: Yeah.

FK: And sometimes that's more authentic than... yeah.

AB: Oh, sure, sure.

<End Segment 7> - Copyright © 2007 Densho. All Rights Reserved.