<Begin Segment 45>

TI: Something else that many younger kids don't understand or appreciate, especially if they grow up in a city, is growing up in a small town like Walnut Grove. What were some of the important things about growing up in a more rural small town feeling?

LW: Well, only thing I know is the family, it's all close together. That's about all, I think. Community is all get together. Anytime you want help or donation or help, community would be helping there in Walnut Grove. But it's hard to say what you remember in Walnut Grove.

JS: You've been really instrumental in bringing people from Sacramento who left Walnut Grove to come back and help. Do you meet with them often?

LW: Yeah, see, like the bazaar, you can't have the bazaar unless the people that used to live there, the parents, kids come out and help. That's with every city in the bazaar. They'll come and help if you ask 'em. But that's the only way the program will go. Like Walnut Grove, there's nobody living there. But the people from out of the country or Sacramento people, they all go there and help. Because I used to go there and help every bazaar every time. And they all, if you ask 'em they all come and help you.

TI: So any other...

LW: Mostly, it's, get-together, it's more like a reunion. That's the only time you get to see each other and talk about the old days. That's about it.

TI: And so, Louie, is there anything else that, maybe that Jill and I haven't asked you that you want to share? Like maybe a topic or a story? Something that you'd like to share?

LW: No. I think I don't remember, or I think I said enough. But to me, I had a good life. I can't complain. Anybody that lives after eighty, you got no business complaining, health-wise and everything.

TI: Well, I learned a lot --

LW: Because my brother, George, when he had a stroke, he was just like a vegetarian. He can't talk... he could see, but he can't talk, he can't eat, he can't move anything. Fourteen years. Fourteen years he was like that, bed-ridden.

TI: Well, so Louie, thank you so much for the time. This was an excellent interview. I learned a lot. I think we've captured a lot about Walnut Grove for the future.

LW: I hope I helped you a lot.

JS: Oh, you did.

<End Segment 45> - Copyright (c) 2009 Densho and Preserving California's Japantowns. All Rights Reserved.