<Begin Segment 19>

MR: It seems like, running through your stories, family's real important.

YH: It is, it's just really, I just think... yet I think we're sort of not all together all the time. Like, I compare, but I shouldn't. But we're pretty close. They're so close in age that they're, like, great buddies. But they're just unusual. They know what everybody -- when they were going to college, I'd say something, it got around to all four because they knew Mom said this and Mom said that and they knew, and I know this and I know that, so they knew. But last couple years I sort of lost track of, they were keeping things from me a little bit. I'd find out eventually. They say, "You better tell Mom." [Laughs]

MR: So how does it feel to look back on your handiwork, your children, and see...

YH: Well, pretty good except, I don't know, I should've beat 'em more, I think, make 'em a little bit more... I don't know, they're really good, but they're, I don't find them just dying to be top dog or anything. They're very... as long as they're happy. I wanted one to be a doctor, 'cause she was really bright. Usual answer. She's a nurse. She, to this day, I don't think would want to be a doctor. She's happy where she is. And I have two architects, and one of 'em hasn't got his papers or whatever, but I've been on his case forever. But I sort of laid off this year. And then my oldest boy just, he lost his job as Cisco and he hasn't had a job for two years and he doesn't seem terribly concerned. And he has three children. He has his priorities -- I don't think he'll care if I says this -- he has his priorities screwed up. He says, "First is to sell my house in Belmont." He has a beautiful house that he remodeled. It's just gorgeous. The second is to find another house to live in, and third is to find a job. I says, "Isn't that sort of backwards?" He says, "No, that's just the way I want to do it." So okay. So he sold his house, he found a house, and now he's gotta, I said, "You're on the third phase, then." He says oh yeah, they don't worry. Amazing. My other kids said, "They must have lots of money put away." But really, I don't know what. I don't ask. But they're... he's real good, helps a lot. He calls us all the time, always checks on us. And then the others say, "Oh, John calls, brown nosing." The usual. But he does, he'll... but he's the head of the clan, and he doesn't let 'em forget it. They know it too. [Laughs]

MR: Well, they have a pretty independent mother. Do you think that has something to do with the --

YH: Well, that's what somebody said, but you know, I've let them pretty much do as they wanted. And I think I spoiled the last one, 'cause all of 'em say she is such a brat. And she's the baby of the family, and it's just maybe so because she's the only one home for quite a few years. But they're, I look back and see how they all are, and they seem, they're good kids. As long as they're not mean and vicious. There're some people that are mean, they got a mean streak and they're not nice, and that to me is bad, and have hate, and that I wouldn't want to tolerate. They're not terribly religious, though I did send 'em to Sunday school, youth group, all that. They, I think they appreciate it, but it's not important to them right now. And they don't, none of them take their children to church. I said, they said, "Well, if you want them to go out, will you take them?" You know, to me. I said no. But then I thought for a minute, I says, "Yeah, I'll take, I'll take some." But they don't want to go. So that's where it is with them. But they will look after us, in a pinch. They would. They're, and they sort of, each protects us in a different way. They think Mother's getting trod on or something, they'll speak up. But it's... I hate this feeling of having them look at me like I'm totally incompetent right now. [Laughs] They do, the remarks. Sometimes they worry. And especially my physical, walking or anything, they're overly protective. Drives me nuts. Turn around, one step down, the hand is out. "Be careful here," this and that. And I think that'll come more and more. I haven't fallen yet. My sister has fallen four times, and I'm very careful when I walk, where I walk, what I step on, so I won't be a burden or fall.

<End Segment 19> - Copyright © 2003 Oregon Nikkei Endowment and Densho. All Rights Reserved.