One Year Later...

Tomorrow marks one year since Japan was devastated by the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, which spawned the catastrophic Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. No doubt, this year has been long and hard for the survivors and the road to full recovery will be long. But, it seems to me the Japanese always find a way to recover and thrive with a unique strength that's been cultivated over many centuries.

Did you ever read Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes as a child? It's a marvelous, moving, true story - also borne of a nuclear event - about a girl who's dying from leukemia after the bombing of her hometown, Hiroshima, during WWII. She tries to fold 1,000 origami cranes, which will make her wish for survival come true, according to legend. She only manages to make 644 cranes before she succumbs to her illness, but she has become a symbol of hope and peace that endures to this day.

I developed a fascination with origami because of Sadako's story but, after all these years, the crane is the only creature I remember how to make. So, here's a crane and my wish for continued peace and hope and healing for our Japanese friends and family.