<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small">Greetings,</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small">Forwarding this update from Kenji Yano with his permission. </div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small">Men... if you have something small, and lightweight, you'd like to contribute to a <b>Kenji Care Package</b>, please text me at 313-919-2287 and we'll arrange a pick up. Thanks.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small">Warm regards,</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small">Larry</div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">---------- Forwarded message ---------<br>From: <strong class="gmail_sendername" dir="auto">Larry Works</strong> <span dir="auto"><<a href="mailto:lawrence.works@gmail.com">lawrence.works@gmail.com</a>></span><br>Date: Mon, Apr 22, 2024 at 1:56 PM<br>Subject: Re: Checking in...<br>To: Kenji Yano <<a href="mailto:onayijnek@gmail.com">onayijnek@gmail.com</a>><br></div><br><br><div dir="ltr"><div style="font-size:small">Hi Kenji,</div><div style="font-size:small"><br></div><div style="font-size:small">Thanks for your reply. I'm forwarding your note to rev theresa and the Men's Council. Thanks for accepting my offer to send you a few things. I'll see what I can pull together and let you know when a package is on its way. IF you'd like anything in particular, please let me know. Sounds like you and your sister have been very busy figuring out care for your mother. I'm glad to hear that you and your sister are on the same page should the brain lymphoma reoccur. Keeping all of you in my thoughts and heart.</div><div style="font-size:small"><br></div><div style="font-size:small">Spring has finally arrived and the flowers are all blooming, the animals are happy running around and people are enjoying sunshine. Yesterday was a wonderful Earth Day service including our new Dirt Communion. Where the dirt that's collected was spread around the new 7 trees we're calling the Ancestors Grove. All native american trees. I expect this will become an annual ritual similar to our water communication at the beginning of the church year. You may want to bring a little water and dirt from Japan for next year's rituals. Just a thought.</div><div style="font-size:small"><br></div><div style="font-size:small">Manish was back for one Sunday and then travelled to Warsaw, Poland working as the Co-Chair of UUSC (Human Rights arm of the UUA) helping Ukrainian immigrants begin to receive UUSC resources. More about that project <a href="https://www.uusc.org/press/we-demand-an-end-to-the-bloodshed-uusc-responds-to-vladimir-putins-invasion-of-ukraine/" target="_blank">here</a>. Michigan had its annual Spring football game and with FREE admission, there were lots of kids enjoying their first visit to the Big House. If you follow that sort of thing, here's the <a href="https://megaphone.link/RRTET5864136183" target="_blank">Maize and Brew Big House Bleachers Podcast</a> (~30m) of the game.</div><div style="font-size:small"><br></div><div style="font-size:small">I recently learned of a Folk Song Jam Along that happens monthly at an Ann Arbor Library. Here's the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/folksongjamalong/" target="_blank">Facebook page</a> where you can find the email address to get on their mailing list. It's run by Lori Fithian and Lori Fithian & Jean Chorazyczewski whom you probably know from past performances at UUAA. All instruments and levels of ability are invited to sing and jam a long. I went to one and sang. It was a lot of fun with the audience choosing the songs from a list they share. Pretty wide variety.</div><div style="font-size:small"><br></div><div style="font-size:small">Holding you and your family close in this challenging time.</div><div style="font-size:small"><br></div><div style="font-size:small">Larry</div><div style="font-size:small"><br></div><div style="font-size:small"><br></div><div style="font-size:small"><br></div><div style="font-size:small"><br></div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Wed, Apr 17, 2024 at 2:59 AM Kenji Yano <<a href="mailto:onayijnek@gmail.com" target="_blank">onayijnek@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Hi Larry,</div><div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><br></div><div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Thanks for checking in. </div><div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><br></div><div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">The last seven days have been quite hectic for us. My mother was discharged from the hospital last Friday and she has been living with us at home. She had completed a series of radiation therapy as palliative care. My sister's family from the States stayed with us for a week, and today my sister just left to join her family back in Montana. I will continue with my mom until around late June when my sister will return to switch with me. </div><div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><br></div><div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Since my mother no longer has the qualifying conditions to be in hospice thanks to palliative care, we are looking to find hopefully a nursing home that would fit her sociable character. My sister and I have visited several assisted living facilities subsidized by the government and submitted applications to be on the waitlist. We are not ruling out other facilities but non-government subsidized facilities tend to be costly in this region. Yesterday, we were visited by a team of home care physicians and nurses, a social worker, a medical equipment company rep (we are renting an adjustable bed and a wheelchair), and a daycare facility rep to coordinate a care plan for my mother. We hope she will be well enough to attend daycare several times weekly. According to my mom's doctor, more than 50% of brain lymphoma will come back. My sister, I, and our mom are on the same page in that if the tumor does come back we will not treat it next time. </div><div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><br></div><div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><div>In the last couple of months, my stress levels were constantly high and I started to experience multiple health issues, like fatigue, constipation, insomnia, and so on. My sister found a good Chinese medicine doctor near us (it's hard to find a good doctor), and I have been on a steady recovery. So, I am happy about that.</div></div><div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><br></div><div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Thanks for sharing the words by Rumi. That's beautiful and reminds me of the importance of being open to your vulnerabilities. The vulnerability happens to be my Chalice Circle's topic this week. I'm glad I belong to a community that openly discusses human vulnerability. </div><div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><br></div><div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">I'm also glad to hear that you, Laura, and Jim were able to find a good spot to see the total eclipse serendipitously! That must have been an absolute joy and wonder especially since you weren't prepared for it.</div><div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><br></div><div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">I miss Ann Arbor and UUAA a lot! I could see some Sunday services online. Thanks for thinking about sending something to me. That's very kind of you. I would greatly appreciate it!</div><div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><br></div><div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">As for another Zoom meeting, I expect to be more available towards the end of the month. Right now, I'm on a steep learning curve regarding caring for someone who has dementia and needs total assistance.</div><div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><br></div><div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Kind regards and please feel free to share this email with people at UUAA and rev. theresa.</div><div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><br></div><div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Kenji </div><div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"> </div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Thu, Apr 11, 2024 at 12:17 PM Larry Works <<a href="mailto:lawrence.works@gmail.com" target="_blank">lawrence.works@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr"><div style="font-size:small">Hi Kenji,</div><div style="font-size:small"><br></div><div style="font-size:small">Know that I've been thinking about you and want to support you in this challenging time.<br></div><div style="font-size:small"><br></div><div style="font-size:small">I've seen a couple of photos on Facebook from you and am wondering how you've been doing. Are you and your sister able to lean on each other? I sure hope so. I remember quality of life was a huge concern to you and I'm hoping your mother is able to understand and accept the loving care you're able to give her. The human part of caring is so important no matter what the situation. I especially hope her doctors have been able to answer questions to your satisfaction and that your mother is as comfortable as possible.</div><div style="font-size:small"><br></div><div style="font-size:small">When last we spoke, you and your sister had yet to decide how the care for your mother should proceed. I'm hoping you and she were able to get on the same page. While none of us know what the future holds, when hard things need doing, we all appreciate information and advice from the medical experts. It's important to have people around you that you can count on. Whether they're friends or family may not matter as much as having human connections.</div><div style="font-size:small"><br></div><div style="font-size:small">I'm not sure of the relationship you have with your mother but know that whatever it is, at some point in your lives, you saw each other as the center of the universe. To my mind, those are forever memories and connections to cherish the rest of your life even when they bring tears. As Rumi wrote, "The wound is the place where light enters you."</div><div style="font-size:small"><br></div><div style="font-size:small">Speaking of light, have you ever seen a total eclipse of the sun? I was able to see this one with Jim and Sherry McCargar and Laura Bollettino. We're all science geeks and the nerd jokes in the car were an absolute hoot on the long drive to Union City, Indiana. That was 1 of 4 locations we considered as we left Ann Arbor. The cloud forecast dictated the best spot as all would have high cirrus cloud cover. The question was, how thick would it be. In Union City we lucked out, and it wasn't much and we weren't bothered with crowds or heavy traffic. I credit Jim for finding that spot. Hard to explain the joy and wonder we felt as it was happening. I hadn't done much prep on what to expect so was thrilled to learn about and see <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/red-dots-around-total-solar-eclipse-explained/" target="_blank">solar prominences in red</a>. And the pictures just keep on coming.</div><div style="font-size:small"><br></div><div style="font-size:small">The Men's Spring Dinner is coming up this Saturday and we will miss your smiling face. As a member of the Men's Council, you likely know more about it than I do. I'm looking forward to good food, good company and good conversation. </div><div style="font-size:small"><br></div><div style="font-size:small">Have you given any thought to personal needs from the USA? Let me know and I'll do my best to gather things and send them as quickly as I can. Even if it seems like a silly desire, I hope you give me a chance to send you a few things you may be missing.</div><div style="font-size:small"><br></div><div style="font-size:small">If you'd like to have another Zoom, let me know. I'll be at the Men's dinner Saturday evening and will gladly step away if 8pm is still the best time for you. If another day works better, let me know. Thanks.</div><div style="font-size:small"><br></div><div style="font-size:small">Take good care of yourself.</div><div style="font-size:small"><br></div><div style="font-size:small">Warm regards,</div><div style="font-size:small">Larry</div><div style="font-size:small"><br></div><span class="gmail_signature_prefix">-- </span><br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align:left"><div style="text-align:center"><p style="margin:0px;font-stretch:normal;line-height:normal;color:rgb(0,0,0);text-align:start"><font face="georgia, serif">"The earth is the mother of all people, and all people should have equal rights upon it." </font><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">- Hin-mah-too-yah-lat-kekt, Nez Perce (aka Chief Joseph)</span></p></div><div style="text-align:center"><br></div></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align:left"><font face="georgia, serif" size="4" color="#000000">Larry Works (he/him/his)</font><br></div><div style="text-align:left"><font color="#000000" face="georgia, serif"><i>MS Technology & Society</i></font></div><div style="text-align:left"><font color="#000000" face="georgia, serif"><i>Retired</i></font></div><div style="text-align:left"><font color="#000000" face="georgia, serif"><i><br></i></font></div><div style="text-align:left"><i><a href="mailto:lawrence.works@gmail.com" target="_blank"><font color="#000000">lawrence.works@gmail.com</font></a></i><font color="#000000" face="georgia, serif"><i><br></i></font></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align:left"><div style="text-align:left"><br></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>
</blockquote></div></div>
</blockquote></div><br clear="all"><div><br></div><span class="gmail_signature_prefix">-- </span><br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align:left"><div style="text-align:center"><p style="margin:0px;font-stretch:normal;line-height:normal;color:rgb(0,0,0);text-align:start"><font face="georgia, serif">"The earth is the mother of all people, and all people should have equal rights upon it." </font><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">- Hin-mah-too-yah-lat-kekt, Nez Perce (aka Chief Joseph)</span></p></div><div style="text-align:center"><br></div></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align:left"><font face="georgia, serif" size="4" color="#000000">Larry Works (he/him/his)</font><br></div><div style="text-align:left"><font color="#000000" face="georgia, serif"><i>MS Technology & Society</i></font></div><div style="text-align:left"><font color="#000000" face="georgia, serif"><i>Retired</i></font></div><div style="text-align:left"><font color="#000000" face="georgia, serif"><i><br></i></font></div><div style="text-align:left"><i><a href="mailto:lawrence.works@gmail.com" target="_blank"><font color="#000000">lawrence.works@gmail.com</font></a></i><font color="#000000" face="georgia, serif"><i><br></i></font></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align:left"><div style="text-align:left"><br></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>
</div><br clear="all"><div><br></div><span class="gmail_signature_prefix">-- </span><br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align:left"><div style="text-align:center"><p style="margin:0px;font-stretch:normal;line-height:normal;color:rgb(0,0,0);text-align:start"><font face="georgia, serif">"The earth is the mother of all people, and all people should have equal rights upon it." </font><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">- Hin-mah-too-yah-lat-kekt, Nez Perce (aka Chief Joseph)</span></p></div><div style="text-align:center"><br></div></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align:left"><font face="georgia, serif" size="4" color="#000000">Larry Works (he/him/his)</font><br></div><div style="text-align:left"><font color="#000000" face="georgia, serif"><i>MS Technology & Society</i></font></div><div style="text-align:left"><font color="#000000" face="georgia, serif"><i>Retired</i></font></div><div style="text-align:left"><font color="#000000" face="georgia, serif"><i><br></i></font></div><div style="text-align:left"><i><a href="mailto:lawrence.works@gmail.com" target="_blank"><font color="#000000">lawrence.works@gmail.com</font></a></i><font color="#000000" face="georgia, serif"><i><br></i></font></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align:left"><div style="text-align:left"><br></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>