So yes, Mom survived the war and in the early 1950s, met my father, Saul, who was serving in the U. S. Coast Guard. They got married and raised a son and daughter in Hawaii, my father's home state. Some years later, Mom and Dad moved their family to southern California and eventually had two more children: two daughters, one of whom is me.

Mom had picked up some English words and phrases during her time in Tokyo but when she came to America, she discovered comic books and taught herself to read by studying the images and making connections to what was written in the cartoon bubbles; the adventures of Archie and his friends was a starting point. Mom later moved on to television, newspapers and books. She took driving lessons at a local high school and learned how to balance a checkbook.

Our family lived near an air force base and Mom befriended other Japanese wives who were married to military men. Together, they formed the Japanese Wives Club, and traveled throughout Riverside and San Bernardino counties, visiting hospitals and performing traditional dances at local civic centers. They wore kimono and shared their Japanese culture with others by teaching classes and making appearances at special events. Their activities were photographed and written about in local newspapers and Mom saved every letter the club received from hosts thanking them for their time.

As a mother, Mom stayed busy, working around the clock at home: sewing clothes; making school lunches and family dinners; cleaning; laundering; reading to her kids; and so forth. Mom also took painting classes and would set up easels in the kitchen and paint. She loved to clip coupons and discover new products at the grocery store -- I have never met anyone as enthusiastic as she was about American goods. It didn't matter if it was a new kind of chewing gum or a new brand of peanut butter -- she had to try it all. It is important to note that Mom often stocked up on more bars of soap, rolls of paper towels, and boxes of cereal than were necessary, due of the severe deprivation she had experienced as a child. It was her way of making sure that her family would never be in want of anything.

Some years after Dad passed away, Mom moved to Los Angeles to be closer to her children. Eventually, my brother, his wife and Mom decided to move to New Mexico. Mom enjoyed the peaceful existence of the desert and made friends with many locals who were part of a thriving arts community. She pursued her love of art there for many years, creating large-scale abstract paintings, co-founding an artists co-op, and participating in local exhibits. Many people came to pay their respects at her memorial service. Her ashes were scattered off the cliffs of Abiquiu, New Mexico, home of one of Mom's favorite artists: Georgia O'Keefe.

Putting Mom's story together for her was a labor of love as well as a fulfillment of her wish to have her story shared with the world. Many of the Japanese who also survived the fire bombings are no longer alive. On the eve of Independence Day, it seems fitting to share that Mom was also extremely patriotic and supported American veterans' organizations. Despite what she had experienced during wartime in Japan, Mom was throughout the rest of her lifetime, proudly American.

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