From A Mothers’ Heart In Japan

The SimplyFab Team would like to share this beautiful and touching letter written by a friend of SimplyFab, reader Serene Wu.

Addressed to her baby daughter, Cheryl on her first overseas trip to Tokyo. This was penned at Narita Airport on the night of 12th March 2011 whilst mother and baby were waiting agonizing hours for a flight out to safety. The writer has since left Tokyo and are now safe in Chicago.

Thank you so much Serene for sharing this with us and all our readers.

There truly is no love bigger than a Mother’s love and we are so glad that you are safe and soundly reunited with your husband and family!

Our thoughts and prayers go out today for the safety and protection of many families still in peril that

they are quickly found, saved and their lives restored!

*  *  *

Dear Cheryl,

It started early on our first morning in Tokyo. I felt the bed moving at 2:30am and I thought you were waking up for a feed. Then another at 5am – this time, I was certain it wasn’t you. I stayed still and felt the springs in our 10th floor hotel room mattress jiggled gently. The possibly of earthquake crossed my mind as I waited. But it stopped.

That was 36 hours before the 8.9 magnitude earthquake in Japan. We were all alone in Tokyo.

Ye Ye and Nai Nai were out of town on the morning of 11th March in Nikko for a day trip. We paid a visit to Auntie Laurence and Elena at their lovely apartment in Omotesando/Aoyama. You were unusually cranky after lunch so we went back to our hotel instead of the planned shopping at Takashimaya.

It was 2:44pm when the earthquake struck. We were at the hotel lobby checking emails. I saw the walls swayed. The glasses were clinking. Things were falling onto the floor. The jerks got stronger and stronger. Suddenly it went still.

I could hear my heart pounding. I went on the computer sending out emails and messages to your Pa Pa and Embassy. Then it happened again and a much shorter one with equal vigor.

In the lobby was Tomo-san and Yoko-san who kindly showed us to the Tsukiji Hongan-ji Temple across the road. They said we would be safe there. We ran out into the cold with these kind ladies. Tomo-san was a Kobe Earthquake survivor and was extremely helpful securing information, food and water for us while we stayed in the open compound of the temple.

Cheryl, we have to thank our guardian angels and lucky stars to be very well taken care of during this ordeal. The temple staff took special care to ensure our safety, comfort and needs: – - They chased away a bunch of smokers who came too close to us. – Prepared a room in case you need to be nursed. – A gentleman ran out into the cold to bring you warm water for milk. – Distributed rice cakes and hot tea. – Checked on us regularly to make sure we are fine. – Took us into a private tatami room with heater after they have settled the crowd. – Provided us with hot water, diapers, wet wipes, blankets, formula powder sachets and even snacks for you. – Got a translator to update us on the situation. – Told the locals around us that we are foreigners – cannot communicate in Japanese. Made sure they looked out for us and we were not left alone.

I was extremely touched by their kindness, generosity and warmth – most importantly, they kept a smile on their faces in time of crisis to keep our spirits up and positive.

We met up with Ye Ye and Nai Nai at 5am on 12th March after their gruesome 12 hours journey back to Tokyo on bus. We took another 8.5 hours road trip through the winding roads on taxi to Narita Airport as the Tokyo subways and highways shut down.

So here you are – sound asleep on layers of carton-box scraps, sleeping bags and blankets provided by the airport. Aftershocks are frequent and sometimes strong. These are most unnerving for me – I can’t sleep coz I am watching over you. I am mapping out the glass panels and light bulbs in your radius which may potentially shatter and cut. There isn’t any table in sight but we have got a row of seats I can turn over to cover you. But when? At which point do I decide to act? I had no answer, Cheryl.

Here and now, I am left with only faith. Faith of what they called a motherly instinct to protect you and guide our family to safety.

This is the time, Cheryl, to call on a few more of your lucky stars, to put us on the next flight out of Tokyo to the safe and warm arms of your Pa Pa – you fondly mumble in your dreams here.

* * *

This letter was reproduced in whole with the written permission of the writer.

Photos used were taken from various news sites reporting the Earthquake, across the net!