English conversation online meeting 1021

 The topics are..."Skills”

◆What is a new skill that you would like to learn?

Though this may not be a very positive answer, I'd like to learn basic skills to keep up with new technology, such as smartphones, apps, and AI.

However, I'm not even sure what the basic skills are.

I don't need to learn anything too complicated, and I don't think I have the energy to study anything too difficult at my age.

Still, these days, people seem to rely on smartphones for almost everything. So, I'm wondering what I really need to know to manage my daily life. It's actually a pressing issue for me right now.

◆Do you think it is better to have many skills or to just be very good at a few?

It depends on your occupation and age.

It takes time to learn a skill and make it your own. Of course, it's important to improve your skills, but it's also important not to forget the skills you've worked hard to acquire.

I think both having a wide range of skills and being really good at a few skills are valuable. However, I feel that knowing how to use your skills effectively and how to maintain them is even more difficult and important.

◆What do you expect will be the most important skills for people to have in the future?

It's a difficult question. Probably, some technical skills to keep up with new technology will be important and necessary.

On the other hand, I think it's also very important not to forget how to communicate with people without relying on technology. I'm not sure if this is a skill or an ability, but I think it's something we really need.

Technology will keep changing, and we will meet many different kinds of people. So, I think it's important to be flexible and learn how to deal with new situations and different opinions.

◆Are there any skills that people are born with that can’t be taught or learned in life?

I think the ability to communicate with people is very important.

From the moment we are born, we start interacting with others. We can't grow or live on our own. Sometimes, misunderstandings in communication can lead to fighting, or even war. That's why I think it's important to keep improving our ability to communicate with others throughout our lives.

◆Is it possible for a person to ever be too skillful?

Yes, I think so. Some people may be too skillful in certain areas, and that can make them seem strange to others. They may be considered "henjin" in Japanese. Unfortunately, I think they often seem isolated from others, although they may not care about it at all.

◆What kinds of skills do wild animals have?

Wild animals have survival skills from an early age. They have the skills to build their homes or nests to raise their young, and to gather or hunt for food. Some animals also have the ability to use tools.

What do you think of them?

Good morning 1019

 A new week has started. It looks like it will be sunny through today, but it might rain tomorrow. Actually, I prefer sunny days, but if it rains, at least my pollen allergy should get better.

Our schedule for this morning is to go to the clinic and then stop by a golf shop to look for a left-hand glove.

Yuki says he tends to use his numb left hand without thinking, which causes him some stress. So he wants to wear a glove on his left hand even at home. He has several golf gloves, but they are tight, as they are supposed to be for playing golf. This time, though, he needs a loose-fitting glove for a different purpose.

Some people suggested alternating between soaking his hand in hot water and cold water, and he has been doing that when he takes a bath. But the doctor said, “If the numbness is caused by peripheral neuropathy, it might help. In his case, though, it probably won't be very effective. Still, it's worth trying.”

In the evening, we're planning to go to our own gyms. Yuki will definitely go because he enjoys it. As for me, I'll probably go, too.

Good mornong 1018

 We went to the orthopedic department at the hospital where Yuki receives his cancer treatment.

The doctor thinks that his symptoms are not caused by peripheral nerve problems. They may be lingering side effects of chemotherapy, or it is also possible that a tumor in his neck is causing the problem.

The doctor took the time to listen to us carefully and explain things, so although nothing has changed, we feel a little relieved. We asked the hospital to bring forward Yuki’s appointment with his oncologist. His CT and MRI scans are scheduled in two weeks so we hope they can be done sooner. We’ll see what happens.

We have added some more massage gadgets to Yuki’s collection.

As for me, I am suffering allergic caused by autumn pollen. I’m taking medicine, but my nose keeps running. Stronger medicine gives me a headache, so I have to manage with what I’m taking now.

Today, there is an outdoor jazz concert featuring some of Yuki’s friends, but I’ve decided to skip it.

I’m also skipping airing our futons outside in the sun. (That’s a Japanese custom, by the way!)

Good morning 1017

 I'm going to the hospital with Yuki now. The fingers on his left hand started twitching. This has never happened before. His numbness seems to be getting worse, to the point where it's almost like paralysis.

I'm feeling a little shaken. I wonder if we have to accept that this is happening.

We stopped chemotherapy because we wanted to prevent things from getting to this point. I can't help wondering if we made that decision too late.

As recently as last month, he was still able to play the bass.

Good morning 1016

 Yesterday, we went to a Buddhist temple to buy a special amulet. Neither of us is particularly religious. We are not Shintoists or Buddhists, but we have decided to follow Buddhist customs for our funeral and burial arrangements.

By the way, Shinto shrines are where people worship in the Shinto tradition, while Buddhist temples are where Buddhists worship.

In Shingon Buddhism, there is something called a “final amulet.” It is believed to help a person pass away peacefully and smoothly at the very moment they leave this world and return to the other side. In other words, it is meant to bring peace of mind at the moment of death.

So, that is why we went to buy one. I’m not sure whether this is considered good luck or bad luck, but anyway, we just want to enjoy peaceful and happy days together for as long as we can.

It is only now, at this stage of our lives, that we find ourselves turning to Buddhist traditions. I guess, after all, we are Japanese.

Good morning 1015

 Yesterday was the day of the home visit from the nurse. I had been wondering what she would do during the visit.

She checked Yuki’s blood pressure and oxygen saturation, then listened to his chest with a stethoscope. She told us she could hear some rattling sounds in his lungs. Apparently, there is nothing that can be done about it.

Yuki looks fine on the outside, but I was reminded that his body is changing after all. It’s hard to face the reality.

Still, I’m grateful that the nurse visits us twice a month. It’s also reassuring to know that we can contact a nurse 24 hours a day if we need help.

By the way, the cost of home nursing care is partly covered by Japan’s public long-term care insurance system, which is a great help to us.

Good morning 1014

 Today, our first visiting nurse is coming to see Yuki. He is doing well, but he now needs to have his condition checked by a nurse twice a month. This is to help ensure a smooth transition to palliative care when the time comes.

Unfortunately, the side effects of chemotherapy still haven't gone away, and recently, the numbness in his fingers has gotten worse. It has become more difficult to press down on the strings of his bass with his left hand. He is feeling quite down about it — well, actually, very disappointed.

Even so, he says he will stop by the jazz café just to have a cup of coffee.

The doctors have told us that the numbness isn't directly related to the cancer, so I think it may be part of the process of recovering from the side effects of chemotherapy. But sadly, we can't afford to wait too long for the numbness to go away.

For now, he can still use the exercise bike, so he is trying to maintain his physical strength. Yuki is planning to go to the small gym this evening.