I'm a Japanese housewife living in Japan. I'm in my 60's. I want to know daily lives in the world, so at first I'll tell my daily. What is your daily life?
It’s Saturday. In the morning, Yuki is going to play tennis, and I’ll probably go to the gym.
Yesterday he was able to take chemotherapy, and at this stage his team has decided to continue with it. He’ll have a CT scan right after the New Year holiday — earlier than originally planned. At that point, they will decide whether he should receive radiation.
The three of us mainly talked about his numbness. If Yuki’s quality of life drops significantly, the current chemotherapy should be stopped, even though it has been effective in keeping the tumors from progressing. The doctor also told me, “If you, as his family, feel that his quality of life has clearly decreased, please let me know.” After the consultation, when we stepped out of the room, Yuki told me that he wants to continue the treatment as long as it’s working — even until the point where he can no longer hold a pen.
During yesterday’s CBT session, I was focusing on “doing what we can do today.” When I came home, I realized that I can’t really imagine our future. All we can do is go with the flow.
When I listen to world news—the news feels far removed from our daily life—I hear that relations with China are becoming unstable. In New York City, a young socialist was elected mayor. Wars continue here and there.
All of these things make us anxious. In the end, we can only go with the flow.
by Yuki
We can’t travel far to see autumn leaves, but yesterday on our way home we enjoyed some small ones.
Today is Costco day—or my CBT (day. It’s been a month since we last went, and this month felt strangely long.
Yesterday an architect, Mr. S, came over. We hadn’t seen him in seven years. He’s 75 now but still really active. He still works, but honestly his main job (not job) seems to be playing golf. We ended up talking about golf clubs for half the time.
Mr. S probably noticed Yuki’s situation—Yuki even told him he’s dealing with an illness—but Mr. S didn’t bring it up. He just kept things light and talked about golf so Yuki could enjoy the moment. Even though it’s getting a bit hard for Yuki to grip a club tightly, he still looked inspired to go golfing.
Yesterday we talked with Yuki’s radiation oncologist. She explained his condition in more detail. The tumor near his throat still remains, although it is not large. Today, she and Yuki’s primary doctor will discuss his case. He may undergo another round of radiation therapy, or continue with chemotherapy.
Additionally, in yesterday’s diary I used the word radiologist, but in English radiation oncologist seems to be more appropriate in his case.
Today, after having lunch at home, we are going to see his radiologist. We’ll be able to hear a clearer explanation of the CT results.
Yesterday, we also went to a musical instrument shop, where Yuki found his favorite guitar picks. So in the afternoon, Yuki practiced the guitar and I practiced the piano more eagerly than usual as we prepare for Christmas.
Monday has started. Today is a usual day: going to the clinic, doing a 30-minute workout, grocery shopping, and so on. Over the weekend, both of us finished updating our iPhones. This week, an architect will come—it will be his first visit in seven years. He is now 75 and still very active. We will consult him about our bathroom.
Since yesterday afternoon, I have been working on setting up my new iPhone. This time I decided to do it by myself, but I stopped at the very first step. An operation guide was included with the new phone, but it was difficult for me to understand So I called the company’s help desk. The staff suggested two options: one was to go directly to a company’s branch, and the other was to use a remote-support service. The fee is only 400 yen per month, and the first time is free, so I applied for the service.
I just followed the instructions from the support person, and now all my data has been safely transferred to the new iPhone. Today I will move my SIM card to the new phone, and then I need to initialize the old one and send it back to the company.
Also, some things were not written in the guide because it only explains iPhone operations, and not how to connect it to the phone line, including cellphone mail and so on. Yuki couldn’t do that part either at first, but thanks to my method, he was also able to set up the part he had given up on.
Yesterday, Yuki was able to receive his chemotherapy. The doctor also showed us the results of his latest CT and MRI scans. His malignant tumors have shrunk by about 20% compared with the previous results. Unfortunately, they haven’t disappeared, but we hope he can continue to coexist with them.
On the other hand, his numbness is getting a little worse. So the amount of his medication has been increased again, and he also started taking Japanese herbal medicine. The sensations in his fingers and toes are dull, so he needs to be careful not to get burned or fall down.
Anyway, today he is going to play tennis.
This Thursday he updated his iPhone using the company’s insurance service. It’s not the latest model, but it’s still newer than his previous one. I will also update mine using the same service. When I change my iPhone with my insurance plan, it takes about half a day to transfer all the data and apps from the old phone to the new one. Probably my new iPhone will arrive in the morning, and I’ll have to transfer everything in the afternoon.
Yesterday’s online meeting topic was spreadsheet software. We talked about “Excel.
◆Can you remember the first time you used Excel?
Yes, I was in my twenties. After graduating from university, I joined a company where I needed to use Office software, including Excel. At first, it was challenging, but once I got used to it, I found it very useful. After quitting the job, I used it for PTA activities, and even now I use it to manage our household budget.
◆What do you use Excel for in your personal and work life?
I use Excel to manage our household budget. I also use it when we need to make lists of things. But I don’t use all of its features, such as the statistical or graph features.
◆What new features would you like added to Excel?
Honestly, I don’t really need any new features. Since I started using Excel, it has been updated many times, and I can’t keep up with all the new features, even though the software keeps improving.
There were five Japanese members, and I was the eldest. The others were in their 40s or early 50s. One lady is an office worker, and the others are probably housewives or have part-time jobs—I’m not sure. What surprised me was that all of them use Excel in their personal lives.
Around me, meaning people in their 60s or older, few use Excel; some use Word or PowerPoint. I didn’t realize that Excel is so familiar to the younger generation. But probably my daughters don’t use Excel—they use other apps directly. I mainly use Excel for our annual household balance sheet and to estimate how our savings might decrease in the future, although I also keep our household balance using a budgeting app. Many younger people probably don’t use software directly; instead, they use apps designed for specific purposes. Do you use Excel?
Yesterday’s performance with my friend at Karaku Café was fun. Now I seem to be suffering from fall hay fever — my nose has been runny since yesterday. Today Yuki plans to go play tennis, and I’m wondering whether I should go to the 30-minute circuit workout. In the afternoon, I’ll join an online meeting.
In the morning we’ll stay home and spend time lazily. In the afternoon, I’ll perform with my friend at Karaku Café. Yuki will have his CT and MRI scans as scheduled today.
A new week has started. This Friday is Yuki’s hospital day, and tomorrow he will also have a CT and MRI. We are a little anxious. Yuki still has a hoarse voice and feels something strange when he swallows.
Anyway, this morning Yuki is going to his clinic, and I’m going to the orthopedic clinic.
It’s a rainy day, so we’ll just stay home and take it easy. Yuki is going to get a haircut. Because of the side effects, the top of his head is almost bald, but the hair around the nape of his neck has grown out, so it looks a bit unbalanced.
This week Yuki is taking a break from chemotherapy. He says the numbness in his hands has gotten a bit better. He still plays tennis and the guitar, though he’s not as good as he used to be. He hasn’t played golf lately because it’s a bit hard for him to hold the clubs tightly.
Anyway, today he’s off to play tennis, and I’m going to the dentist. My root canal treatment is taking such a long time!
It’s Friday. It’s sunny and not so cold. Today Yuki is going to his clinic, and I’ll do my personal exercise with an AI program. Yesterday I went to a 30-minute circuit workout, and my hip joint hurts a little. We’ll probably have lunch out and drop by a discount shop. In the evening, we both have dental appointments.
It is a cold morning. Yuki is wondering whether to go play tennis, since it’s outside. I’m also wondering whether to go to my 30-minute exercise class, though it’s indoors. Anyway, today is a calm day — no visits to the clinic or the hospital.
Yesterday we completed all our plans, though we had lunch outside. We stopped by our favorite shrine and prayed. Yuki’s photo today is of Yuzu growing at the shrine.
Today I’m holding a laughter yoga chat meeting, I prepared youkan, a traditional Japanese sweet, for the members．
It is sunny but cold. We still think it’s autumn, yet the sudden chill feels like winter. Yesterday, our younger daughter came alone, quite unexpectedly. She talked a lot—we hope it helped her release some stress. Today is an ordinary day for us. While he is seeing his doctor at the clinic, I do my personal exercise with an AI program. It’s been two months since I started doing it five times a week. I plan to continue for at least another month. My hip joint is improving, but sometimes the pain still returns.
A new week has started, though today is a national holiday. We took out the burnable garbage as usual.
A new week has started, though today is a national holiday. We took out the burnable garbage as usual. Since I trimmed some branches and pulled weeds yesterday, we had more trash than usual today. Yesterday’s jazz festival was a great success. Yuki’s friends came to see him. One sad thing is that he lost his favorite hat — the one he always wears when playing music. So now, he has a new mission or hobby: to find a new “musician’s hat.”
Today Yuki is taking part in a jazz festival. I’ll stay home, though I was planning to go see it. It’s a sunny day. Sometimes it’s nice to spend a lazy day at home alone, even though I often do spend my days lazily.
While our elder daughter was staying with us, she holed up in her room and worked quietly by herself, but we usually had three meals together. Compared with our usual life for just the two of us, we talked more. It was fun — and now I need to get used to our usual quiet life again.
Yesterday, Yuki was able to get his chemotherapy, and next week he will take a break from it. My elder daughter went back to Tokyo yesterday.
Our usual days have started again. According to the calendar, it’s a three-day weekend. This morning, Yuki will play tennis, and in the afternoon he plans to visit some used shops to look for music gadgets. Tomorrow he’ll join a jazz festival, and on Monday, if the weather is fine, we’ll go to a museum.
Anyway, it seems we’ll spend a calm and pleasant three days off.
My husband Yuki and I live in a regional city. Our retirement life has state since 2020. Though Something good, exciting, worried or bad often happens, we try to focus the current situation and spend enjoyable days while living offf our savings little by little carefully.
