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?
Yesterday, Yuki was able to receive chemotherapy. Balancing treatment and side effects is difficult, but for now, he continues the treatment.
This afternoon, he will join a jam session. I will participate in an online meeting of shuukatsu advisers.
Shuukatsu is a Japanese concept that refers to end-of-life planning, such as organizing personal matters, caregiving arrangements, and funeral preferences. I obtained a private shuukatsu adviser certification. I do not plan to work using this qualification; however, while organizing the knowledge and information I gained through my late mother and my late mother-in-law as they aged, I was able to earn it. Recently, many people working in insurance, caregiving, and funeral-related fields have begun obtaining this certification.
Today is Yuki’s hospital day. Since he couldn’t receive his treatment last week, we think he will probably be able to have chemotherapy this week. That’s good news, but it also means that the side effects—which had calmed down during his break—will trouble him again. There’s no way around it.
As I wrote before, Yuki quit all his tennis clubs except one, and instead he has started going to a light-exercise gym. He thought he could handle the machine exercises easily—and he actually could—but because all the exercises were new to his body, his hip muscles started to hurt. So he has also begun visiting a nearby Japanese-style bodywork and massage clinic. It feels like the typical life of an elderly person, doesn’t it?
Yesterday I joined an online English meeting. The topics are... "Appliances"
◆What is an appliance that you have bought but rarely ever use? What does it do?
We usually use the appliances we buy, and if we notice we have something we rarely use, we usually let go of it.
I checked the shelf in my kitchen and realized that I have a juicer. I use it sometimes, but I’ve only used the attachment that grates daikon radish once.
If I looked through all my appliances, I’d probably find some attachments I hardly ever use.
◆When did you last buy an appliance? Why did you decide to buy this machine?
I recently bought a microwave-safe grill pan that lets you grill fish in the microwave and even gives it a nice sear.
We thought we should eat more fish, but washing the regular grill is troublesome.
◆How many appliances do you have in your kitchen? Which do you use the most?
At a quick glance, I have eight appliances including the refrigerator in my kitchen.
But if I include the smaller ones stored in the cupboards as well, I probably have more than twenty in total.
I use my microwave-safe grill pan, yogurt maker, and electric kettle the most.
Today is the second Tuesday, the day of my performance with my friend at Karaku Café. This past month went by so quickly. Though you may not believe it, I always feel a little anxious about whether I’ll be able to go to Karaku again next time.
Today I’m going to wear a red sweater and white pants—like Santa without his bag.
Yesterday, just as we expected, the doctor instructed Yuki to take a break from his chemotherapy. Reducing the numbness was given top priority. So he was supposed to come home earlier than usual, but there was also a mistake with the prescription, and in the end, it turned into a long day as usual.
Because of that, I missed my dental appointment, so I’m going today to have the stitches removed.
From now on, we will probably always feel anxious about choosing between continuing the treatment and reducing the side effects. But for now, at least, he still has something to treat—or suppress—his tumors. It’s scary that the future looks even more uncertain, but somehow I have to learn to accept it.
Today is Yuki’s hospital day. He will probably have to take a break from his medication.
We—especially I—feel that he needs time to recover his physical strength, and if he rests from the treatment, his strength may come back. Of course, the tumor might become active again as well, but even so, we think rest is important for now.
According to his schedule, he plans to play tennis tomorrow and join his jam session the day after tomorrow.
Yesterday, we (mainly I) almost finished cleaning the windows, which is our top priority for winter cleaning. Our motto is that trying our best is what matters most—the result comes second.
I wiped the windows with cleaner, so the dust was removed. But as you know, I’m not a very careful person—I am a bit sloppy—so there are still streaks on the windows. Additionally, I don’t plan to wash the lace curtains.
Today I am going to hold my laughter yoga meeting. Unfortunately one woman has to cancel because she has to go to the dentist. Today’s laughter yoga meeting is the last one of this year. Probably next meeting will be in February. I hope I will be able to held it next year.
In the afternoon, the architect is coming. We’re looking forward to seeing what kind of plans he’ll bring. On the other hand, we already know the estimate will be over our budget, so we are a bit worried.
The bathroom renovation was part of our retirement plan. We planned to renovate after turning 65. But the economic situation has completely changed since then.
Even so, we’ve been steadily using our retirement funds as planned—which means our savings have been decreasing exactly as expected. In a way, that’s pretty amazing. I take pride in being stingy.
December has started!!!
Yesterday I went to do sutra copying, and I talked a little with the head priest. I’m not a Buddhist, but in Japan Buddhist elements are part of everyday life, so I can go and do sutra copying without feeling any resistance. It seems I enjoy gentle spiritual cultivation — not rigorous training.
