This is a photo of my grandparent’s wedding in Japan in 1957. They had quite a love story. It began quite humorously with my grandfather making the mistake of giving her a friendly smack on the behind, which ended with him finding himself on the floor after my grandmother decked him. Later, he found out that she came from a prestigious family, and realized he had to make amends. He camped himself outside of her home for three nights in the cold, until my great-grandmother convinced her to go out and accept his apology. Then, he began his pursuit, finally winning a first date with the offer of donuts and coffee, which were a treat during the days of occupation and rations.
They went on to date for seven years, until they were able to get her paperwork pushed through to the Japanese consulate to be married, after which they immediately moved to the states. Almost a year later, my mom was born.
They were married for 33 years, until my grandfather passed away on Thursday, October 25, 1990 at 3:45PM. Eighteen years later, on Friday, October 24, 2008 at 4:45PM, my grandmother passed on to join him. My mother had dreamt the night before that my grandfather was calling for my grandmother to come home. The dates, times seemed very connected.
In the past three years, I learned a lot of cool, random things about her, including
- She knew how to dance the Jitterbug, Charleston, Waltz, Tango, Rumba and Samba.
- She was betrothed to a member of the Mikimoto Pearl family, and was disowned when she chose to marry my grandfather instead.
- She was an athlete – she loved to ski, and could have been in the Olympics for swimming.
- When she moved to the US, she insisted the household be purely English speaking, and lost her ability to speak in Japanese.
- She feared flying – when her, my grandfather & my mother were supposed to leave Hawaii, they got on an earlier flight, and the one they should have been on exploded on takeoff.
- She was able to watch Soul Train and imitate the dance moves perfectly.
- At the nursing home, she learned how to play hangman and was able to win at it.
It’s still hard right now to remember things other than being with her in that final moment. Watching her color change, hearing breathing slow, and seeing the beat of her pulse stop on her neck. I’m comforted by the fact that she wasn’t alone, that I was able to tell her how we loved her and everything was going to be ok, and that she is finally in a place where she no longer suffers. The afterlife is a mystery, but whatever it is, I just hope that it includes her being reunited with her family, my grandfather, all the pets that she once loved. I hope that she is able to dance again, and is surrounded by nothing but pure happiness and beauty.
Light a Candle
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{ 38 comments… read them below or add one }
This is an amazing story! I love to hear about this kind of thing. 2 loves, not expected to be together, but fate brings them as a couple. This and the History of it makes it an awesome story.
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May your Grandmother’s soul rest in peace. From what you have written above, she was quite a phenomenal lady.
Regards,
Shinil.
Sending you many hugs Kristi and the hope that these memories will be a source of comfort for you. Your Grandmother was an amazing woman and this was such a moving tribute!
WOW!
No wonder you look a little like Asian with prettier face.
Married for 33 years. That’s a long time.
In Asian’s culture or religion, I am sure you and your grandmother will meet one day in heaven. Keep the good spirit and soul.
Thank you for sharing. What a touching story!
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What a post! Your grandmother sounds like an amazing woman. What luck with the airplane too.
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May your grandmother’s soul Rest in Peace as we celebrate her wonderful life here on earth.
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Kristi,
I am sorry for your loss but am happy that your grandmother will be with your grandfather again.
I am very interested in the connections with dates. I don’t think the dates and times are a coincidence. I’ve also heard similar stories about dreams like that shortly before death.
Thank you so much for sharing this story – it’s beautiful and funny. She really does sound like she was amazing and it’s good that you were able to know her as well as you did.
I was very close to one of my grandmothers. She passed away 19 years ago and I still think of her everyday.
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nice story… ^__^ I love to read about other people’s love life.
may your grandparents soul rest in peace
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Sorry for your loss. My father passed away last November 12th as I held his hand and the rest of my family stood at his side. It was one of the hardest things to do but it is comforting to know he was not alone.
Things like you have written will keep her memory alive for generations to come.
Hello Kristi,
Sending you comfort and peace on your grandmother’s passing. She was a courageous soul, going against her family for the love of her life. She celebrated life, looks like she has passed some of that quality on to you.
Peace to you.
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I am amazed and thus will be lifting your post including the picture into my blog…of course, unless you object to being linked
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Beautiful story, and their wedding looks like it was absolutely stunning!
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That was beautiful and you’re grandmother is very lucky to have you in this world to keep her story alive and her memory alive. Though the after-life is a mystery, there is one thing that I learned from briefly volunteering in hospice that crosses all cultural and faith barriers and that is that, often before leaving this world, the dying are visited by loved ones who’ve gone before, kind of like a welcoming committee. I don’t know if it does for you, but knowing that gives me comfort that someday we’ll see the ones we love who have passed on again.
Wow. Thanks for a great post. You made a beautiful photograph of my your grandmother really come alive to complete strangers like me.
Sounds like she was a wonderful lady and it’s lovely to have her memory here.
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Wonderful story about your grandparents. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for sharing this wonderful story. Your grandparents sound like they were a wonderful couple.
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Thank you everyone for your responses. Sharing the story was very cathartic, and reading the kind words you all have shared was wonderful.
Kristi… what a beautiful tribute to your grandmother. I loved reading this as much as I felt sad for your family’s loss.
I too hope that whatever exists in the afterlife, it’s full of loved ones, beloved pets, and LOTS of dancing.
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I’m so sorry for your loss Kristi. I never knew my grandparents and it’s a void in my life, which is why I encourage my kids to interact with theirs.
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I’m sorry for your loss. I love to read such a unique and romantic story. Thank you for sharing it.
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what an interesting story… May they rest in peace…
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Thanks for sharing this great story with us!
I’m sure that your grandmother and grandfather are finally reunited!
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Very beautiful writing and a touching tribute
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@Lara: Me too.
@Sire: I only know my grandparents on my mom’s side. It is a great thing though, as you learn so much about your family history and stories and such that way.
@Dilasari, Mimi, Mr Muggles, and John: Thanks.
A wonderful love story indeed! The same kind of story that is pretty rare to find today. She must have loved your grandfather so much she wouldn’t mind being disowned by her family. That’s indeed what love is all about.
I’m sorry for your lost and hope she will rest in peace.
Yan
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Oh my God… I am in love with that picture! It’s so beautiful; I hope that you have this hanging up somewhere in your house. I’m very sorry to hear about your grandmother, but what a beautiful tribute you just paid to her with this. *hugs*
-Morgan
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so you got your asian look from your grandmother.
I’m sorry for your loss
From what you’ve written I bet she lived her life to the fullest
…..She knew how to dance the Jitterbug, Charleston, Waltz, Tango, Rumba and Samba.
….. She was an athlete – she loved to ski, and could have been in the Olympics for swimming.
…..She was able to watch Soul Train and imitate the dance moves perfectly.
……At the nursing home, she learned how to play hangman and was able to win at it.
I think though that she is not really lost. she continues to live on through her sons, daughters and grandchildren and through you.We have traces of something from our ancestors and its not just the genes.
keep blogging
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@Yan: She did. She gave up a lot to be with him, and I think that is what love is… giving up everything for someone.
@Morgan: It is framed in my living room. What is even more awesome is I have her actual wedding dress, minus the headpiece. I hope to one day lay it all out and photograph the colors, and then maybe incorporate that into the photo.
@Coffeewriter: I do notice some sides of her within myself now. Plus she lives in my dreams.
Thanks for sharing such a wonderful story. There is no doubt that Your grandparents were a happiest couple.
A real touching story. You were blessed for having such a great lady as ur grandma. Don’t have words to express..
your grandparents are very awesome.
@Cert, Treatment, and Modern Urban: Thanks.
That’s an amazing story, I was just going through your blog and that’s a pretty cool article. Thanks for dropping a comment on my blog. I’ll be moving on to see more articles now.
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@Abdulrehman: Thanks. I’m glad I got to share it with everyone.
Hi i visit through your blog and i found your story amazing, it seems that your grandparents were a happiest couple.Your story is to touching that i don’t have words to express my feelings.
Thanks for sharing such a wonderful story. This is great blog on such a true lover. I really appreciate you. Your grandmother is very beautiful.
A beautiful story between your grandmother and grandfather indeed! I am fond of hearing of this kind of story very much. I must say your grandmother is absolutely beautiful!
wow very beautiful your grandmother and also your grand father nice couple and nice writeup Kristi great story i read it full….
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