Thinking of Japan

I cannot stop thinking about Japan and this horrible earthquake. I wake up thinking about it and I go to sleep thinking about it. It seems to be threaded through every minute of the last three days.

The main reason for my obsessive thinking is my brother Mervin. He is in the midst of all of the chaos as he works for the Fukushima nuclear reactor that has now exploded three times. Never in a million years would I have imagined something like this happening to someone in my family. Not only am I concerned for my brother but I am constantly overwhelmed with a sinking horrible feeling of sadness for the people of Japan. It reminds me of something I would see in a movie but worse. If I think too much about it I get sick to my stomach. And I know if I feel this way, the Japanese feel 100 times worse.

Natural disasters don't make any sense to me. I hate that they have to happen. I know they are inevitable and natural but I cannot wrap my head around it. The devastation is incredible. I read a news clip today that stated that Japan's crematoriums are at capacity and they are running out of body bags. This is such an extraordinary and unprecedented situation that one of the most prepared nations in the world cannot handle the devastation. That amazes me in the worst way.

And the craziest part is that the rest of the world keeps going on. And I don't think the world should stop, but it feels strange to be enjoying a meal or a movie and know that somewhere on the other side of the world there are people dying by the thousands and there is nothing significant that I can do to help.

Something that also seems pretty incredible to me is how calm the Japanese have remained. There is no looting, no crime, no panicking, just people working together to make it through.  I watched a clip tonight of a man at a shelter who was given a bowl and then realized an elderly man was not going to get fed and he gave his entire portion to this man. These people respect each other which is so important in a time of crisis.

I hope that Mervin can get home quickly and safely. And my heart goes out to everyone affected by this horrible disaster.