I haven’t said anything about Japan on the blog yet because I didn’t know what to say. I still don’t know what to say. But today, 4 days after the disaster, I am going to try.

I don’t know that words can ever be sufficient in such circumstances. What can you say about the loss of life, utter devastation of vast tracks of land, and pending nuclear disaster that doesn’t sound trite? I’m so sorry. I can’t believe it. I can’t imagine having to live through that. How must these people be feeling? What can I do to help? Trite. All of them. But, trite because they are true.

I am so sorry. Truly, I am so very sorry. To the people of Japan and of the world, especially to the people who have lost their family, their friends, their homes, and their livelihood. These people continue not knowing what is next, or what is left. They continue not knowing who is left. I can’t imagine a greater burden. And for that I am truly sorry.

I can’t believe it. Another devastating earthquake? Another tsunami? So soon? I just can’t believe it. It shifted the earth’s axis and the coastline of Japan? That can’t be possible. What? There’s a pending nuclear disaster? Not in Japan, I can’t believe it. Did you see that video? Or that house? Or those before and afters? I simply can’t believe it.

I can’t imagine having to live through that. I’ve never even felt an earthquake, much less lost everything due to one. I’ve been so lucky in my life. How can I sit here and continue to feel sorry for myself about the fact that the weather isn’t great, that the time change is messing up my sleep patterns or that my new camera might not make it here on time? What is wrong with me? How can I continue to think like this? What kind of bumbling idiot would I become if I was faced with real tragedy. And sitting there having to worry about a pending nuclear disaster… well I would be a mess. I can’t even imagine having to live through that.

How must these people be feeling? How long will it take before these people get a semblance of normality to their lives? When will those who simply don’t know ever know. Or will they simply give up hope? Where will they go? What will they do? What if they have lost everything and everyone? How must these people be feeling?

What can I do to help. While I could drop everything and go to Japan, I’m not sure it would be that helpful, just another hopeful, helpful body getting in the way. We are very fortunate that we are in a position that we can donate money, but again it just seems to trite. Isn’t there something more I can do to help?

I leave you now with a picture of Japan that is in stark contrast to those that have been bombarding the news for the last four days.

Japan is beautiful. On the outside as well as on the inside. It is an amazing place, it is probably my husband’s favourite country in the whole wide world, and its right up near the top of my list too. And I just can’t believe it. I’m so very sorry.  Isn’t there something more I can do to help?