Monday, March 28 – After the aftershock

Yasue was jolted awake at 7:24 a.m. in Sendai by another huge aftershock. The 6.5-magnitude alarm clock was only one of more than 1,000 aftershocks that have rattled Japan since the massive 9.0 quake on March 11. For more than 90 minutes Monday morning, all eyes turned to the coast as the large aftershock triggered yet one more tsunami warning. What a way to wake up.

The sheer volume and power of the numerous aftershocks is very unnerving. A friend of ours who has been living in Tokyo for nearly three decades said it has never been this bad. He and his wife have had to flee their house a few times as the earth again began to shake.

It is difficult to explain the emotional toll of all these aftershocks. Imagine surviving a huge fire in which over 10,000 people had died and another 17,000 were still missing. Then, over the next couple of weeks without warning, someone ran up to you with a large burning torch and you were helpless to stop them. You could feel the heat. You could smell the smoke. You could hear the flames. That might come close to what many in Japan feel each time an aftershock hits. And it has happened more than 1,000 times since March 11.

But, each time, after the aftershocks, people in Japan somehow return to their normal lives. For Yasue, that meant a cleaning day on Monday. She stayed at her house and continued to clean up from the quake as well as organize all the relief supplies she has been so blessed to receive. She called her mother a couple of times to check up on her but did not make the long trek to the hospital. She also called and spoke with Ian and I for the first time in a few days. We continue to be amazed with how well she is doing.

She will drive to the hospital to visit her mother tomorrow. Hopefully, she can wake to an alarm clock on a quiet – and most importantly, still – morning in Japan.