A Good Day's Work

Sawdust flying at the cram school shed.

Two double decks with extender benches- a good day's work.

This week's helper, Andy Carlson and I started the day with preparation of the pieces for today's decks at the cram school shed; that way we didn't have to pack the bulky cutting set-up to the site. First stop was Higashi Machi Kouen, to deliver an entryway shelf to the 88 year old woman featured in yesterday's post. Then, on to the Yamaguchi project to do another double deck. As it turned out, this family decided they also wanted benches like the next door neighbors got the day before, so we had to get some more wood and go back to the shed to cut it. We did a single deck as well, and the day was mostly gone- as was the lumber. We got another lot for tomorrow, but the stores were running out! We had to buy 12 foot boards and cut them in half. We also got 3 more orders.
Since there was no time to build anything in Rikuzen Takakta, I took Andy on a short tour, then we visited the sites there, got measurements in preparation for tomorrow, and also got 2 more orders. The ladies who ordered the decks were very chatty once they discovered what we were there for. It was the same old refrain; "I have nothing left; it was all washed away".
Driving through Takata with Andy, describing what happened..... I will never get used to the devastation. Over and over and over; loss and destruction and lingering fears just under the cheerful, "ganbaru" (hang in there) facade.
It's not over yet.