叔父の逝去と兄達との再会 My uncle's death and reunion of my brothers

叔父の逝去と兄達との再会　My uncle's death and reunion of my brothers
平成26年9月30日

温厚で話好きの私の唯一の叔父が95歳で旅立ちました。9年前に逝った私の母とは6歳下。母は享年91歳でしたから、その上を生きました。彼等の母、つまり私の祖母は102歳まで。最期は何の苦しみも無く、「もういいよ」と静かに言って眠るように逝ったとのこと。大往生でした。大正、昭和、平成と激動の時代を生きてきた割には常に温和でユーモアのある人であっただけに、人気者でした。叔母（91歳）が今回「一度も怒ったことの無い人でした」と感慨深そうに言われたのが心に深く響きました。某銀行の取締役まで行き、系列会社の社長までやりながら、深刻な話でも面白い話に変えてしまう能力は天性のものだったのか、努力してそうなったものなのか、誰も真実はわからないというのが又魅力的。昔祖母が息子のことを言うのにも同じ具合でした。ただ、不器用な人であったことは自他共に認めるところ。そんな貴重な、尊敬すべき叔父を失って大変残念です。海外と日本在住を繰り返してきた私達の良き理解者であり、大変お世話になったことが次々と想い出されて。。。いつかはこういう日が来るとわかっていても、いざとなると本当にもったいない気持ちになってしまいます。ご冥福を祈ります。
My uncle passed away at the age of 95. He was 6 years younger than my mother who died 9 years ago at the age of 91. So he lived longer, but still shorter than their mother(my grandma) who died at the age of 102. He loved talking with people and always made people around laugh and laugh. My uncle died in peace saying "It's enough" on his very last day after being hospitalized for a few months. He was through three agitated epochs, Taisho, Showa and Heisei but he always seemed to be so gentle and humorous that everybody liked him and everybody was affected by him. What his wife, now 91 years old, said a little to describe her husband still remains in my heart.  "He had never gotten angry in his life. Even if he accidentally got  mad, he didn't look mad at all ." He went up to the top administrators of some bank to be followed by a president of some company with his gentle character or his humanity which were either by nature or obtained by his efforts, nobody knows.  His mother wasn't sure either. The truth is that he was a really awkward. He himself admitted it. I'm depressed with such a big loss. He used to sympathize with our life living in and out of Japan and give us lots of cares which we owe a lot.  May he rest in peace!

今回この叔父の逝去が大阪、奈良、松江に居る私の兄達を調布に呼んでくれました。おかげで2年振りで再会。この年になってからの2年は大きいかも。大食だったのが小食になったり、腰が痛かったり。でも大阪の兄は後期高齢者になっても、一度も健康保険証を使わなくて表彰されたとか。賞品が何と歯磨きセットだったそう！行政は何考えてるんでしょうね。
My uncle's death invited my brothers from Osaka, Nara and Matsue to gather at Chofu. We haven't met each other since two years ago when we gathered in Matsue for our mother's 7 years memorial year. They surely looked a bit older but they are kind of healthy. The eldest brother was recently awarded for his good health care by the authority ; He has not used his health insurance card for l0 years. Guess what prize was given to him? It was a set of dental care!   It must be a big joke.

調布で95歳で亡くなった叔父を見送った後、最近初台に新居を構えた姪っ子のお家を伺うことが出来ました。松江からの兄夫婦と一緒でした。彼女の人柄がたっぷり反映された素敵なインテリアに思わずメルヘンの世界に。写真を取り損なって大失敗。美味しいコーヒーをいただいて小1時間で日光に向い、我が家に着いたのが夜10時過ぎでした。電車の中で彼女からいただいたお弁当を。これまた彼女の気遣いが伺われる可愛いもので、叔父を失った淋しさの後だけに、心があたたまりました。ありがとう。
Yesterday I had a chance to visit for the first time my niece's new house in Hatsudai along the Keiko Line. They bought it recently. I was with her parents,my second elder brother and his wife, who also came to Tokyo from Matsue to attend the funeral of our uncle in Chofu who passed away at the age of 95. After enjoying a cup of coffee at her lovely house full of her sweet taste, I excused myself to go back to Nikko taking another 3 hours. In the train on the way back, I noticed I missed taking a photo of her place and instead I took this photo of a cute Obento box she had given to me. My sad feeling from the loss in Chofu was healed with this warming heart she conveyed to me.