Darkness In The Land Of The Rising Sun

Over the course of the past four days, it has become with greater and greater clarity apparent, the level of destruction and devastation occurring as a result of the 9.0 level earthquake and subsequent tsunamis in the country of Japan.  While the earthquake itself was catastrophic, it is the aftermath that is proving to be the true ordeal for the people of, particularly Northern Japan, as they watch their cities get washed away in great floods of deluging ocean tides, and deal with the very real possibility of an impending nuclear meltdown in Fukushima.  Throughout it all, what has been truly admirable has been the calm, stoic comportment of the Japanese people, by all accounts remaining astonishingly respectful of one another, and handling the ruin with a level of organization and efficiency that is entirely remarkable in the face of such adversity.  In the chaos, Japan has stood strong and shown its tenacity and character. 

In case you haven't seen them yet here are some important images of what's been going on:

- A comprehensive collection of photos from The Big Picture

- Before & after satellite images via The New York Times  

- Home movie of a tsunami destroying Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture

Fashion Toast's Rumi Neely also wrote this first-hand account of her experience in Tokyo.

In Canada you can help out by making a donation to the Red Cross online here, or even more easily just by texting the word ASIA to 30333 to make a one-time donation of $5.  

I'm lying in my bed right now, warm and safe under the covers.  Munich and Jeff are curled up at my feet sleeping, scented candles are burning on my bedside table, flickering light around the room.  And as I pull my duvet up a little tighter in my lovely, vanilla-scented apartment, it seems surreal to think that a world away people's lives are falling apart.  How blessed I am to be where I am right now.  

起死回生 - "Wake from death and return to life" -Japanese proverb.  ♥Pray for Japan.