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Osamu Sekiguchi Journals

May 5, 1997

Location: Wood River, Nebraska - Location: 40:49:14N 98:35:59W

Summary: Monday, May 5, 1997 (Clear Day) Woodriver

Journal entry: [Translated by Hajime Nakagawa]

I am glad when the sun shines. Then it is easy to walk, and I'm especially glad that I can use my solar panels to power the computer.

There was an event in Woodriver today which was hosted by the people in this city. It was held in a baseball field. My family wanted to attend it, but I was in an interview during the event, so the family couldn't attend.

A local TV station is producing a documentary film series and will feature my family in a few broadcasts in the series. I was filmed using my computer and the solar panels for one of the broadcasts. Takako took pictures of me being filmed.

My children become impatient during the interviews. They ask, "Dad, is the interview finished yet?" I know how much they want to play as soon as the interview is done.

"Smile. We are almost done," I say. "If somebody asks you something, say "Yes'," Takako says. But, the interviews take a long time.

So after the interviews, I need to play hard with the children in order to make them happy with me again. If they say, "Let's go to the river," I will follow them obediently. If they say, "Let's find snakes," I will thrust a stick into a hole obediently. In the beginning, I was doing these things to humor my children unwillingly, but it has become enjoyable to walk the plains and look for animals with my children. Though they are extinct, I say, "Let's find dinosaurs next time," so, with pounding hearts, they start making tools with knives.

When I set the solar panels up, they ask me, "Are you using the computer or having an interview?" Either way, they prepare to find some strange thing.

The solar panels don't work as well as I expected, so Mr. Nomura, who works for Showa Shell Sekiyu K.K., gives me advice on the Internet. It is really convenient that I can get the advice anywhere. When the solar panels shine bright in the sun, I feel that Mr. Nomura is smiling.