Twenty-five years ago today I enjoyed a full day playing music with my father, something I always enjoyed whenever I came home. We played our favorites: Mozart Piano and Violin Sonatas and Fritz Kreisler.
Me, age 4, resting after a rigorous practice session
He started me on the violin at 4 and piano at 6, and we performed together for years at weddings, parties, and dinner music at a local restaurant. This is us playing at my eldest brother’s wedding.
Performing for my brother’s wedding
Twenty-three years ago today was the last time we played together. The following morning, just after I left to return to Portland, he was hit by a drunk driver. He never woke up and died the following day. He was only 67.
Photo I took of Dad, seated at my grandmother’s Baldwin grand
Cherish the time you have. Life is short, precious, and fragile. Tell people how you feel. And by all means, do not allow yourself or anyone around you to drive while under the influence.
Sadly, the news regularly reports stories of people wrongfully cuffed, threatened, and in some cases killed by police. The frequency should horrify us, but the regularity may numb too many to the news of yet another example of injustice.
Today I learned this happened to an acquaintance of mine last month. I have known John for over 30 years.
John Sims is an artist-in-residence at the 701 Center for Contemporary Art in Columbia, S.C. His work is political and provocative, often featuring Confederate flags and other white supremacist icons turned upside-down, with colors changed, burned, buried, strung from gallows, etc.
Sims’s current work, “AfroDixia: A Righteous Confiscation,” includes a piece with five flags from Confederate states hanging from a gallows. Beside the gallows are five urns, symbolizing the ashen remains of the confederate flags. Behind the gallows are the same flags, now displayed in red, green, and black, the colors of the Pan-African flag.
John Sims, Five Flags: A Group Hanging
Unsurprisingly, he and his works are often the object of threats and violence from people who wish to protect and/or proudly display these icons of the Confederacy and white supremacy.
Columbia police in South Carolina enter the apartment of artist John Sims with guns drawn. (Photo: WLTX)
Around 2 a.m. on May 17th, police entered Sims’s apartment, next door to the art gallery where his work is displayed. Guns drawn and yelling commands, they woke Sims up and ordered him to turn his back to them. He did not comply because he thought they were white supremacists posing as police officers wanting to vandalize and destroy his work.
He requested to photograph the officers but was denied. This was one of several rights denied Sims. He was handcuffed for at least 8 minutes before police finally determined he was, in fact, the artist-in-residence and had permission to be in the building.
How close did my friend get to being seriously injured or killed? Too close.
I have not mentioned Sims’s race. Do I need to?
Here are two news reports you may read. The first includes a video from his dangerous encounter with the police.
Continuing with the theme of activities now possible post-vaccination…
I got to hug and enjoy dinner with my mother. It’s been over a year, and to enjoy a meal and conversation, maskless, with my indefatigable mother was such a joy! Mom turns 88 in just a couple weeks!
As mentioned in my previous post, I scheduled myself to donate platelets. Although I trust the safety precautions of the Red Cross and did donate a couple times during the pandemic, I decided to hold off donating again until I was fully vaccinated. The last time I donated was 5 months ago.
This morning I went in early, got prepped, and spent a couple hours on the bed as my blood was drawn, platelets separated out, and the rest returned to me.
I relaxed, listened to podcasts, and thought about family members, friends, and strangers whose lives have depended on donations like mine.
I plan an ambitious schedule of donations going forward. I hope to donate every two weeks, maybe weekly (with platelets, one can donate every 7 days).
Not everyone is eligible to donate. If you can, please consider donating. People needing platelets include cancer and leukemia patients, those undergoing major surgeries, and accident victims.
If you are squeamish, I’ll gladly accompany you to the Portland Red Cross and assist you through the process. I used to be squeamish about needles, but have overcome that fear over the years through donations.
If you are hesitating on receiving a Covid-19 vaccine, I will say that they use the smallest needle I have ever seen. I felt almost nothing when I got my shot. The peace of mind for yourself and those you care about is absolutely worth it!
What has been most difficult for me has been the social isolation. Not seeing and hugging friends, singing together, playing chamber and orchestra music, meeting friends for a beverage or meal – I’ve felt the absence of these activities acutely.
Having received both my Covid-19 vaccines and diligently waited two weeks following the second dose, I now feel safer to venture out, reconnect with friends and family, and participate in activities I’ve missed for the past 18 months.
Last weekend was an embarrassment of riches for me. Any other year, it would have been a good weekend. This year, I constantly teetered on the precipice of being emotionally overcome with gratitude.
Online Karaoke Surprise
Friday night I hosted my bi-weekly online karaoke party (as I have done since May, 2020). It’s always a delight seeing the smiles of and hearing the laughter and music from friends near and far.
One thing we cannot do in online karaoke, though, is to sing together – unless people happen to be sheltering together in place. So no duets, no harmonizing.
The party started off as normal and people joined in and our screens filled up with a grid of squares of participants.
We were all taken aback to see two of our friends suddenly walk off-camera and appear in the frame of another. All having been fully vaccinated, they were safe to gather, and the three partied together, singing 2- and 3-part harmony at times.
The rest of us were delighted (and more than a little bit envious).
I have already started planning on making my online karaoke hosting setup mobile so I can join them in future parties!
Chamber Music
Last time I played chamber music was last fall. We played on my driveway, masked, sitting 6 feet apart, challenged by bright sun and breezes threatening to carry away our sheet music. Fall wet weather and darkness brought an end to my driveway concerts.
On Saturday I hosted friends for a string quintet party. Although vaccinated, all arrived masked. By unanimous consent, we removed our masks and enjoyed a delightful afternoon of music. My heart soared with the music and I shared more hugs than I’d received or given in over a year.
Cinema
A dear friend invited me to join her for a late-night showing of Monty Python’s “Meaning of Life” at the Tigard Joy Cinema. I hadn’t seen the film in a theater since college. I donned my mask and joined her and her daughter.
Tickets were a mere $2, and with popcorn and a drink, my total came to $10. I added a couple dollars to a tip jar, grateful this little theater had survived the pandemic.
Everyone wore masks and there was ample distance between theater-goers. I spent a couple hours laughing more than I have in many months.
Singing Together
Still moved and a little envious of my friends singing together a few evenings before, I visited the host of the prior get-together. We spent an evening singing duets and harmonizing together – and hugging frequently. How I love to sing and play in harmony!
Moving Forward
There are so many more activities I feel more comfortable am looking forward to doing!
Although I have donated platelets a couple times during the pandemic, I decided to halt until I was fully vaccinated. I have now set my next donation appointment for this coming Friday. Please join me in donating if you can! There is always a need and the demand has increased significantly because of the pandemic.
I hope to start swimming again. My local pool has opened with a strict pre-scheduling program.
There are so many family members and friends I haven’t seen in person or hugged. I so look forward to that.
Not everyone likes to hug. If you see me approaching with my arms open wide and you prefer not to hug, just raise and point your elbow at me. I’ll understand and we can tap elbows.
On Thursday, June 3, 2021, the U.S. Postal Service will be issuing a new “Go For Broke” stamp honoring Nisei (first generation Japanese-Americans born in the U.S.) soldiers who served in World War II. These soldiers served in both the European and Pacific theaters.
On November 12, [Major General] Dahlquist ordered the 442nd to assemble for a recognition ceremony. Seeing the small number of men in formation, he allegedly reprimanded 442nd Lieutenant Colonel Virgil Miller, stating, “You disobeyed my orders. I told you to have the whole regiment.” The colonel looked him in the eye and reportedly said, “General, this is the regiment. The rest are either dead or in the hospital.” – Go For Broke National Education Center
Although the 442nd is well-known (and justifiably so), many are unaware of the role Japanese-Americans played in the Pacific theater. Thousands, including four of my uncles served, many in military intelligence, helping with translation, decoding messages, and interrogating prisoners.
Now that the U.S. Postal Service will be issuing a new stamp honoring Nisei soldiers, dedication events will be taking place all around the country.
Nationally, there will be a virtual ceremony on Thursday, June 3, 2021, at 11 a.m. EDT/8 a.m. PDT. It will be posted on the Postal Service’s Facebook and Twitter pages.
Former Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski, four generations of Japanese Americans, and vignettes of Oregon Nisei military service will be part of the ceremony.
My brother, David, will be included in a two-minute video reading letters from Sgt. Harold “Oki” Okimoto, a Japanese-American soldier among those who liberated Dachau.
Buying These Stamps
Although these stamps will be released on June 3rd, they may not be available to purchase at your local post office immediately.
If you are interested in pre-ordering stamps, you can do so online by clicking here.
Stamp collectors and those who are especially interested in this history can order First Day Cover collectible stamps at the same location. These can make great gifts and are quite affordable.
And for those who are ambivalent about all of this, consider buying the stamps anyway. These are “Forever Stamps,” and the USPS has plans to raise postage rates this fall. Buy these stamps now and you can save on future postage.
Reporting on the situation in downtown Portland has been, in my opinion, skewed toward breathless, whipped up controversy over the past year and a half.
Ten months ago I posted about protests and the – in my opinion – unnecessary and heavy-handed tactics used by the Portland Police Bureau and federal officers against mostly peaceful protesters.
Today, as we watch vaccination rates rise and cautiously anticipate the loosening of restrictions and rebound to our local businesses, there still persists a negative view of downtown Portland. People bemoan the boarded up and graffitied businesses and the homelessness.
Are businesses boarded up? Is there a significant homeless population? Is traffic and business down in the city center? Yes to all of these.
But that hardly justifies the persistent narrative that Portland is “a war zone,” “burning,” “just like Beirut” (how many people making that last comparison have ever been to Beirut?).
Many in the public believe businesses are boarded up due to violent protests and/or increased rates of crime (in the vast majority of cases, those boards went up before the protests as businesses closed due to the pandemic).
Sadly, the news, including our local news, does little to dispel these imaginings with fact. A recent Oregonian front-page story reported a survey where a majority of Portland residents believe the city is in “deep distress.”
Rather than examine the veracity of these views against the facts, the piece mostly focuses on people’s opinions. Only if one reads carefully does one find, about three quarters of the way through the piece, that crime is down:
Crimes against people, though, were actually lower in downtown last year compared to 2019. Assaults were down 13% from 2019 and the rate of reported assaults has continued to decrease over the last four months.
I took my time to drive through downtown just this last weekend. Traffic was light and I saw nothing to make me wary of parking, walking, or doing business downtown.
My brother, David, wrote an opinion piece in response to the Oregonian article. Since it’s been a week without a response, he suspects they will not post it. I encourage you to read it, especially if believe the news you hear about “Portland burning,” etc. and fear to go downtown.
Loftus Opinion: Portland is NOT in “deep distress”
Yesterday I received my second Covid-19 vaccination. In two weeks I should have sufficient immunity to allow me to venture out, carefully, and start seeing family and friends again, as well as pursuing activities from which I was barred for over a year.
At this time, it’s hard not to look back and take stock of the past 18 months of my life.
What a year and a half it has been! Most would call the last year one of the worst years in their lives, at an individual level, a national level, and worldwide.
There were very dark periods in my life, but also moments of great joy and promise for which I am very grateful.
Many have lost much more and suffered and continue to suffer much more than I. I know I am very fortunate.
So, here’s a synopsis of my last 18 months.
December, 2019
Was laid off from my job of nearly 7 years. At the time, the job market was strong, so I had little worry about landing on my feet. That changed dramatically after the pandemic hit.
I played my viola for a classmate’s mother who was sick and ailing. I played her mom’s favorite songs for about an hour and left. She passed away less than an hour later.
January, 2020
I performed with the Newport Symphony, which turned out to be the last concert for that group as the pandemic forced the cancellation of the rest of the concert season.
With fellow Newport Symphony violists Julie and Dana
February, 2020
I gave a talk at the Kennedy School about Japanese American Incarceration. My mother was supposed to speak and I was to assist, but she had to cancel last minute. So I handled it myself. Happily, mom gave my presentation a positive review. You can read about it and watch the video by clicking here.
Terribly missing my musical friends, I decided to make a video with musicians all over the country and the world. In the end, 26 musicians joined me to perform Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto #3. As of this writing, it has been viewed over 7,600 times! Click here to read about it, see the video, and watch the blooper reel!
Started hosting online karaoke parties every two weeks. I’ve had people join from all over the country and from five foreign countries! News spread and I was interviewed by tv stations and podcasters about it.
Screenshot from a recent online karaoke party
I also created a how-to website for people who might want to host their own online karaoke parties.
World map showing all the people who have joined our online karaoke parties!
Last week I hosted my one year anniversary party. The parties continue on!
Hosted the first of several “Driveway Concerts” with friends, masked and physically distanced.
Driveway Concert with my dear and talented friends, Casey, Marya, Julie, and Barbara
September, 2020
The west coast suffered some of the worst wildfires in a century. Record high temperatures and high winds whipped up the fires and brought the worst air quality in the world to the west coast.
Air quality around the world on September 14, 2020
Smoke-choked skies above my home at 9am
Same sky at 7:30pm
October, 2020
Was shocked and grieved to learn of the first Covid-19 death of someone I knew personally.
Dr. Shafiq Qazzaz
Dr. Qazzaz was a writer, intellectual, and politician. He wrote the first Kurdish-English dictionary. RIP.
I have had family members and friends get Covid-19, all who have recovered, some who suffered more severe symptoms, but none that were hospitalized.
November, 2020
Was offered and accepted a position in IT working for the City of Tigard. After a year of unemployment and no insurance during a deadly worldwide pandemic, this was a tremendous relief!
Joined an online vaccine-locator group. Helped over a dozen family members, friends, coworkers, and acquaintances find and secure vaccine appointments. Received my own vaccinations in April and May.
April, 2021
Gave a podcast interview about my family’s WWII experience being incarcerated for 3 years without charge or sentence.
Made the first trip longer than a day in over a year, driving to Nevada and Wyoming to fly fish. I caught some beautiful fish on that trip!
I recently was was traveling past Twin Falls, ID and realized I had the opportunity to visit the Minidoka National Historic Site, located near Jerome and Twin Falls, ID. This is the location of the Minidoka War Relocation Center where 13,000 Japanese-Americans were imprisoned for three years during WWII.
Two children in camp, c. 1943, Minidoka concentration camp, Idaho. Courtesy of the Wing Luke Asian Museum, the Hatate Collection (Number 1992-41-4 R)
Note: If you want to visit the Minidoka National Historic Site, don’t go to Minidoka, ID or Minidoka National Wildlife Refuge. That small town and the wildlife refuge are 50 miles east of the Minidoka National Historic Site. I made that mistake years ago.
History
Minidoka was not completed before the incarcerees started arriving, so the incarcerees were humiliated by having to work on finishing the construction of their own prison camp.
Barbed wire fences at Minidoka, pinhole image by Timothy Floyd
Additionally, barbed wire fences weren’t completed. Incarcerees were initially allowed to venture beyond the fences to collect firewood. But after the fences were completed they were no longer allowed, and furthermore the fence was electrified.
Up to nine people would were crammed into a one-bedroom apartment with cots and a pot-bellied stove. Because the camp was not finished in time, incarcerees had to use outdoor latrines for a much longer time than those at other so-called “camps.”
Conditions were harsh. Temperatures dropped to 21 degrees below zero (F) and up to 104, and winds stirred up fine volcanic ash into infamous dust storms.
These anti-Japanese sentiments softened over time. Idaho farmers were desperate for workers since so many men had left to serve in the armed forces. Crops were about to be lost. Many repressed their prejudices as Nikkei were allowed to help with and ultimately save the harvest.
Japanese American women harvesting potatoes, courtesy of Densho
My Visit to Minidoka
Minidoka held people from Washington, Oregon, and Alaska. Although I know no family members who were imprisoned here, I do know of family friends who were. I had wanted to visit Minidoka for years and was happy finally to do so.
Visitor’s Center at Minidoka National Historic Site, photo by T. Loftus
Although the visitors center was closed due to the pandemic, there was still much to see. A guard tower stands watch at the entrance of the site, as do the stone walls of the military police building and the reception/waiting area building.
Guard Tower at the Minidoka National Historic Site entrance, photo by T. LoftusStanding in front of the remains of the military police building and reception/waiting area building.
You can observe remains of one of several impressive root cellars. It was about 200 feet long, 40 feet wide, and could store 50 railroad carloads of vegetables.
Remains of the root cellar, photo by T. LoftusPeering into the open gates of the root cellar, photo by T. Loftus
Next to the site flows a soothing river with a very unremarkable name: North Side Canal.
North Side Canal with guard tower in distance, pinhole image by Timothy FloydPresent-day North Side Canal and stone foundation of visitors/waiting building, photo by T. Loftus
I definitely want to return to Minidoka when the visitors center is open. Minidoka is a mere 12 miles north of I-84. If your travels bring you anywhere near Twin Falls, ID, I highly recommend a visit.
A couple months ago I was interviewed for the “Rise and Shine Podcast” about the online karaoke parties I have been hosting (we are celebrating our online karaoke one year anniversary this week!).
While chatting with the hosts, they learned about my family heritage as a Japanese-American and how my mom’s family was incarcerated during WWII. They were interested to talk more, and so we scheduled another interview. The interview runs just under and hour and has been published.
At around timestamp 26:00 I perform my work, “How Could I Forget,” for viola and spoken word. The text comes from my mother’s book, Made in Japan and Settled in Oregon.
We are accustomed to seeing a shift from black and white photographs and movies to color occuring in the 1950s. The occasional color photograph from WWII often can be jarring.
How amazing, then, to see color photographs and movies from a century ago!
A friend just sent me a film from 1902 of an elevated train making its way through Wuppertal, a German town just east of Düsseldorf. The Museum of Modern Art used artificial intelligence to clean up the original footage, add color, and create a smooth 60 frames per second movie.
The Flying Train, Germany 1902, updated and colorized using AI
The resulting movie is startling in its normalcy. It shows people walking along the sidewalks, shopkeepers standing outside their stores, and workmen going about their tasks.
Here is the original footage:
The Flying Train, 1902, original footage
The film reminded me of stunning and gorgeous color photographs I’d seen taken during pre-Soviet Russia.
Unlike the Wuppertal video, which was enhanced and colorized using modern technologies, the color photographs below were captured originally in color.
Prokudin-Gorskii Photographs of Pre-Soviet Russia
Emir Seyyid Mir Mohammed Alim Khan, the last Emir of Bukhara (present-day Uzbekistan)
Between 1905-1914, Russian chemist and engineer Sergei Mikhailovich Prokudin-Gorskii (1863-1944) took photographs all over Russia. He pioneered a technology for taking some of the world’s first color photographs by exposing three separate chemically coated glass plates.
Wealthy woman poses with her ornate rug and accompanying outfit
Two French brothers, Auguste and Louis Lumière, took their own color photographs. Here are a few from their vast portfolio of color photographs taken from 1907 – 1927.
Christina in Red (1913)Mark Twain (1908)Lunch Of A French Soldier In Front Of A Damaged Library, 1st April 1917
There are over 100 color images taken by the brothers Lumière. You can see them by clicking here.
The arduous and expensive technique for taking color photographs used by Prokudin-Gorskii and the Lumière brothers became obsolete with the invention of Kodachrome film in 1935. Kodachrome film was then overtaken by digital photography. The last year Kodachrome was manufactured was 2009.
Blatant Calm 