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The
Rebellion Begins
I was born in the United States in a town called Goldsboro, in
North Carolina. But that's not where the most interesting part
of the story begins. The best part begins in 1943 on the Island
of Okinawa. In the month of October, an infant girl is born to
Mr. and Mrs. Miyagi (real names). The baby is named Noriko ("Child
of Ceremony").
This
is only two years prior to the Battle of Okinawa, which, with
the deaths of 80,000-100,000 civilians (i.e., besides military),
was the bloodiest battle of World War II. That means my mother
would have been only two years old when the island was invaded
by Allied troops.
When
I asked my Aunt Setsuko and Uncle Yoshifusa about that, they informed
me that my mother accompanied her father, Grandpa Miyagi, to mainland
Japan prior to the battle. Apparently, they knew it was coming,
and as a respected teacher, he was allowed to evacuate the island
along with members of his family.
I
was conceived sometime in February of 1964. That is precisely
when the rebellion began.
More
to come. Exciting so far, isn't it?
•
Part-Time Genius
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