Kizuna (the Bond)

This is one of my favorite photos taken during my trip to Japan in 1997. On a dry, cold winter day in January, my father accompanied me and my sister in visiting our old girls' high school. As soon as we arrived at the high school, we strolled and looked at the familiar old buildings and big trees on campus. When we walked to the center of the sports field, my father said, "Hisa-chan, hop up and get on my back as you used to!" First, I hesitated because I didn't want to hurt him, but in another moment, I was on his back, and my sister took the shot. My father was soon to be 67 that day. Now at 80, he has become a feeble old man with his hair all gray but with his mind as sharp as ever. Here is the message I got as I enjoyed the moment on my father's back: We will certainly get old and we may continue to live far away from each other, but our bond will be the same. That's the message I still get every time I look at the photo.