Taye Nakamura-Koyama

Each person in Taye's class this year had to do a community service project.  It was supposed to be a little bit each week over the whole school year.  Penny and I would keep remiinding Taye, "hey, you need to get going on that."  but Taye, as I am sure many of her classmates, dragged her heels.  She seemed to feel like it was a chore; an obligation, so she avoided it.  The end of the school year rolled around, so it became more urgent to finish and she decided (with some help) to volunteer and do a report on the Bethlehem Inn, a shelter for the homeless.  Penny set everything up and Taye and I were to put together and serve lunch on Sunday, June 8th. Well Taye and I got there and Taye was still a bit resistant, or probably more accurate to say that she was apprehensive.  But when we started serving the guests, they would talk with us and were very grateful for our time and the lunch.  They shared stories of their lives.  The supervisor mentioned that 4 of them could not make it for lunch because they were hotshots fighting the Two Bulls fire which was raging near town that weekend.  Taye, and I, were astonished.  Four people were out risking their lives trying to save our homes, yet they had no home...  By the time we were done, Taye had changed.  She was smiling and trying to do more.  She truly "got it" how very precious giving can be and how very different each person's life can be, though we are all so similar.  The report she wrote and the presentation she made in class just before the end of school also reflected how deeply Taye was affected by this experience.  I thank God that Taye was able to experience and absorb such compassion and the gift of giving, and know that now she can see and feel that in ways we cannot even imagine.  Taye, I love and miss you so very much. Dad

I was walking in the Rose Garden.  Amazing fragrances and beautiful colors everywhere.  I turned the corner and there was a young bunny rabbit in the middle of the path, a few feet away.  It froze and looked at me deciding whether or not to flee.  I froze too and instantly thought of you, Taye, and how much your sweet heart would have melted to see it.  I could almost hear you saying, "oohh such a sweet bunny, so cute!"  The bunny must have decided, it was OK, since it went back to nibbling at the grass, not really minding me.  I turned and went down another row, so as not to bother it.  After all, it gave me such a wonderful feeling about Taye, who I am sure is smiling as she reads this.

Dear Taye,
  I'm trying to remember what summer it was, I think you were 12, maybe 13, and it was a summer where I felt you were constantly on the go, I honestly didn't know how you did it.
  You wanted to do swim team at ACB, so I would drive you and your bike to the club, at 745 am for morning workout, and then you would finish an hour and half later,  get into your biking gear, and cycle over to MBSEF for cycling workout at 10 am.  After that cycling workout you stayed to workout with the MBSEF Nordic team too.  It was such a crazy schedule, but you seemed so gung ho on doing it all, I didn't have the heart to stop you.  Were you tired?
You never complained about going to all these workouts, and when I did try to slow you down, you always had a reason why you should go.  You never gave up that schedule that summer.  I wish you were here, I even miss driving you to workouts. 
    You were a strong and garceful athelte with an excess of motivation and stubborness.  People thought you intense, but those who knew you well ,knew you had an excellent silly streak and a radiant smile that lit up the room.  I often wanted you to smile more, and you said if you did, you'd look like some crazy person smiling all the time, I did think that was funny.
  You lived and worked hard.  Enjoy some peace now.
Life is definitely not the same without you.  Love, mom

While I was in Jaffa I went to St. Peter's Church. Apparently Jesus traveled there to deliver rose petals to the children in heaven. I lit a candle and prayed that you were sleeping in His petals. I miss you.

Two weekends ago I went to Tel Aviv during a heightening of rockets launched into Israel. It wasn't particularly the wisest decision I've ever made, but I needed space, from who or where, I don't know. Four sirens went off that day. One at a Peace talk with J-Street, two while I was at the beach, and one at around 10pm walking across a dark alley when I couldn't find a bomb shelter in time. I watched two rockets shoot across the sky, side by side. It was the most spectacular sight I have ever seen. I still get goose bumps. I wonder if you saw the two angry red rockets streak across the sky. Did you feel sad about our world? Did you feel angry? Did you feel frustrated? I felt jealous. I wish I were with you to streak across the sky.