地震直後の２週間前にJanet からRiekoさんにお見舞いメールが届いていました。
Riekoさんが転送してくれて、私はそれを中３のクラスで教材にしました、というのも、彼女のメール、住んでいるBirmingham の日本庭園にあるお花の名前がいっぱい出て、それこそ香り立つような文章なのです。
さすが、theater（演劇）専攻、 Junior & Senior Class Outstanding student（最優秀学生）！ 私のルームメイトCarol の親友、私たちの部屋にほぼ毎日立ち寄ってくれました。
読んでみてね～！訳はご自分でお願いします。（文章にあるお花の写真も貼りたかったのですが）
↑ 写真 誰が誰だか分かりますか？覚えてますか？
Dear Rieko,
I hope that you, your family, and friends are all right. The pictures I see on tv show much devastation. I am so very sorry. Yesterday when I walked through the Japanese Gardens here, I thought of you and all my Wesleyan sisters in Japan. The soft pink of the cherry trees and the yellow of forsythia spoke brilliantly along with the pinkish purple of the tulip trees and the gemlike purple of the redbud trees. The contrast of the serenity there with what your country is experiencing was almost unbelieveable, except that the two do exist, even at the same time. If it seems surreal here in Birmingham, there cannot even be a word for it in Japan. I pray for you, Rieko, for all of you - your family, my Wesleyan sisters, your friends, your students, and the country. People here mourn with you.
Since Christmas I have meant to write you a real letter, by snail mail. I loved the card and letter you sent me. Now I have no way of knowing whether or not this e-mail will reach you, whether you have electricity or internet connection with the conditions of things, but I understand that some places are fine and have all services. Because I could not remember which e-mail address you use, I sent this to both of yours. Mine has changed to _______. I still receive mail at the old address but rarely check it.
Know that I am thinking of you and your family, praying for you and all of the people of Japan. You are in my heart. God bless.
Love,
Janet
こちらは今日私に届いたメールです。 何と申しましょうか。 優しいよね～。
I am SO glad you wrote, and please include my message to your friends. When I walk in our Japanese Gardens here, I think of you all! The cherry tree in my front yard is transforming its blossoms to leaves, and I will think of that as a metaphor as chaos is turned into order and beauty again in Japan.
Please be patient with me! As you can see from this e-mail, I am not proficient in reading or writing my messages. One thing I do know: I am grateful and honored that you wrote me! God bless!
With love,
おまけ
Dawn & Me
