My home-base during this trip has been my grandmother´s house in São Paulo. My "Obatian" (japanese for grandmum) has been living in the same house for over 50 years. She´s now 82 (and of enviable health), but is planning to sell the place before the year is out. Despite being very independent still, it´s probably time for someone to keep a closer eye on her. She´s planning to live with one of her daughters in São Paulo. This means "Obatian´s house" might not be hers any longer on my next visit to Brazil - a sad thought for sure. Having moved around so much myself, it was nice to have a place that was always there, and relatively unchanged. A little bit of familiarity and permanence.

Whenever I´m there, I like digging up old photographs. Black and white ones of japanese ancestors. Baby photos of me and all the other grandchildren. My grandparents when they were young and handsome.


Then and now. Photos on the stairway.




My mom and grandmother. Not sure what year. Is it just me or are they two beauties?


March 2009. My grandmother and I. She´s still so cute!