A Humid Morning in Urasoe, Okinawa | The Start of Caregiving, Car Troubles, and a Day Headed to a Memorial Service

☁ A Humid Okinawan Morning and a Day That Starts Slowly

This morning in Urasoe, it’s a muggy, cloudy day with a temperature of 28°C and humidity around 85%.

Thick clouds cover the sky, and although it isn’t raining, the weather looks like it could start any moment.

That muggy air so typical of Okinawa just before the rainy season has seeped into the room as well.

My day begins as usual: waking up at my regular time, preparing breakfast, and waking my mother.

Today, my mother resisted quietly from under the covers, saying, “I’m not getting up, I’m sleeping.”

I called out, “Wake up!” and just as she finally sat up in a chair, she closed her eyes and said, “I’m still sleeping.”

Still, when I told her, “Eat your breakfast, take your medicine, and check your blood pressure before you go back to sleep,” she reluctantly settled into a position to wait for breakfast.

Breakfast was our family’s standard menu:

dashi-flavored rolled omelet, grilled salmon, and bacon.

While my mother dozed off in her chair, I kept saying, “No, no, eat your breakfast,” and once she had finished eating slowly, and we’d finished checking her blood pressure and taking her medicine, I could finally catch my breath.

Right now, she’s lying in bed watching TV.

🚗 My 21-Year-Old Noah and My Car Worries

I’ve been driving my Toyota Noah minivan for many years.

Lately, the starter motor has been acting up, and the engine won’t start as often as it used to. The repair bill will probably be around 60,000 yen.

While I pray that nothing more serious breaks down, the thought of “replacing it” keeps popping into the back of my mind.

My mother says, “If the repairs keep piling up, you’d be better off buying a new one,” but

it’s not easy to part with a car filled with 21 years of memories.

When I looked into used kei cars, the ones in good condition cost around 1 million yen.

There are cheaper options, but when I think about the long term, I can’t help but be cautious.

A car is a means of transportation and an indispensable part of caregiving.

It’s a real dilemma.

🕊️ My Uncle’s First Anniversary Memorial Service | A Drive to the Chubu Region with My Mother

My uncle’s first anniversary memorial service is this afternoon.

Since I’m taking my mother with me, I need to wake her up soon so we can get ready.

It’s about a 40-minute drive to the venue.

I plan to borrow my younger brother’s car today. He told me, “I haven’t driven it in a while, so take a detour to warm up the engine,” so I intend to take a short drive on the way there.

We don’t usually go to the Chubu region very often, so it looks like we’ll be enjoying the scenery on the way—something we haven’t done in a while.

After the memorial service, we plan to do a little shopping before heading home.

I’ll keep an eye on Mom’s condition and make sure we don’t overdo it.

🛁 Mom’s Daily Routine and the Future of Caregiving

Mom’s daily routine includes taking a shower around noon; she often goes to bed without bathing at night.

My younger brother is the same way, but my father, when he was alive, had a long-standing habit of always taking a bath at 5:00 p.m.

I remember how, whenever I helped my father bathe, I would always get in with him and wash his body with the shower.

My mother says, “If I can’t bathe on my own anymore, I’ll go to a facility,” but

the reality is that everywhere is full right now, and there are few facilities that can take her in immediately.

After consulting with our care manager, we considered a day-care facility with bathing services that was recommended to us recently, but

my mother refused, saying, “I can do it myself, so I won’t go.”

Caregiving is a delicate balance between the person’s feelings and reality.

🌈 Summary | Like Humid Air

Even on heavy mornings, move forward little by little

On humid Okinawan mornings, both body and mind can feel heavy.

Between caring for my mother, car troubles, and preparations for a memorial service, I have a lot on my plate today, but

if I tackle each task one by one, I’m sure I’ll be able to move forward.

It’s the start of the week—don’t push yourself too hard; just do what you can.

May today be a peaceful day.