Our family unit in camp consisted of my paternal grandparents, Hirokichi and Kin Hayashi; my Uncle Warren; my dad, Henry; my mom, Aiko Alice; myself, Norman; and my brothers Gerald, born in 1942, and Patrick, 1944. My sister Marilyn wasn’t born until 1948.
The main thread passing through all these photos is that my mom was a very pretty girl and always seemed happy; but I also remember her later (after the War) as being sick often, and her lack of energy impacted our lives as kids. She was bedridden in her last few years and died at an early age—just 39 years. My dad seemed self-assured and happy too. He had a tremendous burden to carry, and with four young kids and elderly parents, I don’t know how he did it.
My dad is not in these pictures. When “cleared” people were allowed to resettle to work outside camp, my dad and my Uncle Warren went to Chicago to work. My mom had to assume all the care of my grandparents and three young kids. Occasionally my dad would return for a short visit. I remember one time I was very scared of him and wouldn’t go near him. My mom and grandparents kept urging me to go up to him.
I have always felt that those years of separation affected my later relationship with my dad. We never could talk on a real intimate level. Could I blame Topaz for this? I don’t know. I ended up working side by side with my dad and uncle in their family business for 30 years. We all became closer, but with my dad, I never felt that father-son connection.