Socks for Japan
Posted on Saturday, March 19th, 2011Last night while I was looking over my e-mails, I found one that gave me pause. This e-mail was from the ML’s from the region of Japan (Nanowrimo). It gave me pause, not only because this wasn’t an e-mail about writing, but because it was just a shout out asking for the people in her region to contact her. It’s been about a week since the Japan earthquake and tsunami hit, leaving thousands dead and about 40 times that number homeless. She didn’t want to bother any of her participants or worry them further, but she did want to make certain that they were all right. She mentioned some by name; those that she remembered lived in the most affected areas. It felt personal, connected, and all too real. Yet, at the very beginning of this e-mail this person apologized for bothering them.
I’ve been trying to define for a while now exactly why Nanowrimo is so important to me. Why I follow the OLL in the off-season as well as during November? Why every year I plan out my October and November in advance? This to me is the exact reason I do it. It’s not because I only write during that time… I write year round. And it’s not that I don’t see those people during the rest of the year. I do, since I go to our monthly meet ups. I don’t think it’s for the networking either, since I can honestly say that I have met more published writers, editors and agents at my one year at SIWC that I have in my three years of doing Nanowrimo.
I think what keeps me coming back over and over again is the community. We may not have much in common with the people we meet in Nanowrimo but over the course of that month we are close to those people in a way that we are sometimes not even able to do with good friends. We are with them for their trials and tribulations, we see their hopes lifted and their dreams dashed, and they see the same when they look back at. We help each other and support each other even when all hope seems lost. We’re there for each other not only when our novels are in trouble but (apparently) we are also there when literally earthshaking events occur.
Now I know that not all Nanowrimo groups are like that; in my own region here in Calgary, we’ve had our share of drama and personality conflicts over the years. While there are certainly those in my group that I don’t know very well, and may even dislike, I can honestly say I found some of the most honest and kind people I’ve ever met there. This is why Nanowrimo is important to me and this is why I donate to them every year.
On a final note, while Japan has certainly had a large setback and will probably be rebuilding for months, they are not out of the game. They had plans ready years in advance and due to these plans they had less loss of life and less overall damage than any other country, first world or not, would have experienced had a similar event occurred to them. This however doesn’t mean that they don’t need our help. I would suggest donating to any one of the reputable charities out there that are offering aid if you’re able. Also look for bloggers who live in Japan. I know that a few of them are doing things that, while not revolutionary will certainly help (like this blogger who has requested that people send him pairs of socks that he can then distribute to those who are without and are without shelter).
My heart goes out to the people in Japan who have been directly affected by these events. I’d also like to say that my respect for the entire culture has increased due to the fortitude, understanding and actions that Japan has shown during this crisis.
Tags: Blog, Community, Earthquake, Japan, Nanowrimo, Office of Letters and Light, OLL, SIWC, Socks for Japan, Tsunami, Writing
Posted in Blogs by B.A. Matthews | 2 Comments »