I would like to think that we are more than just acquaintances and more like friends of a friend.

While I was packing for my trip for Hiroshima, I was planning for both a weekend getaway as well as a radioactive holocaust. I ended up packing a lot unnecessary items like duct tape, candles, a ball of twine, garbage bags and cloth. It is hard to pack for both leisure and survival but I did bring an onion.

I’m glad to hear you’re alive. I was tempted to email you and ask. I was excited about the prospect of you not responding. I would have then embellished and told everyone I know stateside that “my really good friend” perished in Japan. People would feel badly for me. I may even get a day or two out of work for bereavement? Those days may have conveniently corresponded with a St. Patrick’s Day celebration / hangover.

I figured you were busy fielding emails from your actual really good friends (I consider us fond acquaintances) and family, as well as dealing with the stress of the situation. So, not wanting to bother you, but genuinely concerned about your well-being, I emailed Liz. I did not receive a response. I then googled various combinations of the following: “Taylor Baldry”, “Tayrah Baldry”, “Japan”, “Ota” “American casualties”, “tsunami” and “earthquake”. I was pleased to assume you were relatively safe. Now I know.

Stay well, Pal. Should anything bad happen to you, please have someone contact me. There are some great mid-week ski deals up north and still a ton of snow.

Fondly,
Lauren

Som did that psychic in our *Futures* class mention meltdowns to you? Recent events weren’t on your timeline in the course, so, in hindsight, -1 point. But +1 point, since your timeline had dinosaurs, which is now what the age nuclear power may have ushered us into.

Re *Part 2*:
I like your A and B. Well-balanced. B has very practical matters. Procrastination, for example, tends to solve all problems, eh? That said, your A and B approach is a *model*, did we ever talk about that in class? Scientists say a model is a simplification of a theory (which are always co complex and messy), and an attempt to connect a theory to the real world. A and B do simplify, thank you, but there is a danger: does it *over-simplify*? But — *in theory* — theory is messy, you need models to point to decisions (see Hiroshima, next paragraph). It is all so much more complex in Japan, the culture there is an onion with dozens of layers that one has to peel away to get to the truth — on a daily basis.

Re *Part 1*:
I saw both those Indian Jones movies. You aren’t helping us sleep better at night. (But who cares about *us*!)

The media is truly awful here. Even the BBC. But one reason you go abroad to find that out. One guy at MIT did ask the perfect question, in hindsight: Why are there 6 plants all in a row in Fukushima? Sounds to me like the dumbest *domino game* in all of history.

Hiroshima is a great *plan B.* But not by bicycle. Maybe by motorcycle, but wrap yourself well in tinfoil. And put an onion in your pocket, as a talisman that would acknowledge the culture you are in, which nobody understands unless they have lived in Japan. On your way stop in Ise; and leave the onion there, as a tribute (especially if well-cooked). Also a a truly amazing place to be.

(Sorry about the onion, I’m not helping you sleep well at night; but I think Baldry dry humor has to go both ways!)

Very best, KB

Thank you for writing your emails on the internet again they are a lot of fun.
More sack.

Best Reagards and saluttion s

Jp