When I was 16 years old, I won an essay contest and spent 6 weeks in Japan.

I spent the first three weeks in Ishinomaki, with two different host families from the Ishinomaki, Lions Club.  On March 11, 2011 I was devastated by the news about the 9.0 earthquake that hit off the coast of Japan.  Ishinomaki, was one of the towns hardest hit by the Tsunami and earthquake.  I spent my entire spring break posting news about Ishinomaki, hoping to hear more about my host families, friends and the city I love!

I also started digging a whole.  I wanted to build a Memorial Koi Pond, to remember Japan, to remember Ishinomaki, her people, my host famlies and their beloved city.

Before the Pond there was DIRT! and Plants! and Bushes!

Where once was dirt, plants, vines and bushes…

A small whole + one Long Bush

A small whole began to form that would soon become a memorial koi pond for March 11, 2011.

Another View of the small whole and bush!

I shoveled and I cried for Japan.  I took out my sorrow on the innocent dirt and the not so innocent bush with very long roots that were all tangled and very difficult to work with.  (They sort of reminded me of “some” people!)

8X2X2 Horse Trough in the much bigger whole

2 weeks after the Tsunami and Earth quake, a small whole began to look like an in ground horse trough… which only short horses with long necks would be very interested in!

3 weeks after the Tsunami and in 40 degree weather, Jared helped line and fill the pond with water.

4 weeks later, 12 koi fish and one Turtle named Rocky found refuge in a new pond.

Rocky, our Red Ear Slider Turtle Doing "Yoga"

Yes, that is our Red Ear Slider Turtle doing Yoga.  He is very good at Yoga and I am convinced the cobra pose should be called the turtle pose. Just look at his style!

We are very in love with Rocky.  He will now eat our hands.  He loves us because we feed him, regularly!  I really want to get him a leash and a turtle purse.  You know like those one for “little dogs”.  Of course, Rocky doesn’t really like anyone unless they feed him!  :)

Now, our koi pond is really starting to look Japanese and we love our Memorial Pond.  Here is a picture of Jared putting in the water fall and rocks…

We still need to finish up the exterior, put in more plants and figure out how to control the algae, but none of the fish have died in 12 months and we’ve almost named all of them.  I am not sure it is emotionally healthy to become so attached to koi fish and a turtle.