Living together is very important, because life is measured by memories,
not by years.
（一緒に暮らすことがとても大切なんだ、人生は年月ではなく思い出で刻まれるのだから）

末娘（小学校１年生）が階下から２階の自室にいる姉（中学３年生）に大きな声
を上げた。「お姉ちゃん、りんごやで。降りといで、一緒に食べよ。お姉ちゃんも
家族の一員やろ」末娘の「家族の一員」という言葉に私は吹きそうになった。「意
味が分かってその言葉使ってるんやろか」と思いながら、妻と先に降りていた息子
と娘二人の家族で一人三切れほどのりんごを食べた。
　わが家では食後１時間ほどして、果物やアイスキャンディなどを食べる習慣がある。
たった10分ほどの時間だが、顔の表情からみんなの今日の一日が分かる家族の時間で
ある。

"Living together is very important, because life is measured bymemories,
not by years."

My second daughter (age 7) in a loud voice told her big sister (age 15)

upstairs, "Big sister, apples! Why don't you come downstairs and enjoy

eating apples together. You are a member of the family, aren't you?"

I burst into a laugh because I wondered whether my little daughter

UNDERSTOOD "a member of the family".

We enjoyed eating 3 pieces of apple EACH together.

In my home, we are ACCUSTOMED to enjoying some fruit or ice cream

about one hour AFTER dinner FOR ABOUT ten minutes. But we can know

ourselves better BY looking at each other's face during THIS short time.