Forty-five years ago last Saturday, on Friday 22 November 1963, the U.S. President John F. Kennedy was assassinated.
And forty-five years ago today, on 24 November 1963, the man who was arrested for assassinating President Kennedy, Lee Harvey Oswald, was killed by Jack Ruby.
This happened before I was born (my parents were only 14 years old at the time), so of course I have no memory of it…but I’ve heard that people who were alive can still remember exactly where they were when they heard that JFK was assassinated. Kinda like the September 11 attacks of 2001 (Speaking of which, Click here to read my Sept 11 post).
+++
Anyways, yesterday we went to a キク祭 (Chrysanthemum Festival). The キク (Chrysanthemum) is the official flower of Japan’s royal family. In fact, the 皇位 (Japanese Imperial Family) is often referred to as the “Chrysanthemum Throne“.
After that, we went where my kids really wanted to go: shopping. They’re girls, so that’s their hobby! 🙂
We took the train to a store that was having a big sale. My wife and daughters shopped, while I waited outside with a coffee and a newspaper.
Anyways, here’s a common sight on the platforms of train stations in Japan…the KIOSK that sells newspapers, magazines, snacks, gum, candy, bread, beer, juice, cigarettes, hand towels, neckties, etc:
Tokyo Five 
Mage Bailey…
Thanks for commenting on my site!
>Nice to meet you at Ruthe’s.
Thanks. And thanks for visiting my site. Please visit (and comment) often!
You mean here: http://ruthek.wordpress.com/2008/11/24/sunday-november-23/
Your birthday is Sept 11?
I bet it was difficult to celebrate for awhile after 2001!
LikeLike
Nice to meet you at Ruthe’s.
I was upstairs in the Federal Reserve bank’s lunch room with a half avocado in my hand when someone told me about JFK. I thought they were joking.
9/11: I woke, turned on the news, and stayed glued to the TV most of the day. It was my birthday. I didn’t celebrate that day for years afterwards.
LikeLike
ruthek…
Thanks for commenting on my blog.
Please write anytime…
BTW, you should adjust your profile on WordPress so that when you comment, your name is a link to your blog ( http://ruthek.wordpress.com/ ).
>I hope I’ll never have another historical moment to remember.
At least, not a bad one!
LikeLike
I was driving from my home to a suburb of Chicago, when the first announcement came over the radio that Kennedy had been shot. He wasn’t confirmed as dead until much later.
On 9/11, I was living in New Jersey. I could see the smoke rising from the towers, and smell that awful chemical and electrical smell.
I hope I’ll never have another historical moment to remember.
LikeLike
sfrunner…
You were eleven when John F. Kennedy was killed?
Coincidentally, I was the same age (11) when John Lennon was killed (in December 1980).
Dad…
Yeah, of course when I go to a store alone I go straight to the item I need, buy it, and leave.
But girls like to window shop, and I live with four of them…so I’m used to it.
Actually, I like to spend time with them so I enjoy looking around the stores with them. But that store yesterday was having a big sale so it was extremely crowded. That’s why I waited outside.
LikeLike
Hi Bob,
I wasn in ninth grade when Kennedy was assassinated, I remember it very well, just like as you said everyone will always remember where they were on 9/11.
It sounds like you go shopping like I do, if I’m getting something for myself I get in and buy it and get out, but if I’m with Mom I’m doing some serious waiting.
LikeLike
Hi Tokyo5. I was an 11 year old in elementary school when we were told of the news. It was a very sad time in this country. The U.S. truly lost a leader just as they did with Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy in 1968.
LikeLike