It’s 2:50 a.m. and I just finished scrolling through another set of heart-wrenching pictures of the earthquake and tsunami aftermath in Japan.

It’s absolutely because because I spent my childhood summers in Japan, and because I have family there (all of whom are safe and sound - as are their homes for the moment), and because a good friend’s husband didn’t come home for hours after the tsunami hit the coast - that the recent events have affected me on a very, very personal level.

A fall flower in front of my grandparents' house

My Japanese family's farm, December 2010

My grandparents' home of 60 years

Like many of you, I first saw the news on Twitter. Then asked Rockit to change the channel from ESPN to CNN - ASAP. Then watched the story unfold. Then called my mom to let her know what was going on. Then went to my parents’ house in the suburbs to make phone calls to relatives in Japan. Then worried when the calls didn’t connect right away. Then checked Facebook to see how friends over there were doing and what the status was.

Of course, I keep telling myself that the media coverage is the absolute worst of the disaster, and that the majority of the people there are fine. But who knows for sure. It’s just how I’m consoling myself.

I’m not entirely sure what to do next. Going to Japan would be impetuous and hazardous, not to mention a thoughtless gut reaction. Creating some sort of cupcake promotion would be pointless and malapropos.

So, I guess I’m just going to ask that anyone who feels compelled to do so, please donate to the cause. Because that’s the best I can do, and the only idea I can come up with for now.

Thank you so much.

-Mari