Communication Skills

This is Hubby's family, minus 1 sibling.  They stand oldest to youngest.  It is the rule.  Oldest sibling missing from this picture.  He lives in California.  From top step to lowest they live in:  Colorado, Tokyo, Seattle area, Plainfield and home sweet home.

I have a sister-in-law that lives in Tokyo.  That is about 231 miles from the disaster areas.  This sister-in-law is a traveler.  She lives in Tokyo but could be anywhere.  I was immediately concerned.   Hubby says I am sure she is fine.  I know what you are thinking.  Did you call her?  No, we did not.  We do not have her phone number. Nor do we have her address.  Her thinking, no sense in giving us her phone number, not like we are going to call Japan.  I know what you are thinking.  Hubby would not call sister.  No, not even when she lives in the United States.  We saw his family last August.  He has five siblings.  We saw four last summer.  We have seen and talked to one sibling since August.  This sibling lives 40 minutes from us.  We like to hang out.  If it were not for "the wives" they might not see each other.  The four of us see each other often.  The brothers really enjoy being together.  That said, they do not call to chat.
I know what you are thinking.  No, they are not estranged.  They like each other just fine.  Every other year when four siblings vacation together they have a great time.  They just do not believe in calling each other for no reason.  I have been involved with this family for 34 years.  I am not 100% sure what are valid reasons to call each other.  I thought when the Seahawks played the Bears that might warrant a phone call.  (A brother lives in Seattle.)  I was wrong.  Sometimes birthdays will mean phone calls.  Not all the time.  Hubby received a phone call from sister in Tokyo for his birthday.  He was not home and she left a message.  Even if he was home, he probably would not answer the phone.  He rarely does.  Christmas does not mean a phone call.  Brother in California used to stop and visit in November when he went to Wisconsin to hunt.  We have not seen him in three years.  Husband has not talked to him on the phone in over a year and a half.  I spoke to him a year ago.  He just had one question.  Hubby was not around.  Sometimes sports event will cause a phone call.  Not always.  The family vacation will usually mean a few calls of where are we going.  There used to be a family letter.  Sometimes there would be a call to find out who was holding the letter.  It appears to be lost right now.
Their parents did not talk on the phone either.  They only called if there was a reason.  A reason is not, "What are you doing?  Nothing, what are you doing?"  I call one of my sister-in-laws at least twice a week to say hi.  No big deal.  We are not charged by the minute.  She lives a few blocks away anyway.  I cannot tell you how many times Tru Stories and I all each other for no reason.
Back to my point.  I sent Tokyo sister an e-mail on Friday morning our time.  They are 14 hours ahead of us.  I received a two line e-mail back.  Something like, "living the good life. Did not get home from work until after 1:00am due to subways being closed.  Felt the quake.  Exhausted."  That was it.  Another sister-in-law received a few more lines.  Only damage in her apartment was some things fell off shelves.
I am a natural worrier.  So is my sister-in-law (married to a brother).  We have normal communication skills.  We have normal worry skills.  We have both sent additional e-mails.  Brothers are like, whatever.  If she has something to say, we will hear from her.  Do you think her company will send her back to the States?   Calmly, brothers reply, they might.  They are sure she is fine.  No biggie.  Nothing we can do about it from here.
I know what you are thinking?  What the heck constitutes something that would evoke some emotion and feelings?  Answer.  A bad call during a Bears game would cause yelling.  A great play during a baseball game could get him going.  Democrats doing anything will FREAK him out.  My mentioning that Bill O'Reilly is an idiot, can evoke STRONG emotions. 
Sister in Japan in a disaster area with nuclear power stations melting down.  Not so much.  He is just about non-stop watching the news.  I know he loves her.  He has done some pacing in the last 15 minutes since the reactor situation is getting worse.  As I am writing he just remembered he might have a number he wrote down from caller id on his birthday.  No luck in finding number.  More pacing.
I came up with the creative idea of sending a message to her son on facebook.  We are not facebook friends.  I hope he answers my message.  He lives in Arkansas.  If he is on Spring Break, he could be anywhere.  Seriously!  These kids got to pick any place in the WORLD to visit for their high school graduation gift.  THE WORLD.  One brother picked Australia.  They are travelers. 
Saying a prayer.  Hope to hear some more news soon.  Feeling very lucky with my little life, in my little town.   Remebering Tru Stories moment of clarity.  We need to count blessings followers.  Keep people far away in our thoughts.