I was born in Tokyo and lived there for just over six years. The following fourteen years were an unbroken streak of time spent in the United States (except for one day trip into Canada via Niagara Falls).
In the summer of 2008, I took an internship teaching English in Japan. The ensuing six-week trip was the first time I was back in my homeland since 1994.
In the summer of 2008, I took an internship teaching English in Japan. The ensuing six-week trip was the first time I was back in my homeland since 1994.
So, what souvenirs do I have today to remind
myself of this big trip? Perhaps an
authentic samurai sword from that real last samurai himself, Tom Cruise? A pair of chopsticks autographed by Keisuke Honda? UNIQLO's finest kimono, you ask?
I only have two souvenirs. And I suspect these two souvenirs are not items anyone would ever guess.
The first
item is a nail clipper. This thing is industrial strength. With just the gentlest tap from my left
thumb, it will mercilessly remove
any fingernail, toenail, or hangnail in its path.
I used these just a few days ago to trim my fingernails. It was not until this morning that I realized I failed to do a full job. Nine of the ten nails were clipped but one remained untouched- the left thumb. And this is not the first time I have done such an incomplete job.
In fact, this seems to happen anytime I am feeling a little run down. Am I unconsciously reminding myself through subconscious metaphor that sometimes we obsess so much in taking care of others that we lose track of what we must do to properly take care of ourselves?
Yes.
Maybe?
No, you shaky analogy wielding fool.
Perhaps. You decide.
And the other souvenir? It is a one-day transit pass for the city of Hiroshima. The date punched into the pass is July 26, 2008. I kept it because that day marked a massive personal shift in how I saw America's place in history and in the present.
That shift might be the topic of next Tuesday's post or the Tuesday after. I might not write about it at all. I really have not decided. But I do note the date each year and thought I would share that briefly today.
See you all again on Friday for (finally) the Lost In Translation tournament final.
Thanks for taking the time to read.
Tim
I used these just a few days ago to trim my fingernails. It was not until this morning that I realized I failed to do a full job. Nine of the ten nails were clipped but one remained untouched- the left thumb. And this is not the first time I have done such an incomplete job.
In fact, this seems to happen anytime I am feeling a little run down. Am I unconsciously reminding myself through subconscious metaphor that sometimes we obsess so much in taking care of others that we lose track of what we must do to properly take care of ourselves?
Perhaps. You decide.
And the other souvenir? It is a one-day transit pass for the city of Hiroshima. The date punched into the pass is July 26, 2008. I kept it because that day marked a massive personal shift in how I saw America's place in history and in the present.
That shift might be the topic of next Tuesday's post or the Tuesday after. I might not write about it at all. I really have not decided. But I do note the date each year and thought I would share that briefly today.
See you all again on Friday for (finally) the Lost In Translation tournament final.
Thanks for taking the time to read.
Tim
