They tell me today is my 30th birthday.
Funny to me, it’s one of those things in
life in where you simply must take third person’s account of. For example, let’s
say whether or not 16th US President Lincoln was a real person. Did
you see him, shake his hand? In a Cartesian sense, you can’t prove he existed.
Yet, History and most people agree with the fact. What do you say? Today, they
say I’ve not died for ten-thousand nine hundred and fifty days, or so, and I am
very grateful to be here with you.
Thirty
years later and this date is burned into my awareness. A spotlight highlights
the date in little corners of coffee shops, it is on the back wall of
restaurants on red paper calendars hung next to half stem-incense sticks and
prayer tokens, and dotted in digital neon signs along train railway stations.
In
1986 May the 11th was a Mother’s Day. What a present to my lovely mother. In
2016 in Japan, I find today to be a random rainy day in the middle of a town
between the grander cities of Kyoto and Toukyo.
Ay,
rain. At least I have a decent reason to afford a hotel room and take in the
comfort of disposable amenities - as opposed to carrying them around with me on
either side of my green bike.
Actually,
very happy to be inside today. From behind a pane glass window, the storm howls
away the weak leafs from trees and the weak trees from their potted roots, it kicks
up water from collecting flood puddles, and throws any passerby’s umbrella
completely inside out, rendering their poly-synthetic protection more hassle
than asset.
Two
years ago, Older sister and I spend her 30th birthday on Noashima
Island. Now that was a celebration. Beautiful weather, museums, art, and a
ferry ride back to the main island. We rented a hotel room that night, and then
again tonight I get a clean shower and some Internet access to distract me for
enough time.
But
all this rain is a little depressing, no? I wonder what I would do if the rain
had been delayed only a day or two. What would I have done? Not in any desire
to be living a life of regret, I decide not to think about what I could be
doing and instead focus on how else I will celebrate when the appropriate time
comes. The calls from my family, messages and emails from friends all makes the
decision an easy one. Today might be my lonely 30th birthday - but I
am not alone. I’ll be thirty all year =)
I
never spend more time in my tent than for however long I happen to fall asleep
for. Hotel rooms are certainly a luxury but they can get a little stir crazy
even when the storm outside doesn’t provide any better option. Still, I needed
a change of scene. I took a walk in the rain to go eat some local ramen, meat
and eggs over rice, and some fried chicken. Hey, if I am not going to be
cooking tonight means I don’t have to do dishes either. So, order up I say! And
the food really was delicious.
The
walk home, not so satisfying. If the storm was lifting up umbrella bottoms when
I left, it was pushing me over by the time I walked home.
Complimentary
breakfast in the morning. That is one of the reasons I stay with this hotel
brand. All you can eat in the morning time is not really my style, not at all.
But when the freshly prepared food is right there in front of you, waking up
from a good honest night’s rest of indulgencies, well, stuffing your face with
delectable veggies, natto, rice, toast, mashed potatoes, coffee, and whatever
else hardly seems out of place.
And that is how I spend my 30th. Single,
but not alone. Reminds me much of my 27th in Padang, Indonesia. Chris and I had
parted cycling paths for a few days as he ventured off to unsuccessfully surf
the Mentawai islands. Steve was off on a quick return trip home. I was left to
my own devices.
That 27th year celebration was strangely
similar yet one of the best on the account of contemporaneous food and beer
filled smiles with strangers and friends over the course of the next couple
weeks. Well, let’s be honest. The celebrations lasted longer than that. Until
either I see you again, or until we have my 31st birthday, there are plenty of
reasons to celebrate when I see you again - cheers!
10,951 reasons for Love
-A
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