JAWing On – Life on Okinawa

Have you ever wondered why it’s so hard to predict exactly which direction a tropical storm is going to take? If you have Google Earth and installed the “live hurricane” tracker, then you should take a look at the route of Typhoon Kirogi. It’s almost going in circles.

Today I heard the first migrating hawk of the season. We get a few stragglers every year about this time, a sure sign that autumn is arriving. It hardly feels like it has already been one year since I peered up at the magnificent specimen of fowl last year as it eyed me with that “what’s this” stare. Time seems to go so quickly as the years add up. Maybe that’s why some people freak over getting older. Adding another number to my image doesn’t bother me in the least. While some people try to fight off graying hair; I look at it as “I’ve been a redhead all my life, now maybe I finally get to see what it’s like to be a blonde!” Others cringe at the thought of possibly losing teeth to Father Time; I view it as, “Well maybe I’ll finally get to have perfectly straight teeth once in my life!” (I’ve always had strange teeth. In fact my two front teeth started growing in back of my baby teeth because the baby teeth never fell out. The dentist finally had to pull the baby teeth out. Maybe that’s why my wisdom teeth never came out and another dentist had to take them out surgically.) Anyway, the point is, I look at each new decade as a new stage of my life, one that is to be explored and enjoyed not feared or loathed.

I was reading the news and ran across this article by a high school student who is concerned about the future of youths. The article raises several interesting questions. How do individual cultures instill a sense of identity through traditions and an understanding of the accomplishments of ancestors without planting the seeds of elitism? How do multi-cultural societies expose the differing cultures to each other, and educate one another about the differences, without imposing the concept of one ideology being more correct, or incorrect, than another? When all is said and done, who has the final decision on whether or not an individual views their life as successful? (Is there only one idea of success?)

I was listening to a talk radio show the other day and the topic was a very interesting question, “What is the one most important thing you would do if you could be the other gender for twenty-four hours?” I let the question run the gambit in my mind and came to the conclusion, I wouldn’t want to be the other gender. Basically the only thing that women are prevented from joining are male-only private clubs. I’ve worked around bars packed with men since I was a little girl. And I’ve pretty much heard all the talk that gets passed around. Trust me on this one, the networking is the only possible gain to be made by a female in attaining access to one of those exclusive clubs. These days women have well established networks available without the “boy” talk.

I am quite happy being a woman. I have a husband who worked hard to finance and open his own business, one that provides him the opportunity to do what he loves (play music). And he continues to work hard at that profession. He is a helpful (when necessary), non-substance abuser who is monogamous, creative, and responsible. (Sure he can turn into that annoying little boy who knows exactly which buttons to push just for the fun of it on occasion, but what husband of over thirty years doesn’t?) I have a wonderful and caring family that I don’t get to see often enough. But thanks to modern technology, we keep in touch every day. I have two hilarious “babies” that make me laugh until my sides hurt almost every time we are together. With all of this why would I want to change genders, even if were only for twenty-four hours?

I spent the afternoon kicking-back and watching comedies on satellite TV the other day. Two of the movies were Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan projects (“Sleepless in Seattle” and “You’ve Got Mail”). Although I’m really not into sappy romantic chick-flicks, I think the chemistry of these two artists will make them be remembered as the one of the great romantic comedy couples of our generation. I wonder when will they make their next movie together?

This may be a simplistic view of humor but here it goes anyway (she says foot in mouth):

To be able to joke about one’s own imperfections is a blessing. But, unless a person WANTS cheap publicity, making in fun of another person’s imperfections is a weakness.

Many people get hooked and become avid fans of the national sports while living in Japan. Now those people can get a small glimpse of the premier traditional Japanese sport stateside, Las Vegas style that is!

If you have been keeping up with recent comments, Brad and I have been discussing some of the situations that occur in the service industry. It seems no matter where you are in the world, this is an ongoing issue. From grocery stores to restaurants, there is a major communication gap in personal beliefs as to what is acceptable behavior in those who are customers towards persons and businesses suppling the product!

Wow!!! If this is true what an advance towards possibly adverting some stories of unbelievable human death tolls in disasters. Anyone who has ever been in a MAJOR earthquake (or any other major natural disaster), understands how it sticks throughout the rest of a person’s life!!! With all the activity occurring throughout our living planet, now appears to be the time to seriously and realistically look at what can and cannot be achieved with disaster preparedness programs.