JAWing On – Life on Okinawa

Have you ever wondered what would have happened if Rudolph had just said, “Fine, no problem. If you don’t want me to play in the reindeer games, I understand. But if the time ever comes, please take responsibility and remember this was your choice.” And instead of being offended and feeling sorry for himself, Rudolph just went on and lived his life the best he could?

Why is it when men over forty go into left field doing immature, ridiculous things (such as dating girls young enough to be their daughters, getting hair pieces, or the sports car thing) it is said they are having a “mid-life crisis”? Yet when women over forty do the equivalent (such as dating younger men, dressing like a twenty year old, buying expensive jewelry) it is said they are coming into their own and expressing their independence? Basically isn’t the same thing, trying to prove to oneself that the person is still considered desirable to the opposite gender?

Almost every weekend someone new comes to the club and I inevitably get asked the same question, “What is it like living in a foreign place, specifically Okinawa, for so many years?”

Since this is the only place I have resided at for a lengthy amount of time, I can only surmise that it’s the same as any other place that a person lives for over twenty-five years. It has good points and bad points. Of course, having lived in other places tends to place more emphasis on the island’s strengths and weaknesses.

Does anyone know, or know where I can locate, the total worldwide loss of human life due to natural disasters for 2005? And the total worldwide cost of loss due to natural disasters for the past four years?

With earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, and floods isn’t there enough to deal with in this world? Why is it that the human race insists on creating more trouble for itself?

How can you believe in the brotherhood of mankind through music and not peace?

Simple, for those of us who were around in the ’60s, many of the followers of the cliche’s “peace” and “love” focused their energies in movements that culminated in what they were supposedly against, further conflict. However, those persons in the Okinawan rock scene, as with most musicians, chose to focus their energies in the creation of music as a means to express themselves, irregardless of their cultural and background differences.

Why would heads of other artists’ productions companies insist on spending time at our club? I don’t know about you, but I find this odd. Why aren’t they at the club of the artists they represent? Live Music Bar JET has been open for over eleven years. Now that JET is in the production stage of the new CD and the Music Town project is on its way, all of these seldomly seen people start showing-up at the club regularly. Why?

Most people would agree humor and laughter are important. At the same time, there are many types of humor. Do you believe one can tell a lot about the nature of other people’s characters by what they find humorous?

Money and fame might bring power and status, but do they bring heart and class? How do your children react to your choices?