It was your typical covid-era Tuesday morning in Japan. Middle boy was out the door first. He went to school to pick up new homework from his teacher. He and his classmates went there in shifts to keep from massing together. Regular classes have yet to begin. My wife was getting the little girl child ready before heading off to work herself. She’s secretary for internal medicine docs at the big nearby hospital. Her job is essential. There is no covid stay at home for her. My job teaching English is less essential; I’ve switched to teaching a few classes online but two kindergartens that we provide English instruction for remain open. I had to teach at one of them this morning then go teach some kids in their home after that.
So smooch! “Goodbye, have a good day” to her and load the kids in the car
“Shoot look’t the time!”
“Quick everyone in the car let’s go!”
Kids loaded up we begin the 20 minute drive to the in-laws’ in Numazu. Lots of laughing, actually no fighting this morning thank God for small miracles! We skyped my folks on the way and got to talk to dad for a few minutes even. He looks well, said mom was off picking up dinner. Lot’s to be grateful for. The first ten minutes takes us southwest to west side of the peninsula, though a long tunnel then turn north head up the coast to the in-laws. Next tunnel’s even longer “Tell grandpa goodbye we’ll probably lose cell service here”. Twist and turn and turn and twist along narrow 414, arrive at in-laws okay everyone out, U turn for me and hey look’t that I’ve got time to pull into a store parking lot and reply to this text.
Pull in and back into an empty spot, grab the iPhone start talking out a reply only to look up and see an old mask-clad man over in the next row of parking places in front of my car. He’s looking right at me. Why? I go back to replying only to look up and see he’s still got his eyes fixed on me.
“Oh good grief now he’s walking over here. Doesn’t he know there’s a pandemic what the hell is he walking over here for?”
Our faces connect. No smile on mine “I’ve only got a few minutes here I don’t have time to talk bud!”
Suddenly I understand why he’s coming over. It’s been a while but it’s happened a thousand times if it’s happened once. Some old guy learned some English 40 years ago sees a Westerner and wants to try it out. Usually it’s when they’re drunk maybe this old guy is senile or something? He’s nearly up to my window. My no smiley face has a disturbed look on it by now I’m sure. Seriously dude, Hello! Virus? Not the time to go leaning your head into a stranger’s car just to practice saying “Where do you from?” to show me you know English.
Still I’ll remain polite, I think, but shoot him down quickly just the same I will.
He stops a few feet away from the driver’s side window then sure enough starts talking but it’s not even what I was expecting. I can’t even remember what he said actually, perhaps something like:
"Heddoraito ga tentō shite imasu”
Whatever it was I knew exactly what he meant since he was pointing at the front of my car as he said it. He was telling me my headlights were on.
Oh yeah, I was so busy talking with the kids I’d forgotten to turn them off after exiting that last long tunnel.
“Oh! Domo, Arigatou gozaimasu” Thank you very much” I said, all the while hoping my big smile concealed my reddening face.
He turned to walk back to the car he was waiting next to.
“Honto ni arigatou”
“Really, thank you!” I shout after him as he walked away.
How’s Alanis Morissette put it?
I haven’t got it all figured out just yet.
I haven’t got it all figured out just yet.
Lesson learned for the umpteenthousandth time.
I’m not always as keen and perceptive as I believe myself to be.
Not even close.
A much needed dose of humility.
Make necessary readjustments and carry on.
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