Craig-512 On Old, Sore Bones, And Great Breakfast Pictures!

Craig Hoffman

4 min readOct 28, 2018

Craig note- Getting older s-cks…!

Cover Art: @dsmacinnes

(Enjoy!)

On Being Stiff

These days when I get out of bed I feel 100-years-old. My mattress is getting up in age. It does not help that I bought the equivalent of an American child-sized bed. Recently, there is a spring in the middle that jabs me in the back at night.

That seems like a waste of money. Still, I am considering it after feeling stiffer than usual this week. But, my bed is not completely to blame for my aches and pains.

These days the practices are in full swing. I do my best to limit my running and playing. In the end, I always, always, always practice too hard with the kids. They love it when I play. But, those young folks are bouncing into school, and I’m limping to the train station the next day.

(Oh, what I would not give to be a kid again!)

Actually, I was so sore the other day I wanted my wife to drive me to my company. But, she refused.

And, I was angry.

It’s not her fault. She was busy. My wife, too, figures a 42-year-old man should be able to go to work alone.

And, she’s right.

I was able to make it to my company. Unfortunately, this morning I feel even worse as I prepare to head to my company again. This getting old stuff gets; well, old quick, fast, and in a hurry.

On Bending But Not Breaking Rules In Japan

My old, sore bones got me thinking about life in Japan. Long ago, I came to Japan. At that time, I remember being as flexible as possible.

I did everything at school that I was told to do. And, I followed every law, tradition, and custom. I was eager to make people happy.

And, I did.

Why just this morning I saw five cars run a red light while three people at a crosswalk waited for them to do so. Nobody said a word.

(Including me…)

That is difficult for many foreigners to understand.

For example, you would never dare to bring drugs in Japan. That ends very, very, very badly.

(You can Google any number of stories about how that turns out for foreigners here.)

On The Grey Areas In Japan

Of course, most foreigners figure out the above types of extreme examples early in their time in Japan. It’s the more subtle stuff that gets foreigners. There are moment it bewilders even me after 13 plus years.

I don’t move.

(But, my wife says I should.)

I don’t stay late for free.

(But, my salarymen buddies at the bar all do it.)

And, my favorite…(albeit at non-Japanese example)

I don’t.

(But, many, many, many expats think I should.)

I see many, many, many Japanese people with earbuds jammed in their ears or their eyes glued to cellphone screens. That used to boggle me to no end. It took me 13 plus years, but I get it.

Sadly, the daily commute is the only solitude some folks here get.

There are no merit badges in Japan for being a social butterfly. It would be great if I had the energy (or time) to be “Little Miss Mary Sunshine” to every expat I encounter on the street.

But, I don’t.

(I don’t expect anyone to be super, super, super friendly to me.)

The truth is I am too busy worrying about a world full of “sticks and stones,” while walking around trying not to break my:

Grey, Grizzled, and Gaijin