I’ve been wondering lately about questions: “how much is too much?”, “how old is too old?”, “how far is too far?”, and the like. I suppose it started when I was riding a train the other day and two grade school boys offered me their seat. (see photo below) I’m 52 and in decent health, while one of the boys had a broken arm and couldn’t have been over 10 years old. How old is old? (I turned them down, of course)
I bought an iPhone a few months ago. Since it has GPS, I use it to track my walks and rides. Using an app called RunKeeper, I found that last month I rode/walked about 420 km. How far is far? I hate math but love numbers on charts, so naturally I tried to surpass that distance in the first two weeks of this month. Too far? Now I’m out of order with knee, wrist and neck pains. Till the weekend, anyway. Can’t let those numbers slip.
How much money is too much? Someone at work suggested “I need” a lightweight folding road bike. I immediately agreed – I NEED a new bike (mine road bike has nearly 5000 km, so you see…). I must have this new bike. I even went to the bike store to touch this latest must-have item. And it only costs 180,000 yen (about 1600 US dollars). Is that too much? Looking at my bank account, it appears that it is. But wouldn’t it go well with my riding shorts?
Dahon Speed TT
How busy is busy? Are you busy? Who would answer that question honestly? Absolutely everyone I know tells each other how busy they are – it’s a centerpiece of conversation here in Japan. We are also “taihen”, which is one rank better than just busy. If you are taihen, you are close to being “panku”, which is the mother of all “taihen-ness”. If you are panku you are nearly ready to explode with busy-ness. Am I too busy? Well, it is end of semester, and things are getting easier. My schedule is starting to slow down, BUT I AM VERY BUSY, practically TAIHEN, and almost PANKU!! I shout it to the hills lest you think I am a lazy person that doesn’t earn his keep. I suggest you do the same. Here is what keeps me TOO BUSY at present.
1. writing an article on the history of hymns for the soon-to-be published companion to the 2006 Hymnal of the Nippon Seikokai (Anglican Church in Japan). It’s a real challenge to refine 1500 years of history into a reasonable length article, but I’m 1/3 of the way through. More busy-ness to come!
2. preparing a new class for the fall semester on the music of the Afro-American church (i.e. spirituals and gospel music). Listening to the music is great fun, but reading and writing about the sorry treatment of blacks in the US is not. When will humanity learn?
3. gathering articles for the Rikkyo Institute of Church Music newsletter (which I am, unfortunately, the editor of ). Would you like to contribute? I need your article yesterday!
4. reading – Kurt Vonnegut is my hero at present. I’ve done “Slaughterhouse Five”, “Cat’s Cradle” and “Sirens of Titan” recently.
5. taking portraits of myself - is this too vain? I find my eyes really do sparkle in photos…
Too busy – I think you forgot how to relax – I can give you lessons. The sparkly eyes . .. hmmmm. . . almost creepy (too cat like). My life would not measure up to the busy that is required in Japan, in fact would be thought of as lazy, but . . . everytime I think of doing something more, someone in the extended family needs me at a hospital, babysitting or visiting a military family for friendship and/or sanity.
I’d call taking care of other people both important and a busy-factor. In Japan we’re busy like a tornado, just whirling around and bumping into things.
Your blogs are always the best to read!!! But in reflection I believe I will enjoy the laid back speed of this summer, as it seems that things only speed up as we get older!
That’s the truth! It took forever to reach the teens, and a while to be 20. 30 came quicker, 40 was right behind, and 50 seems to have been reached a day later. Watch out for life’s speed, o youthful one!