2025 – 10 – 28 same roots, different soil

              one quirky part about watching movies here in Japan is that everybody always waits until the credits are done before they start moving. I get it, right? sometimes, there is a secret scene after the movie. but after getting done with “One Battle After Another,” a movie I decided to see entirely on a whim because I happened to be doing some shopping near the theatre, I opted to be one of the few who dared to interrupt the odd homeostasis taking place by leaving during the credits. the movie just wasn’t all that good tbh, and I didn’t really care what might happen after the credits.

              after throwing out my trash and popping in my earbuds to begin my trek home through the busy streets of Shinjuku’s most popular area, I noticed a guy ahead of me who had also gone against the grain by leaving the movie at the same time, perhaps a few years younger. he went to see a movie alone. I went to see a movie alone. he wore a leather jacket. I wore a bomber jacket. he carried a bag. I wore a backpack. he had a unique haircut. while I didn’t that time, I’ve had my fair share of them in the past. he wore jeans that were bright with a unique splotch of colour on them (but not too out of place). I wore rusty orange joggers that my mom said she didn’t get the colour for (but parents just don’t understand).

              but it was really the walk that caught my eye. we both walked with a jaunt of sorts in our step. idk where I got it or why I do it, but I do try to walk like a cool guy when I’m alone. maybe it’s so street vendors and homeless people don’t bother me. that’s a topic for a different day, but regardless, he had that same jaunt, if you will. and as I was marveling how this guy was similar to me, he happened to pop in his earbuds as well. also white, like mine. this cunt was just like me, I reckoned.

              it reminded me of a line from my last short story, one based on one of my old Soldiers who, in some was, reminded me of myself when I was younger. same roots, different soil. if a couple of my cards were laid out differently, maybe I’d be just like him, instead of approaching life with a similar energy from my own homelands.

              just a curious observation of mine for today.

 

              SOTD – “dirty work” by Steely Dan. it was in the movie, and reminds me of my old neighbor, Jim. he passed away a few years ago and I remember reading on his obituary that he was a Steely Dan fan, so every time I hear them I think of him. He was a great dude. I miss Jim.