Near-Death Experience

A few years ago, I was on the verge of death because of an illness. At that time, I dreamed a mysterious dream. It might have been a near-death experience.

I was on a port in the dream. That port was not like a fantastical port. It was modern, paved with concrete. Two luxury passenger ships were anchored. I knew that if I boarded a ship, I could eat sumptuous seafood. I also knew that those ships went on round trips. I could return to the same port.

Now I think that meant reincarnation or something. I could return to the same port but as a different person. Then I also knew that I had to board one of the ships someday.

I thought at that time, “Nope. I am not in the mood for seafood right now.”

I didn’t board the ship.

Now I am writing this story to you probably because I didn’t board the ship at that time.

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Tank Top

 

When I was a freshman at a university, I traveled to East Japan on a bicycle alone. My main purpose was cycling in Hokkaido! I had dreamed I would cycle amid wonderful nature in Hokkaido.

When I arrived at Toma Komai Port, I felt chilly. I just had a tank top on. I had assumed I wouldn’t need long sleeves. I thought long sleeves were bulky, but it was almost autumn. Hokkaido was already cold.

I should have bought long sleeves in Toma Komai. Toma Komai was a city. Still, I was a teenager; I rushed to start my travels without long sleeves. I knew I needed to buy long sleeves on the way. I thought I could easily buy them in the next town.

“The next town.” Yes, there were some villages on the way, but there wasn’t a town where I could buy long sleeves. There were wonderful scenes of nature that I had dreamed of, but I couldn’t buy long sleeves in nature. In a video game, we get proper items in proper situations, but reality is not designed like that.

I changed my plan. I decided to visit Obi Hiro to buy long sleeves. I knew Obi Hiro was a city. I felt extremely cold on the way to Obi Hiro. I can’t remember other things. For your information, the distance between Toma Komai and Obi Hiro is about two hundred kilometers.

Finally, I arrived at Obi Hiro. I bought long sleeves in a department store. I can still remember the warmth of the long sleeves.

If we want to enjoy nature, we have to buy equipment in a city.

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High-handed Teachers

 

 

 When I was an elementary school student and a junior high school student, most teachers were very high-handed people. They were short-tempered. They didn’t listen to students. I couldn’t help but question their personalities. When I grew up, I talked to coworkers and friends about their school memories. Most of them had the same impression about their teachers.

 But there were exceptions. People who studied at rural schools, which had a few students, experienced a completely different school life. Their teachers were nice and gentle.

 Whenever I talked to young people about their school memories, I would find that they also experienced a different school life. They said most of their teachers were nice and gentle.

 This might be due to the number of students.

 I grew up in one of the biggest cities in Japan in the 1970s. That was shortly after Japan’s period of high economic growth. There was a concentration of population in big cities. My town built many huge apartment houses at that time. When I was an elementary school student, our class had six transfer students after summer vacation. I had about 60 classmates at that time. My classmates were also diverse. They were from all over Japan. Of course, there were local students whose families have lived there for many generations.

 I think there was no option. When a few individuals need to control many people, they have to be high-handed. It could be the most efficient way. If the teachers faced up and nestled all the students, it made the teachers uncomfortable. Imagine you have to teach 60 children every day. This situation could destroy your personality.

 Now I live in the same town I grew up. We had just one elementary school at that time. Now we have three. Because of the declining birth rate, all elementary schools have empty rooms.

 Once we had too few schools, now we have too many. I am tempted to say something sarcastic.

 I hated my high-handed teachers, most of whom, I believe, are dead now. But if they were teachers now, they might be completely different. They could be nice and gentle.

 Children can’t choose their educational environments. But unfortunately, in most cases, even adults have no choice over their working environments.

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Film Chronicle

 When I was a child, some people formed a line and stayed up all night to watch the very first day of a promising movie. They wanted to watch the very first show in the best seats. I haven’t experienced that.

 Visiting a movie theater was a special experience. When I planned to visit a nice spot with my friends or a girlfriend, a movie theater was the first choice.

 Recently, the situation changed. There were many attractive places to visit. I became lazy. I hardly visited a movie theater. I knew that I could watch a promising movie there. But I could also wait until they release the DVD or a downloadable version. I feel it could be bothersome to visit a movie theater and keep seated for a long time.

 But I think we should go to a movie theater to watch a movie!

 If you watch a movie in a movie theater, you can connect your memory and the period.

 It could depend on the person, but in my case, I remember that I watched which movie with whom. I can’t forget the circumstances and their opinions. In case I wonder when it happened, I can check the Internet. Then I can relive my memories one after another.

 Once I received a letter from my mother’s old friend. The letter said, “Your mother and I watched a movie together. The title was . . .” I checked the movie. It was released when they were in their twenties. They are in their eighties now. Watching a movie in a theater could be a lifetime memory.

 Dear friends! Let’s go to a theater to watch a movie! Ask some wonderful people to come with you!

 We can’t make a memory without things getting bothersome!

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