Fire-WORK

Goddam computer broke so I'm confined to the stilted typing "abilities" of the iPhone. Anyway August in japan is apparently ridiculous firework time. Literally I'm blown away (PUN INTENDED) by the sheer magnitude of the displays here. Headed to Nagaoka last Monday, a town famous for it's fireworks and also for an extremely popular Japanese navy general who came from there--factoid I learned from a hilarious Japanese man by the river. Which a lesson I've taken is never to underestimate the learning potential a seemingly creepy old man (who speaks no English whatsoever) may offer. My initial conception of what Nagaoka might look ,a small lonely town hidden amidst a fog of old men with arched backs as consequence of a life of rice farming, was greatly challenged by the hoards, and I mean hoards of Japanese people that poured from the train station. Like a tightly controlled riot we were ushered by police to our eventual viewing spot. At which point a sky orgasm was initiated, beers were drank, and edamame was ate! Eaten? Fuck my English is on a downward spiral. Ok peace.

More than anything that has gone on here I saw something that on facebook that disturbed me far more; I came across a picture of a girl I once dated in high school. In that time she was very pretty almost waif-like yet still very awkward. I had always hoped she would grow into a woman of strong and elegant stature however that being said I saw a few pictures of her, what exists today is not the woman I expected to see. Although her eyes still pierce the awkwardness remains. I know she cannot help any of this, and my little diatribe has been extremely shallow, but I cannot help find myself disappointed in the possibilities. If only someone strong was there to help her, help her to become something tall and true, making the others see what has been there all along. Someone there to tell her exactly how special she is, wherever she is I hope she finds them.

On a up note my first care package arrived today, LARA BARS YAY! My mother stuffed a box full of my favorite books (Harry Crews) and protein bars. Yes I'm still a yuppie even in Iraq.