My Friends

I live in a small city in the countryside of Japan.

I have some Japanese friends, but my 2 close friends are both from Canada.

I have known both for about 10 years now.

If we lived in Canada, we would never have become friends.

We have been thrown together and have bonded because of a similar upbring, cultural roots, language, and pop culture references.

We originally tried to keep our distances; but regularly we would cross paths, need assistance in some matter, require information, or desire to be among a few fellow Canadians while watching ice hockey.

I am the odd man out: I have a standard teaching job and am quite happy to work for someone, collect my paycheck, and live stress free.

My friends are both artists: performance and musical.

Both are great at what they do.

Both are entrepreneurs: looking for ways to make more money, become famous or well known, and searching for more, better, bigger.

They wake up at night trying to find new ways to improve, advance, or do better in some area.

As for me, I love them both, enjoy being with them, listen and offer suggestions and feedback, and applaud their creativeness.

But, I sleep through the night peacefully, enjoy my work, and am quite happy plugging along savouring nameless mediocrity.