Prologue III

It is the last night in this United States of America. The next time I write Emi and I will be in Japan. We are packed and are more than ready to depart. I found the articles stuffed into our modest size bags very revealing. Regarding clothing, it is at the minimum. I am only taking two fast drying underwear and socks, one aloha shirt, three fast drying t-shirts, a pair of gloves, shorts, and a wool cap. All that for 50 days. More revealing was the meds that I needed that marked the trip a geriatric one… let me be more accurate, a GERIATRIC one. In my bag there is a cornucopia of drugs: starting with common fruit flavored antacids, two high blood pressure medications-atenolol and terazosin, soothing valium, pain killing vicodin, pain killer # 2 naprosyn, anusol for you know what and if you don’t know I ain’t going to tell you, a large bottle of Benadryl, Eucerin lotion, Triamcinolone acetonide ointment for rashes and whatevah, and anti-foot fungal ointment for my chronic athletics feet. The only thing I’m not bringing is awa, soma, and Johnny Walker Red. Further, Emi is bringing her own supply of meds. Is this not pathetic or what? The sad thing is that I need every one pill, ointment, and salve and even then I may be home sooner than scheduled.

Oh, and by the way, I am bringing a ukulele.