A Funny Thing Happened Tonight (Lyons Club)

The funniest thing happened to me tonight

First, I'll just say that I haven't written in a while and I'm sorry for that. I was just telling some friends today that sometimes mountain life is lonely and I just want to talk to a friend. But, sometimes writing, or the thought of writing, makes the loneliness more real than if I just ignore it and do something else. If I write, then I'm forced to think about who I'm missing and what I'm not doing back home. So, please forgive me if I've been reticent in my blogging duties.

That said, the funniest thing happened to me tonight. I stopped by one of the two restaurants in town because I was told that it was open past 7 PM on occasion. I drove there because I was on my way home from some exploration around the area. Luckily, when I arrived, they were still serving, although I was the only customer there. I didn't even have to order because the chef knows me and knows that I can't read Japanese. So, he just asked if Nabe Udon was OK, which it was. Nabe Udon is a soup-like dish with big, thick udon noodles and different meats/veggies cooked up and tossed in. There was even a whole (barely cooked) egg on top. I must say, it was mighty delicious!

Anyway, that's not the funny part. The funny part was when I was jolted out of my seat by a guy yelling in the front door. Turns out about 8 older men walked in, already three sheets to the wind, and wanted sake, shouchuu (like sake, but stronger), whiskey, beer, and anything else that would keep them riding their small-town wave of euphoria. Because I've become somewhat of a local celebrity, each one had to greet me, LOUDLY, and shake my hand while trying out whatever 5 Japanese words they knew. At first it just seemed funny, but then they gave me a great honor by inviting me to sit with them at their enkai table. Basically, we sat around on tatami mats at the low table, drank, and ate with reckless abandon.

After some fun conversation, I discovered that they were all part of the local Lyons Club and they had just finished up their meeting! I guess they drink at their meetings, but oh well, right! It was fun to share the fact that my grandfather was an active part of the Lyons Club and this seemed to be of great interest. We must have drank for almost 3 hours before everyone finally went home.

Unfortunately, because I had a little bit to drink, I couldn't drive home. If I was in Philadelphia, I would have just hopped in the car, because I didn't have so much to drink that I felt even the least bit impaired. But, Japanese law is different, and if you get pulled over and ANY alcohol shows up on the breathalyzer, you automatically get punished. It's a One Sip and You're Done policy. So, I just walked home, because I only live about 500 yards away. But, it's embarrassing that I had to walk home and leave my car at the restaurant when I live so close. Oh well. Hopefully the people of Tombara will respect me more for not drinking and driving!

Have a wonderful day,
Maikeru
^_^