Hachiko - We could all learn a lesson.................

The world we live in today is a world of fast times and sometimes, even faster friendships. People come and go out of each other's lives in a dizzying whirl, words spoken, faces forgotten. This is what makes it even easier to appreciate those friends who have lasted, those who are near and dear to us. Now, anyone who knows me knows that I believe that sometimes, our animal companions are the most dedicated and loyal out of any human companions - the unconditional love we receive from them knows no bounds. So when I came across a story of an Akita dog whose love for his master was limitless, I had to write about it. This is the story of that dog - the story of Hachiko.

In 1925, Professor Ueno Elizaburo walked every day to the station to take the train to his job at what is now known as Tokyo University. His dog Hachiko accompanied him every day to the station. Of course, he could not go with the Professor to his job but every day at 3:00, when the Professor returned to the station, Hachiko was waiting faithfully at the gates for him, come rain or shine.

One of the few pictures of Hachiko.

On May 21 of that year, Professor Ueno died of a stroke whilst at work. Hachiko was at the station that day, waiting for his master to come home. On this day he waited, and waited. Did he know something was wrong? I often wonder if he knew in his mind that his master would not return. But did this stop Hachiko from going to the station everyday? The answer is a resounding no.

Every day, for nearly 10 years, Hachiko went to Shibuya station at 3:00 and sat in the same spot he always sat in, waiting. He would wait until the station closed. Professor Ueno's former gardner and the stationmaster understood what the dog was doing and fed him and gave him shelter. Soon word spread of this loyal dog. The Japanese culture is focused on family and loyalty. Hachiko was seen as a prime example of what humans should aspire to. People began travelling to see him, to feed him, or just to touch his head for luck. On March 7th, 1934, Hachiko was found dead on the platform where he had waited for the Professor for so long. He had continued his pilgramage, even when old age and arthritis began to make it more and more difficult.

Hachiko's death made the papers in Japan nationwide and a day of mourning was declared. Contributions from mourners all over were sent in and a statue was erected in memory of Hachiko by famed sculptor Andeo Teru - placed in the exact same spot where Hachiko had waited all those years. The statue was taken down and melted for the war effort to make weapons. The amazing thing is, after the war Andeo's son, Takeshi made another statue, which is in the same spot and stands to this day. Hachiko can also be seen stuffed in Japan's National Museum.

Hachiko's statue at Tokyo's Shibuya Station.

I often think, would a human have done this for anyone else? We all have the tendency to be a bit selfish in our lives. It's human nature. It's also human nature to move on, "get over it". Hachiko had to know that something was not right. Yet day after day after day, he waited for his master to come home. Akitas are known to sometimes be indifferent, to do their own thing, to not have the pack mentality. Yet this dog thought of nothing but waiting for his master, and even when he never showed, he continued his journey. How many of us would have given up? How many of us would have become angry - where is he? I'm not waiting for him again! I think that Hachiko really believed that his master would return and he didn't want to not be there for that homecoming. The unswerving loyalty of this dog has moved myself, and countless others, to tears.

I know people who think animals are stuipid, here for our entertainment, simple creatures who don't understand much. How wrong they are. When my husband goes on a business trip, one of our cats mourns until he comes back. Animals are not simple creatures. They are complex with a range of emotions just like ours. Simply because they cannot speak it to us doesn't mean those emotions are not there. I defy anyone to read the story of Hachiko and tell me otherwise. For me, Hachiko is a true hero who should be celebrated by all. Loyalty and love like that are very hard to find indeed.

Rest in peace, little Hachiko. You have taught us all a lesson about what unconditional love really is. If everyone acted in the manner that you have, what a wonderful world this would be.

Me? Road Rage? Never......

I am a massage therapist (surprise surprise).  I am an on call massage therapist.  This means that I work at four or five different places (chiropractors, spas, my own clients) as needed. This can mean driving 20 miles a day, 60 miles a day, or even almost 300 miles, if I have to go far enough on the day.  Inevitably, though I try not to let it affect me, there are a lot of crazy drivers out there, which drives me (no pun intended) to.....ROAD RAGE.

Not cool!

The day can start innocently enough.  Driving along, my favorite songs playing, the sun is shining....what's this?  Someone driving in the middle of the road.  Hmmmmm......why am I not surprised...texting.  Good Lord.  As I drive around them, the car which has been trying to decided for the past 60 seconds whether they should enter the road or not, even though they clearly see me coming, pulls out at the last minute, causing me to slam on my brakes.  Ok, Carrie.  Don't get upset.  Focus on the music.  Focus on the nice, sunny....hey!  You didn't even put your signal on!  You almost hit me!  Ok.  Just breathe.  This light has been green for at least 20 seconds. The driver appears to be checking the radio.  I'll just give him a little beep to let him know it's his turn to go.  WHAT?  I really don't think that I deserved the middle finger for that!  What is wrong with people?


Roadragers.com describes road rage as "the informal name for deliberately dangerous and/or violent behavior under the influence of heightened, violent emotion such as anger and frustration, involving an automobile in use.  This can involve deliberately hitting another person, vehicle or object with his/her own vehicle and/or firing a weapon from it. Other possibilities include hitting the person or vehicle with an item which is not his vehicle, but which ultimately hits another person or vehicle."  Simply put, you get mad at someone's driving, you try to get back at them, either by cutting them off as they did to you, or worse, getting out of your car and getting into physical altercations.  I don't know about you, but I find that the time of year also factors in, i.e. holidays, etc.  Is it really worth it?  Probably not.  But sometimes we just can't help ourselves.  I have told myself so many times to let it go, and nine times out of ten, I do.  But that 10th time.....


So what can we do?  Road ragers gives some tips.  Don't retaliate, don't make eye contact.  Take time to breathe.  Could the other driver have made a mistake?  Nothing is worth your life.  You never know what other people will do or how they will react.  They may look harmless...but they probably aren't.  My best friend was cut off by someone and reacted by honking her horn and flipping him off.  At the next light he pulled out a gun and just waved it at  her, to show what he COULD do.  Just a friendly little reminder.  It just isn't worth it.

I hate it when my husband tries to show
off.  :)

So remember....breathe in, breathe out.  Laugh it off if possible.  Just keep thinking - it isn't worth it.  Chances are, you will feel ten times better for it.  


Oh, and if you've got some time, take this road rage test.  You could find out something about yourself that you just didn't know.

http://www.roadragers.com/test/index.htm.

The Drive In Theater - A Slice of American Ingenuity

I can still remember going to the drive-in theater about once a month when I was a child. My mom would give us a bath beforehand and would then dress my older sister and my twin sister and I in our pajamas with the feet at the bottom. She would pop her own popcorn and we would bring our own snacks from home. She would put the back seats down in the old beat-up stationwagon to create a bed of sorts. The movie would start and we would stare in awe at the huge screen in front of us, large and luminous. Most of us would not make it through the whole movie (the reason for the pajamas, no doubt). It was something to look forward to like no other. I remember being so incredibly jealous that my older sister got to go twice to see Grease, once with us and once with the neighbors. I was so annoyed as I watched her riding away in the back of the car, waving excitedly.

As I got older, I never really thought about the drive-in anymore. I think that, being a teenager, and with so many new and exciting things to entertain ourselves, I never really gave a thought to the drive-in theater which had given me so much joy. I think deep in my heart, I also believed that they didn't exist anymore, like dinosaurs or the tooth fairy. I thought, since I never heard anything about them, that they had just died out and become extinct. The Tyrannosaurus Rex of the entertainment world, along with Caleco Vision and eight tracks. So, imagine my surprise, and sheer delight, at discovering one literally in my backyard in Goochland, Virginia! Movies, here we come!

The first drive-in theater opened in Camden, New Jersey, in 1933. Back then they only had three pairs of six foot speakers to broadcast sound. Still, 500 people turned up, at $1 a car. By the 1940's there were 95 drive-ins spread across 27 states. Ohio led the way with 11 drive-ins. When World War II began, of course production of these drive-ins slowed. The baby boom at the end of the War prompted most drive-ins to add playgrounds. Most parents let their children play on the playground and then went to get snacks at the concession stands. After that, it was movie time! During the 1950's, it wasn't just the number of drive-ins that increased, but the size too. Many began to include boat rides, pony rides, and miniature golf, among other attractions. Some even had the option to order your food from your car and have it delivered by car hops. Now that's service!

In the 1960's and 1970's, the great drive-in began to stagnate. Hardly any were being build and many catered their films to teen-agers. The 1980's almost killed the drive-in with the coming of cable TV and VCRs. In the 1990's, not many new drive-ins were built, but many existing ones began to add extra screens, which attracted new patrons. Also, a sense of nostalgia was felt. Those who used to go when they were young could now bring their own families. This has made a major difference in the resurgence of the drive-in.

Watching movies is always fun, but what is so great about a drive-in? For one, you get to stay in your own car. You don't have to deal with people behind you munching popcorn or being loud. It's also ideal for young parents who may need to feed their kids or who may feel embarrassed going to another indoor theater. Also, a big plus with the drive-in is the price. Although they no longer charge by the carful, which was much cheaper, prices range from $5 to $7 per person, much cheaper than going to a Regal cinema or the Carmike. Most drive-ins show a double feature too, which is great value for money. Also, concession stand prices tend to be much cheaper. At our local drive-in (Goochland Drive-In), nothing is over $3.50. That includes popcorn, drinks, burgers, whatever your fancy! Quite a change from our local indoor theater, where you have to refinance your house to buy a large popcorn and drink!

The biggest plus for me, though, is that I am not only living my childhood again, but I am helping a local business. My husband and I are very big on supporting local businesses, especially in this economy. As far as I know, there are no large chains of drive-in theaters. Every single one is owned by a small business owner trying to make a living. Our local theater is owned by a husband and wife with a small child who decided that they were going to make their dream of owning a drive-in theater a reality. I can't wait to show up there on Saturday night and help them to continue making their dream thrive.

My husband is from England and had never experienced a drive-in theater. Some things have changed (no more speakers, you get the sound through your car radio), but most have stayed the same. I believe that the drive-in theater was one of the best ideas around, and with the public's help, we can keep it thriving and on top. What a novel idea, to let our children and other loved ones experience what we loved as children. I just can't wait! Why not check out your area for a drive-in near you? It really is an experience to remember!

Check out a drive-in in your area at http://www.driveintheater.com/drivlist.html

Information about the history of drive-in theaters taken from www.driveintheater.com.