Naoya Wada

Thirty One

Another year has passed and there aren't too many things I can reflect on and say "Oh my goodness" about. It's not that it's been boring, or that nothing has happened, but the events in my life are typically just that, an event.

Rewind to 1995... Back in San Francisco, I was really into Rollerblading. I mean it was my life. I was skating everywhere, wanting to do this for a while kinda thing. Then in February of 1995, I had an accident... Cerebral hematoma, the whole nine. I was in the ICU and recovered at a miraculous pace... Those who know me know the story. I still feel lucky to be alive.

Fast forward to 2 months ago... The economy is flailing like a fish out of water... political debates are today's "reality tv"... and people are getting crazy. I live in a neighborhood that has been transitional for a while, and when I first bought my home, it was far worse than it is today. But with the economy the way it is, everyone in my neighborhood is a target for crime. Burglaries are happening left and right, and I was finally the target. Smash a window, steal some stuff, and get out of the house... The crooks really must be good on their timing since No one saw a thing. We were the unfortunate victims of a home burglary. Luckily we weren't home, and all that was lost were replaceable items.

Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago... Well seems like the robbers needed some more loot... So we got picked again. I assume they thought we would have received our settlement check from the insurance company, and that we would have some shiny new toys... Well truth be told, the Atlanta Police Department works slow, and we weren't in a rush to get anything new... So they took some other items instead... Seems like it'll be a nice holidays for them. But again, we weren't home...

Like the burglaries that occurred, turning 31 is like another event to me.

I think back to when I was in the ICU, and how I recovered... And think about how I am living my life today... No regrets, no mishaps... Nothing I would change... I am "living"... And I just am happy to be doing just that. I can't imagine what may have happened if I was home during the two break-ins. Maybe my being there would have stopped them. But maybe they would have been desperate to do something stupid. Everyone asks if I am pissed at them for doing this to me... I am irritated at the deductibles I have to pay, and the days I need to stay away from my company, but all in all, I am okay. I am here, living my life, eating well, exercising a bunch, and hanging with friends...

The irony is that while they took away material goods from me, they gave back to me as well. Time to be myself and reflect on the life I have lived, rather than the events they have caused... This is me, thirty one.