I've mentioned Matthew quite often in these blogs - not just because he and I got into a lot of stupid stuff (we did), and not because we did a lot of good stuff together (we did), and not because we hung out a lot (not enough, but we did). Actually, I suppose those reasons are why I've mentioned Matthew quite often in these blogs.
This time, however, I have not come to bury Matthew, but to praise him (to totally twist a speech made by Marc Anthony in the Shakespeare play Julius Caesar. (Actually, in the play, the real words denote Marc Anthony talking of coming to bury Caesar, not praise him).
Okay... let's start over. This blog is to pay homage to Matthew, who was and is my very good friend. We walked each other home when we were drunk. We shared our food with each other. We shared movies. We even shared wome... no, actually we did not share whatever word it was I was going to write. We're very good friends - just not fantastically very good friends.
Let's just say the boy helped keep me sane - such that it is. I am repaying him by recalling things that went on in Japan that he has no knowledge about thanks to the ravages of Father Time. He must be in his mid-40's now. Dammit all... so am I. But I kept detailed notes on everything.
For example, I still have this note from Matthew that he signed and gave to me. I lent him some money, but really because we are friends, I never expected it back - because that's what friends do... even though I'm pretty sure he still owes me that ¥10,000 borrowed from me back in 1990, at 7% daily interest (and that's being very nice, because we are very nice friends)...and even though he never paid me back. It's actually a lot of money, and I still consider him a good friend.
You may have noticed I removed the qualifier 'very' part, as I have just gone to a website and calculated what he still owes me.
At 7% interest since August 23, 1990 until February 23, 2011 - that ¥10,000 yen = $100 is now actually $418.82. Bugger.
Okay. Screw that. We have come to bury Matthew, not praise him.
Somewhere pulling Matthew's leg,
Andrew Joseph
Today's blog title is by Katy Perry. It's not rock and roll, but the lyrics are so funny when taken completely out of CONTEXT.
PS: Obviously this blog is me having some fun with Matthew. He really was a godsend, and I thank him for his friendship and support lo these many, many, many, many years. Thanks, brother!
PPS: Actually, Matthew did borrow money from me - at or around the date specified. He, like most of us, had only brought enough money with him for a couple of weeks. His bored of education office was a little slow in getting his pay to him - unlike my OBOE (Ohtawara Board of Education) office who clearly thought more highly of me than his did of him. Hee-hee.
PPPS: Even though Matthew did pay me back very quickly, I think the above photo is payment enough for any lost interest... though judging from our expressions, clearly the wrong type of interest is being shown.
PPPPS: In the photo, I am pulling Matthew's leg. It was taken at the home of the woman (Takako) who would, in three short years, be his wife. She's still beautiful and they have two fantastically beautiful kids. Not sure about Matthew, though. Can I come for a visit with my wife and kid? I promise... I don't snore anymore. Really.
