Sign

We exit the subway (in Tokyo) and walk up sets of stairs to the street.

We follow Siri instructions, among the tall buildings. Siri tells us that we have arrived - at our hotel - but we don’t see a hotel entrance. We see a department store entrance and other types of commerce.

We hear music, a live chorus, just around the corner, in the square. Maybe fifty people, up on a stage, dressed in black choir robes, singing popular songs (in the English) language; songs about love, songs about peace.

We gravitate towards the stoic audience. We join the people, listening to the music, wrapped around the stage.

I take out my cell phone and set the camera to - record video.

>>>>>

In my “pull” towards the music, and my American brain, I never saw all the official looking people (all around the stage) holding signs over their heads, signs that read:

“No recording, No photographs”.

<<<<<

American me, I didn’t see “the rules”, my mind blanked out the signs (“sign, sign, everywhere a sign”). My mind moved me right past the signs, all the way to “GO, collect your two hundred dollars”.

The music was “my draw”. (Please, please excuse me.)

I like you - - - but I am - - - Not Like You.

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An official walks up to me and stands directly in front of me, sign - meet - my face.

“No recording, no photographs”.

<<<<<

Startled, alarm goes off in my head.

I wake up.

I am in Japan.

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Harmony. Respect. Honor.

Follow the rules. – Wait your turn. – Stand in line.

I have a short clip of a video saved on my phone.

There is a short clip of people standing on a stage - singing, beautiful songs.

And then the phone camera spins and pans to the ground as the official with the sign reminds me of where I am.

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Other side of a planet.

Upside down.

I am in Japan.

It’s not bad. It’s not a bad thing.

It’s just - - - different.

Harmony. Respect. Honor.

Mostly, it feels very good. (Day and night, we feel calm, safe, everywhere.)

And still, I stand there, camera off now, with the others,

listening to beautiful music. (I’m not sure why the music is sung in my language and not theirs.)

But my American instinct is still there. (It’s in “my coding”, my programming, my American DNA. Do Your Thing (Scott). You - Be You.)

>>>>>

I have the instinct to break out and dance. To wave my arms to the beautiful music, in this crowd of Japanese stoics.

Scott wants to “Dance - To - The - Music”.

There are no signs that read: “No dancing.” “No dancing in the streets.”

I sway a little bit, to the rhythm of the music. (I allow myself that. To be out of sync that little bit. Me. American me.)

And I wonder… I wonder what would happen, if I “let my hair down”, if I “let it all hang out” on the streets - in Tokyo, Scott dancing to the beautiful music.

My “mind bubble” wonders: what would happen, if I set my impulse free?

(Would they lock me up? Throw away the key? I smile and laugh - to myself.)

>>>>>

Harmony. Honor. Respect.

We like Japan. A (most) civilized society.

And still, Scott wants to dance.

(Dancing Queen.) Scott needs to dance.

An American (to the core).

Made in America Scott.

Soul (still) in America. Body - in Japan.

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VIDEO:

Cut short - wake up - upside down - Scott

S & C - in Tokyo, Japan