Arrive 5 Minutes Early at the Cinema / Make Up for Oversleeping / Hardcore Patakara Exercises | A Drop in the Ocean Diary No. 3

Arrive 5 minutes early at the cinema

The other day, I went to see Sho Miyake's film 'Trip and Days'.

I was dawdling over this and that, and by the time I arrived at the cinema, it was already showtime. The main feature would start in 10 minutes. I had to hurry.

I rushed to buy a ticket and headed to the entrance, but there was an older gentleman already there, waiting anxiously.

It seemed there was no staff around.
I felt anxious inside too, thinking, 'It's already 3 minutes past.'

After a while, a staff member arrived, so I had them check my ticket.
It seemed the gentleman and I were there for the same movie.
I felt a sense of kinship.

After handing over my ticket, the gentleman and I both broke into a light jog.
The place we were both heading straight for wasn't the theater... but the restroom.

I get it.
It's an hour and a half long, after all.
The bladders of older gentlemen are delicate.
No matter how much of a hurry you're in, you have to take care of the restroom first.

I made it to the movie safely.
I cut it a bit too close this time.
From now on, I'll try to act with a little more leeway.

Make up for oversleeping

On a morning off, I wake up and check the clock.
Oh no, I overslept.
I had planned to go to my favorite coffee shop today.

It's a coffee shop that is particular about its music.
I love to have the place all to myself right after it opens and read a book.

Even if I get ready and go now, I won't make it in time.
It will surely be crowded.

A black liquid drips into my chest and begins to spread.

I even went to bed early last night without drinking any alcohol.
My precious day off is ruined.
A feeling of melancholy surges up to my throat.

...Alright, I've decided.
I'm changing today from a day to go to the shop to a 'day to get things done.'
That way, I can offset the regret of not being able to wake up in the morning.

After quickly finishing breakfast, I clean the toilet and the bathroom.
I air out the futon and finish a deep clean of the bedroom.
I go to the home improvement store with my wife to buy daily necessities.
While I'm at it, I go to the library to pick up the book I had reserved.
With that, the morning is over.

Yeah, good job, me!
A brilliant course correction.
I almost spent my precious day off just lounging around in regret.

Next time I go to my favorite coffee shop, I'll order a chiffon cake too.

Hardcore Patakara exercises

Are you familiar with 'Patakara exercises'?

This is an exercise to strengthen the muscles of the mouth and throat.

The method is simple.
First, pronounce "pa, pa, pa, pa," "ta, ta, ta, ta," "ka, ka, ka, ka," and "ra, ra, ra, ra" as clearly and loudly as possible.

Next, pronounce "patakara, patakara, patakara..." in succession, and the exercise is complete. (There are various theories.)

I have been practicing this exercise, which is basically for elderly people whose swallowing ability has declined, for about two years.

Why?

Because I started choking frequently while eating.

It doesn't happen much at work, but I tend to choke when I'm at home, perhaps because I let my guard down.
I choke almost 100% of the time when I put shichimi spice on beef bowls or udon.

To have this swallowing condition in my 40s.
I'm worried about the future... which is how I ended up with the "Patakara Exercise."

However, the biggest problem with this exercise is that you have to pronounce it "as loudly and clearly as possible."

If I were to do it, it would have to be at home, but I hesitate to do so.
If one day my father suddenly started saying "pa, pa, pa, pa..." in a loud voice, my eldest son, who is in his adolescence and preparing for exams, would surely get angry.
He might stop talking to me.
I want to avoid that.

That's when I came up with a brilliant idea.

I should do it in the car.

There is no one in the car while I'm commuting.
Even if I make a somewhat loud noise, the engine sound will drown it out.

Moreover, I realized after I started doing it that it actually helps relieve stress quite a bit.

For example, on a Monday morning when I don't feel like going to work.
If I vocalize loudly, I feel somewhat refreshed.
On days when there are meetings I don't want to attend, it's practically a shout.

If you ever see a middle-aged man in a car at a red light with a bright red face shouting "Pa!, Pa!!, Pa!!!, Pa!!!!," you can be sure that it's me.