締切の前に

On Friday we had an Islamic Input session entitled "Aging". While most of the content escaped me, I did remember vaguely those that arrested my attention, even if it was just momentary.

1. At age 40, our nervous system matures.

This simple statement was then followed by "So if we want to learn new skills, we'd better do so before we turn 40". Yes, so maturing means that it's at its peak and therefore is unable to equip new skills as easily as before.

When I heard and realized that this fact has hit me squarely in the face, my mind was immediately flooded with those ambitions that I had hoped to fulfill one day. Turns out that I don't have much time before the deadline, considering that the list is endless. Yes, such is human ambition, unlimited while being ignorant to human limitations.

Seeing from another point of view, this basically puts the signboard that says "Time is Running Out" in spotlights topped with neon flashlights. Will they be enough to keep my head in the game?

Indulging in my little enjoyments that I call hobby come at a price, because I always find myself drowning too far down, that it takes a lot of effort to resurface and leave my comfort zone to march to the battlefield.

2. Our negative behaviours become emphasized at old age.

So I'd better get rid of the qualities that I'd rather not keep. The last thing I want is to become widely known as an old grouch who complains incessantly like a broken record.

3. Don't become demented when you grow old.

Trust me, nobody in their right mind would want to undergo that.
It's bad enough that you lose your physical strength. Having retained some intellectual capabilities and acumen should be nice things to fall back to. Wouldn't want to be reduced to a mere burden after a life of independence and splendor, would we? Of course, life has its ups-and-downs, but the way to do it is to delay the irreversible process of descent...before Death comes a'knockin' when it is time.

Current Music: Uso - SID

P/s: The song is the first ending of Full Metal Alchemist : Brotherhood. While I do consider myself a SID fan occasionally (Monokuro no Kisu from Kuroshitsuji is another noteworthy piece), I am not amused to see that the vocalist was rather lip-syncing in the promotional video.
Translations by csakuras.

Uso

ano hi mita sora
akane iro na sora wo
nee kimi wa oboete imasuka
yakusoku chigiri
shoka no kaze ga tsutsumu
futari yorisotta

muri na egao no ura
nobita kage wo kakumau
dakara kizukanu furi
saisei wo erabu

table no ue no
furuenai shirase
machitsuzukete
kuuhaku no yoru mo
kuru hazu no nai asa mo
zenbu wakattetanda

ano hi mita sora
akane iro na sora wo
nee kimi wa wasureta no deshou
yakusoku chigiri
shoka no kaze ni kieta
futari modorenai

oto mo iro mo ondo mo
hanbun ni natta kono heya
kyou mo chirakashite wa
yure tsukare nemuru

jouzu ni damashite ne
uso wa kirai de suki
kimi no kotoba
imagoro ni natte
kimochi wa itai hodo
dakara bokura sayonara

itsuka mata ne to
te wo furiatta kedo
mou au koto wa nai no deshou
saigo no uso wa
yasashii uso deshita
wasurenai

ano hi mita sora
akane iro na sora wo
nee itsuka omoidasu deshou
hatasenakatta yakusoku wo idaite
futari arukidasu


English Translation: Lie

The sky we saw that day
the dark red sky
Hey, do you remember it?
Pledging a promise
The early summer breeze wrapping around us
We stand close together

Behind forced smiles
we hide a stretching shadow
That's why, while pretending obliviousness
we choose rebirth

Waiting for
the unshakeable news
on the table top
Both empty nights
and mornings that should not arrive
We understood it all

The sky we saw that day
that dark red sky
Hey, haven't you forgotten it?
Pledging a promise
Disappearing into the early summer breeze
We cannot return

Sound and color and temperature
have been cut in halves in this room
Cluttering it again today
Trembling, tiring, and going to sleep

Deceive us well
We hate and love lies
Your words
Now that it's this time
these feelings are painful
That's why we say goodbye

We waved our hands
saying see you again someday
But we will probably never meet again
The last lie
was a tender lie
We'll never forget

The sky we saw that day
that dark red sky
Hey, you'll remember it someday
Embracing the promise we couldn't fulfill
We start walking.