A-Bones Go Home?

The day started pretty slowly and with barely enough time to get packed and wait for the van that was taking everyone to Osaka's KIX International Airport. True to a previous hunch we really did not have enough time to visit any Osaka shrines which made Miriams impromptu photo shoot at Nagoya a real stroke of genius.

The guys were beat. Bruce was in a lot of pain and was begging for any Tylenol. I had a small stash for my own flight and was hoping to keep as much of it as needed. Still, when I saw Bruce in so much pain I couldn't help but give him some. I just thought back to how crummy it feels to be in misery so far from home.

Jackie and Enocky came soon with the van...late. And brought Rockin' Jelly Bean along with Momo in tow. Just like their band name, RJB drove an old Nissan Cedric station wagon. It was in immaculate condition and seemed very well taken care of. He explained that these cars are considered so square in Japan that only old guys drive them. Young kids would never be seen in one. Just like your Oldsmobile, he added.

The ride to Osaka's airport is mercifully short, compared to the ride from Narita to Tokyo which is much farther than JFK and way more boring. So much so that on my return trip there, the bus actually plays "wake up" music as you enter the airport. This time time though in a little over a half hour, we were already pulling into the departures area. In fact, it seemed so innocuous I first thought it was a rest stop.

We unpacked and as we were figuring out where the band had to check in, all of a suddden this yelling started from a distance. As it got closer and louder, it turned out to be Go-Devil Angie and Miss Tarantula in a dead sprint from the opposite side of the terminal. Ms. T, as I will call her from now on, explained that they were afraid they were going to miss seeing the band off. If you recall the evening before they were searching out some band members for autographs. Now, thats a fan!

After much warm words and scribblings were exchanged, we started toward the international connections gate. KIX airport is smaller and more of an intimate feel as opposed to monoliths like JFK and Narita. However, unlike our smaller airports, it too is well designed with a very open, comforting, feel despite its smaller scale.

As we were pushing our carts, one thing suddenly jumped out at me. For some reason someone had taken life-size cardboard cutouts of airport workers and lined them up with their faces cut out. Just like in a carnival side-show. Cept, of course, this was a major airport. I immediately made it a point to round up the bands for some quick snaps. Now while I had heard of the Osaka sense of humor this really made it pretty black and white. Can you imagine the the conference about this? "Well, what do you think we can do to make the airport more fun" "carnival games? "How about some jokey, cardboard cutouts" "Pefect!"

Once the bags were checked, more snaps ensued. Miriam even made a close-up set of everyones face displaying a different expression. Sort of like a Hard Days Night Far East style.

With an hour to kill before the last goodbyes, we just hung out chatted awhile. I finally got a chance to thank Rockin' Jelly Bean for his trust and help in preparing the photos along with Junichi. RJB had enjoyed NYC so much the last time he was here (10 years ago!) he wanted to return the favor in some way. Both the show and the exhibit were his way of doing this. And, as luck would have it, this was around the time I had contacted him. Life is funny.

With the eight hour ride back to Tokyo still looming on the horizon, I decide to take a walk and get some food amongst the many food stands on the concourse. Walking around I was surprised by the variety of food. Maybe because Osaka is known for that but it made JFK's and LGA's fast food shops just pitiful by comparison. Man, even the store displays were more creatively humorous.

As the band walked into the security area, the Japanese contingent got a huge chuckle watching them remove their shoes! Apparently, this is not a required step for even transferring intercontinental flights. So after many snaps of bare feet were taken, it was time to say goodbye.

It was then I realized, now I was truly alone in the land of no shoe-removal at security. It was an odd feeling but also a very exciting one. For the next seven days I'd be left to my own devices getting around, eating, sightseeing etc...I was sure looking forward to it.

As we piled into the empty bus, we had two extra passengers, a band friend, Fuji, who was to help with the driving and the irrepressible Ms. T who needed to be dropped off close to Tokyo as well. After all was said and done we waved goodbye to RJB, Momo and Angie. And headed off.

They ride itself was fun for the first two hours, but then like any long distance haul, it got to be a little monotonous. Jackie, T and myself all crashed in our respective rows until we reached another one of those amazing rest areas. I got a chance to buy some coffee and watch a live video of it being brewed and dispensed deep within the confines of this massive drink machine. The pork cutlet preparation though was a far less show-y but just as expedient. Good stuff.

An interesting note on the interstates in Japan. Every hundred or so miles you see a small pull off on the left hand side (slow side) while I had originally assumed that it was a rest area or breakdown lane it actually was a bus stop in many areas. It was at one of these bus stops we dropped off Fuji. Seemingly in the middle of nowhere. Ms. T got the same drop off, although, her mom was there waiting to thank us all with very deep bows for dropping her daughter off safely. Good mom.

We cruised into Tokyo around 9PM or so. And after thanking Enocky and Jackie.. I knew I just needed a long, long break....and definitely a wash of clothes.