On this year's her B.D, 2 unexpected big occurrences happened.
One is.....Just at the morning, my grandfather died of old age.
Two is....My favorite soccer player, NAKATA announced his retirement.
Dear grandpapa, thanks a lot!!!
I pray for the souls of his dead. Please rest&relax forever.
And NAKATA's retirement...
It's very sad that I can't see his activity
in the soccer game from now on.
I was greatly touched by his retirement message.
"To live is to journey, and to journey is to live."
I thought his way of life of comparing life to journey
is just like NAKATA.
He wanted to treasure "his true passion for soccer",
therefore he often pretended not to have his emossion
and he acted like expressionless.
When I read this part, I really felt his strong affection and passion
for soccer from whom.
But the moment he has finished his last game,
even he couldn't control his emotion.
He was crying.....
While he lied at full length, many kinds of memories
or feelings for soccer life would pass before his eyes,
in the field which he has been running his best for 20 years.
Though I fell shocking to his retirement,
I respect NAKATA of great determination.
Because it may be easier to go on playing soccer
than he decide his retirement at this point in time.
I think he never look back to the past journey,
even if he makes the past experience food for the mind.
He already starts for a new journey of life.
A man can accomplish one purpose thoroughly
will be able to acheive anything.
NAKATA opens up a new vista of the future.
Of course "soccer" is close to his heart forever....
For the time being,
he seems to set out 2 around the world trip.
"Journey" is epilogue of one life & prologue of another life for him.
I have known him since I am a high school student.
Thank you NAKATA for many exciting game and good play!!
Finally, my favorite passage is as follows.
[While I won't be returning to the pitch as a player,
I will not give up football.
I have no doubt that along the way I will be kicking a ball around
with someone on a patch of grass or on a small football field,
not as a profession but as a form of communication,
with the same passion I had back
in my early childhood.]
