Once you finally know them, most people are . . . nice. A rosy sentiment paraphrased from Atticus Finch in the fiction classic "To Kill a Mockingbird." Words I now twist to match my own barbed view of life in Japan.
"Once you finally know them, most people are . . . weird. "In fact, this entire country is popping with oddballs."
My wife pauses at this comment and wrenches her face. "Oh really? And shall we discuss whose mother leaves her TV on when she departs for work -- just in case her dog wants to watch."