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びっくり誕生日　大人向き（英語版）

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"My Birthday Surprise"
was created especially for

Takuya Kimura

with love from
Mariko and Keita
May 21, 2006

          Yes, it was birthday time
     again, May 21th. Takuya Kimura of
     Yamanashi, had reached yet another
     major plateau in his life - age 38.

          Takuya was a high flier, a born
     leader, and a man of many
     accomplishments. There was no
     doubt about it - Takuya was a legend
     in his own mind.

          Shingo, Goro and Masahiro had
     planned a big birthday bash for
     Takuya this year. Hand-written
     invitations had been sent to all
     his friends.

          Fortunately for Shingo, Goro
     and Masahiro, the job had been very
     easy. Only a few invitations had
     to be written.

      Shingo, Goro and Masahiro had apent
    a lot of time developing a theme
    for this special birthday party.
    It wa

                     Takuya Kimura
              The ten keys to success
                          in your life

        Obviously, the theme was a
    very popular one. The party room
    was packed.

Shingo, Goro and Masahiro started
his success story by explaining that
the path Takuya had followed through
life had been met with a series of
closed doors. Over the years,
judging from the shape of his beak,
many of these doors had been slammed
in his face.

Despite these setbacks, Takuya
had still managed to become a
success in Yamanashi. It was evident
that these ten keys had worked a
miracle for Takuya.

        Takuya and the rest of the party
   group were quiet when Shingo, Goro
   and Masahiro announced the first key
   to his success.

           "Always be full of hot air."

        Takuya had devoted much of his
   life to achieving this goal. Those
   who knew him agreed that he was
   definitely full of it.

        The second key of success was

                     "Stay young."

      Takuya maintained his youthful
   appearance by following a strict
   exercise program. His favorite
   activity seemed to be jogging to the
   refrigerator.

      Unfortunately, staying young
   was difficult after 38 birthday
   celebrations. In fact, lighting the
   candles on his birthday cake was
   considered a fire hazard for Takuya
   and evryone else present at the
   party.

   Believing that

"No mountain is too hard to climb"

   was another component of the success
   formula for Takuya.

       Anyone who had ever seen Takuya
   demolish a mountain of ice cream
   topped with whipped cream and a
   cherry realized the truth of this
   statement. He could whittle it down
   in seconds.

        The fourth key was a critical
    factor in making Takuya the success
    he is.

      "Surround yourself with
           intelligent, responsible
                       people."

   Takuya always kept snapshots of
   his trusted friends in his wallet.
   Come to think of it, that was about
   all you could ever find in his
   wallet!

       The excitement of the party
   had almost been too much for
   everyone. They decided to briefly
   interrupt this spell-binding
   "Success Story" and have Takuya open
   his many gifts.

       Nobody had trouble buying Takuya
   a present. After all, what can't
   you buy for a man who needs
   everything?

        After watching Takuya open his
    gifts, the anxious crowd was eager
    to hear the fifth key to his
    success. It was

       Don't be a horse's...behind.

        Unfortunately, Takuya couldn't
    help himself. It was just his
    nature.

       The saga of Takuya continued. The
   next key to his success was

    "Enjoy the sweet things in life."

      There are many sweet things in
   life: the presence of a wonderful
   companion, adventure-filled vacations
   and lots of money.

      Whenever Takuya wanted to enjoy
   sweet things, he went to his pantry.
   This was the only source of sweet
   things for Takuya.

        The seventh key was vitally
    important for social climbers like
    Takuya:

       "Don't forget from whence
                       you came."

        On his long climb up the ladder
    of success, Takuya never once forgot
    his roots. He was so very proud of
    all his ancestors.

   To really be successful, you must

    "Only play games you can win."

       Talented individuals like Takuya
   pride themselves on their athletic
   and business prowess.Very few
   adults had ever beaten Takuya at any
   of his favorite games. Everybody
   knew he would have a temper tantrum
   if they did.

           "Blow your own horn"
    was certainly another vital part of
    his success formula.

        Everyone agreed that if Takuya
    didn't blow his own horn, nobody
    would do it for him. In fact, he
    kept stacks of horns and whistles
    handy for all the important moments
    in his life. Takuya would do almost
    anything to call attention to
    himself!

    Takuya always maintained that, to be
    successful, you must

     "Picture yourself as you want
                           to be."

        Takuya thought that once he was
    successful, his portrait would be
    hung in the homes of all of his
    friends.

    Dear Takuya:

        Now you know the ten keys to
    the success in your life. We had
    originally planned to have you say a
    few words, but we remembered that
    brevity is not one of your ten keys.

        Congratulations on yet another
    "successful" year. Happy Birthday!

        Mariko and Keita
        May 21, 2006