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Where in the World is D Today?
Somewhere on Yanping Road.
I haven't slept well the last two nights. Too many things on my mind. On my daily walk the list began to scroll through my head of all the things I missed. It began as I adjusted the mask on face to protect my lungs from the exhaust fumes of traffic. Some of the things were specific to Columbia, some were just things I noticed I hadn't done or had in a while. Here's the list of things I missed in the 10 minute walk from my apartment to Chung Li Elementary.
I Miss...
Clean Air
The quite of my neighborhood in Columbia
Planting flowers in front of my house
Mowing my lawn
Chocolate shakes from Sonic's Drive-in
The Twilight Festival or walking around downtown Columbia in general
Washing and Waxing my car
Taking a drive on a sunny day with the top down on a curvy road. (My car is a convertible. I have not seen many in Taiwan.)
Independence - I am fiercely independent while simultaneously knowing we NEED
other people in our lives. I am tremendously Thankful for the helpers in my life like Yi-Wen, Claire, and Ray. I am blessed by all my helpers, but I often feel like a child. I must have someone speak for me at the doctors office and renting an apartment. Some things are very personal and as a grown man would rather not have a third person involved. These conversation often makes me feel invisible, because while I am the point of the conversation, no one ever actually talks to ME. But it is a necessary evil and is an important lesson in humility for me. I have no choice. It will be a very long time before my Chinese is good enough to go the the doctor alone. Given the choice of going and increasing the possibility of getting something wrong or having a helper, no matter the embarrassment, I choose the helper.
HUGS - I really miss hugs. I have not had the full embrace of another human being in almost 6 months. Times when I need a hug and KNOW that I CAN't get one is when I really feel the difference in culture.
PBS - This is Public Broadcasting Station with news and arts and documentaries.
Tennis
Dancing - I miss dancing almost as much as hugs. It is such a wonderful expression and a chance to connect with another person.
I need, I crave, human touch. Not in any bad or unhealthy way. It is my basic belief that there is something in all of us that needs it. We do it instintively with children and babies to comfort them and then it fades as we get older. But where I come from, Black people hug! The full embrace I get at a family gather or at church...there's nothing else like it. I really miss that.
Peace
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2 comments:
It was just a day that I was thinking, I wonder what I could send D in a "care package." I was thinking more along the lines of stuff we have here that you can't get there, but I have no idea what that could be, so, when you get a chance, send me and e-mail and let me know. Now, as far as the stuff on the list - I'll address those things for which a simple remedy is more practical then you might think.
Planting Flowers - well, I could always send you a Chia Pet. Ch-Ch-Ch-CHIA!
Mowing lawn - volunteer at one of the Botanical Gardens, letting them know that all you wanna do is mow grass (or plant flowers and mow grass. Hell, kill two birds with one stone).
Sonic's Chocolate Shakes - I can send you a tin of Nestle's Quick and a bottle of Hershey's syrup. You add the milk, vanilla ice cream and ice.
Wash and Wax Car - I'll send you some Turtle Wax. Scope out a parked car, walk up on it and just start waxin'!
Hugs - well, ya know they have these life-size dolls that have evolved from "blow up" to custom ordered to your specifications. I know, I know, that was kinda crass wasn't it!
PBS - can you stream it through your computer?
Tennis - Taiwanese don't play tennis? Well, grab your racket and tennis balls and use the nearest building wall as your "partner."
Dancing - You need an mp3 player or ability to stream 107.3 (FM) through your computer. When you hear "your jam" just get up off the couch and bust a move! Do all those crazy moves you've always wanted to do in the Club but knew you would lose "cool points" if you did. You will crack yourself up and lighten your mood.
Human Touch - refer to comment under "Hugs." I'm telling you, those custom-made dolls look like they da bomb!
T, Your comments always make me smile.
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