…I very well may not have run today up Mount Floyen. This Mt. Floyen—in Bergen, Norway. Within three days, I’d begun considering the trip seriously. Within a week, I had my ticket. Serendipitously, but taking me by surprise, I soon met a gorgeous women’s half marathon champion and we’ve been messaging every day-all day ever…
Tag: hope
It Finally Happened
As CeCe Peniston has so aptly stated: “Finally, it’s happened to me.” But for me it was not about meeting “Mr. Right.” Rather, it was an intruder getting in the house. I held off for as long as I could. This could only last for so long with something as insidious as COVID. At 0503…
COVID Apocalypse in China
Report from the Inside—In China currently, how many people really have COVID? Who the heck knows.Sorry for the lack of stats.But who in the heck knows. What I do know is this… Within the first 10 or so days of the Party dropping its three year old Zero Covid policy here are a few things…
Whiplash!
Within just about a week’s time, China has pivoted from the infamous “Zero COVID” policy to something akin to “We’ll be the greatest in the world at living with the virus.” (credit: Remo) “Embrace the Virus!” —-new bumper sticker (credit: Andrew D.) Folks at school at dropping like flies. As of yesterday afternoon, at least…
China’s Pivot
What’s Shanghai like right now as China finally drops its “Zero COVID” policy? 6 things… Those blue QR code signs are still present by security guards in subway stations. There is also an increasing sense of elation bordering on exuberance for those of us awaiting travel abroad—and a very hopeful return to NO hotel quarantine!…
It’s the fried rice
It’s the Malatong bowl, full of self-chosen veggies and tofu. The fried rice she makes, even while tired at the end of a work day. It’s those little times together watching “Friends” while eating dinner, or lunch on a cloudy Saturday afternoon. The long train rides to the karaoke place. The dinner dates at nearby…
Lockdown, Day III
Yes. It’s happened again Sunday night-Monday morning, October 02-03, 2022, Yunnan province, China—215 miles to the Laos border: Like so many experiences in China, it began as another exciting, culturally shocking, yet subdued night, before morphing as we slept into a wholly unexpected, startling phenomenon. Thrilled as I was to see the Cambodian (or Dai)…
Tragedy in Guizhou Province, China
A time like this reminds me yet again how blessed we truly are. August 1st—we were on this exact route in a very similar (if not the exact) bus. Now, a catastrophic accident has occurred on this mountain highway, in Guizhou province. Translated from the Chinese… At 2: 40 on September 18, a passenger car…
Bike Rides & Blessings
Sunday, September 11th: Jinshan-Fengxian-Pudong (3 districts of Shanghai) Another 61 mile ride in the books. So, within 32 hours, we cycled about 123 miles. But whereas Day 1 took about 5 hours 45 minutes including breaks, Day 2 took a total of 7 hours 25 minutes😩 Stiff headwind, some posterior fatigue and heavy packs full…
Charlie & Hercules
Those who have passed on are not lost, but waiting for our arrival. In fact (or very real possibility), they may never have left us at all. Just a few days back, I dreamed of Hercules, my parent’s sprightly little chihuahua-poodle mix who passed on (perhaps) around seven years ago. His beige hair was shaggy…
So it was written
In my novel, written last year, it was the Voyage to the Crystal Grotto which helped fortify me in pandemic separation from Serena. This very afternoon, Serena & I took the Voyage together. And so Shanghai Disneyland yet again fortified our relationship. In what must be at least our 16th trip together, we meandered, walked…
Where Will You Go?
As you work your job, making the money to support your lifestyle, where will you go? What is your true passion? What is your creative or life goal(s)? Perhaps it’s one and the same with your job. For that, you are blessed. Perhaps it’s a hybrid, as mine partially is—earning income from teaching reading-writing, but…
Don't Let My Parents Read This 