We leave tomorrow at 11 am.  I’m almost packed, except for the cosmetics and vitamins.  The pj’s, the slippers.   We have way more luggage than we should have, but it’s too late now.  The recital was a wonderful conclusion to my time here.  Perhaps more on that another time.

The final days have been filled with people wanting “one more time” so we are tired.  Husband fell a few days ago and twisted his ankle.  So he is moving slowly. The study is cleared out, the kitchen too, not much left to do in the morning.  Hoping for a good night’s sleep.

It seems it all went by so quickly, now that we’re at the end.

Next post in a few weeks.  Cherish the time you have with the people near you, because it really does go all too quickly.

We had one rehearsal for recital, and we have another tonight.  The teacher had to approve my clothes from my limited wardrobe.  She wanted sparkle and shine.  I don’t have any of that here with me.  I do have one set of pearls which do catch the light.  I think I wore them one other time here, but I’m so glad I brought them. She approved, as well she might.

I fear I might forget the words of the Chinese song.  I’ll just fill in with “la la la” after all, what else could one do? The  teacher wants me to use emotion, sing what the words mean, but alas, I don’t really know.

I’m also asked to give a speech, short, to the assembly, which will be about 100 people.  I’m going to quote my high school choir director, the best ever, “No matter what happens, keep on singing.”  That’s a life motto, and my advice to anyone who wants it.

The ear problem is resolved, the visa problem is not.

ONWARD!

The father of my “children” is kind, patient, responsible, careful, fun, and an all round good guy.  He is my own Dear Husband.  I’m so grateful for him and to him.  When he accompanied me in the “delivery room” the first time, he was the first father to have done so in that hospital.  He attended the birth of each of our children, and our miscarriage.  In those times, his stature in my eyes increased so much so that it could never diminish.

As a father, he was not only responsible in providing house and home for the children, he was also a participating parent.  He changed diapers, he played with the children, he read to them, he told stories, and he guided the children in their growth.  Perhaps at some times, I thought I needed more from him, and perhaps the children would have liked more attention, but in retrospect, I see what a wonderful father he was while they were growing up, and still is now in an adult to adult way.

So, thanks, Dear Husband for who you are, and what you do.

To my son who is a new father, I am certain you are an excellent father because you are sensitive to the needs of others.  You are kind, generous, careful, responsible, and attentive.  Your children are blessed in you.

To my son-in-law, the father of three fine boys, I say I admire you and appreciate you.  I see the children look up to you.  I see the work you do.  I see your commitment to your family. I see you reading to the boys, with special voices and drama.  I hear you sing and play the violin with your son.  You have blessed our whole family.

And to the husband of our dear young friend who is as close as a daughter: Your road has not been easy, and the newest twists in that road make it more difficult than ever.  Not only are you a father, but you are about to be a grandfather! You are a man of courage and kindness, patience and forbearance.  I am grateful to you.

My own father, and my father-in-law, both now deceased, were fine men, courageous, faithful, brave, and honest.  One’s father provides the definition of a MAN.  I’m so grateful to the men in my life: father, brothers, sons, and of course my Dear Husband.  It isn’t easy today, and perhaps never was, for men to be fathers, to know, love, and care for their children, while working to provide the basics for them, and maintaining marriage as well. So to those who do their best in spite of all odds, all brokenness, all mistakes, errors, and poor judgment of one kind and another, keep up the good work.  Your own children need you, their mothers need you, and we all need you.

I have finished my classes; I have turned in my grades.  I received affirmation from the majority of my students, and a few comments such as “sometimes you were boring,” just to keep me humble.

We were so excited about serving in the volunteer summer program.  It does seem that there is one glitch after another.  It also seems that China is not really interested in volunteers, since it is so difficult to get the proper paperwork.  The newest thing is that the required document lists “first entry” as July 1, when we have to fly out of Hong Kong June 28 in order to have the training for the program.  It becomes more clear why Chinese people seldom plan anything in advance.  We have already paid for the hotel in Hong Kong.  We have paid for the ticket to Beijing.  We have paid for the ticket home on August 5.  This adds up to a lot of money to lose.  It’s all so wearing.  I do think that my own country is probably equally frustrating when it comes to “red tape” as my folks used to call it.  We just don’t normally have to deal with it.

The weather is hot, what a surprise for summer time.  In the USA, we’re accustomed to going anywhere we have to go in an air conditioned car.  Here we walk.  So, the weather is more important.  I have a small problem in my left ear.  I may need to go the clinic for help.  For this, I will need an interpreter.  My voice recital rehearsal has been changed, as has my lesson, so the net effect is, I’ve had my last lesson, unless we could meet Saturday. The recital is Monday.  I’m singing a Chinese folk song, which I have not completely memorized yet–that’s this afternoon. And,I’m singing an English song, for which the tune is Lyra Davida, and the words were written by C. Wesley.

Getting ready to go seems overwhelming at this time.  So, although I am known here as “positive, upbeat, and always smiling” I confess I am in a snit.  Let us hope for resolution of all the problems, one way or another.

We leave here on June 22, less than three weeks left!  We still have classes, grading, an English Corner, and some dinners to attend.  We’re paring down our “stuff” and planning for the summer program we will serve.

We have to change our visa from one category to another, and this change requires a trip to Hong Kong.  I’ve often wanted to go there, so I’ve reconciled the extra cost.  Also it will allow us to visit some former students.  That trip will take place at the end of this month.

There’s a lot of detail to take care of in these coming weeks, but we’re plugging away at it.  One exciting thing for me is the upcoming voice student recital, June 18.  I’m supposed to sing two songs, one a traditional American song usually sung in the Spring time, and the other a traditional Chinese song. For the American one, I have sung the tune all my life, but the words are different from the ones I’ve known.  I have to memorize both songs.  Wish me well.

My teacher is excellent.  She has taught me more in these few months than I have learned in a lifetime of choir singing.  When I was very young, I hoped to be a singer, but as time went on, that dream seemed impossible.  Now, however, this late in life, I will sing a solo.  My teacher wants her students to see that it is never too late to learn something new.

We’re quite excited about the summer program.  It is a new phase of this well established program.  We’ll be training teachers who will train other teachers.  So, it will be mostly methodology, not all the “cultural exchange” that happens in the regular program.  Our trainees have already attended the main program, and this will be considered “advanced.”   We’re honored to be part of this special team.

I’ll try for a few more posts in the next weeks, but then, there may a stretch of silence.  After we return home, I’ll start again.  Keep checking in though, you never know what you’ll find.

A few days ago, on the city bus, I saw someone using his cell phone, texting, and talking, checking a written chart, and smoking, all at the same time.  It was the driver.

Today on our walk, we saw a car stalled at the intersection, with a truck and a bus lined up behind it.  We heard the driver pop the clutch.  He couldn’t go forward.  The truck driver started yelling at him.  The light changed again.  I asked Dear Husband, “Do you think you could help him?”  So, husband walked into the street and leaned into the car to motion that the emergency brake was on, that’s one reason he couldn’t go forward. This was easy for us to observe, but difficult for the driver to grasp.  When he released that brake, the car started rolling backward.  Husband held the car steady, then went around to the driver’s side of the car to lean in.  Of course, the driver was nervous by this time, with the truck driver yelling and then the bus pulling around on the right side.  Since we speak no Mandarin, and the driver spoke no English, Husband used hand motions to show how to ease up on the clutch while easing down on the accelerator.  After another light change, the car moved forward smoothly.

Yesterday I went with a colleague to some tailor shops to see about ordering another classic Chinese dress.  I thought we’d be taking a taxi, but instead, the teacher’s husband drove us in his car.  The teacher told me that she has had a driver’s license for six years, but her husband won’t allow her to drive alone.  I told her I had been driving for nearly fifty years, but I wouldn’t want to drive in China.  It’s much better to let someone else drive.