Part Two covers the years when I took airline employees and their families to China as a member of the US-China People’s Friendship Association. Although one would expect Part Two to highlight those tours, I found that the story of my infatuation with our guide on the first friendship tour wanted to be told. While writing and reliving this part of my life, I finally, so many years later, came to understand the dynamics that had unfolded at that time.
The mist hung, partially obscuring the mountains behind the tour members as they rested and posed for this photo on the bridge on Huangshan (Yellow Mountains) (p. 94)Monkey Gazing on Huangshan: After breakfast, we packed for the day’s journey, climbing some of the 72 peaks, viewing the expansive scenery, and trying to capture what we could not as we aimed our cameras at one spectacular vista after another. I was born in the Year of the Monkey so this photo has special meaning for me. (p. 96)The artist pondered for a few minutes, then proceeded to write a poem using my name to begin each line, which read in traditional Chinese style from right to left, the characters going from the top to bottom. However, when he finished, he ran his hand over the bottom character of each line to show that this also meant something. I didn’t have the faintest idea what the poem was about. (p. 97)
My life's passion: China, Her People, and Her Philosophies 