Part Five finds me returning to China in the fall of 2023 when Delta flights resumed to Shanghai after the hiatus of the Covid 19 pandemic. Older, I wondered whether I would have the stamina to deal with all the changes there. Most importantly, would I still have a place in my heart for her? Once again, the hand of synchronicity took charge, and the end of this book became the beginning of the rest of my life.
I adopted Mimi and Emma in 2010. Mimi passed over the rainbow in 2023. Emma is thriving at this time. (p. 277)I held a tin with corn in it up to the ostrich’s beak. Ping, ping, ping, rang out as its tiny head sprang in and out of the cup. Wendy snapped picture after picture of me enthralled with the long-necked, distant-link to the dinosaurs. (p. 279)After I was introduced by my interpreter, Jason, I explained that we would be going on an imagined journey to 50 years in the future. I invited them to close their eyes if they were comfortable doing so and launched into one of my favorite Symposium experiences. Of course, Jason translated, but we were blessed with many people who could understand first-hand what I was saying. The bonfire added depth to this familiar exercise. As the group closed their eyes, I took them 50 years into a positive future. The sound of the fire crackling accompanied a pause long enough for the participants to silently tell those not-yet-born children what they had done to contribute to Earth being sustainable. After giving time for the children to thank them for their contribution, I asked the participants to open their eyes when they were ready. (p. 287)I felt a deep need to get back to China and reconnect with the country where I had spent so much time in the past 40 years. My whirl wind trip in the fall had left me questioning where I stood with my second home. Seeing old friends had been satisfying but China, herself, had been the backdrop. I needed a different kind of China experience, but how? (p. 292)With no high rises to blunt the immensity of the Sunrise Kempinski Hotel, my mouth dropped open and didn’t close until I got out of the van. I saw Alice standing at the entrance with several people, hugged her, and said, “I am gobsmacked!” (p. 301)I am on the stage after the International Symposium on Sustainable Development raising my hands in glee about our three days together in the Sunrise Kempinski Hotel’s massive auditorium. (p. 309)Shunzhi and Xiaoping’s home and gardens of herbs and vegetables in Lijiang, Yunnan Province, served as a haven for several of Goran’s workshops in the following days. (p. 311)In one of Goran’s workshops, about a dozen of us were blindfolded and handed herbs one at a time. We pinched and rubbed the herbs, releasing their fresh aromas. Still blindfolded, we formed a line winding through the garden listening to the person leading us give directions. Afterward, we shared how we felt during the exercises. I expressed how difficult it was at first to give over control to another person because of my age. Once I trusted my guide, I was okay. (p. 312)The ride to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in Yulong Naxi Autonomous County was spectacular, partly because the mountain was eclipsed by moving clouds allowing the peaks to appear and disappear. Several cars and a van followed one another up the winding mountain to a site where we listened to the Taoist practitioner chant as we meditated. I was told that the Taoist wanted to use our intent to clear the highest mountain peak of the clouds. As we followed along with the chanting, part of the peak appeared, but not the top. More chanting. This went on for at least a half an hour with the clouds teasing us but never clearing the uppermost peak. (p. 313)On our way up to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, I saw one site after another with bridal flowers, trellises, and brides and grooms getting married with Snow Mountain as their backdrop. I had exclaimed each time we turned a bend and saw another wedding party. The driver had taken note. Just as we were finishing our snacks, my carmate said that we could leave early so that the driver could find a wedding for me. We arrived at one of the venues, hopped out of the car, asked if we could take pictures, and received a yes. You would think I was a wedding photographer. I went crazy. (p. 314)We traveled into Naxi Territory outside of Lijiang, Yunnan Province. We meditated with ancient 1000 year old trees and were shown stones with Naxi Characters, picture graph symbols that originated as early as 30CE. (p 317)
My life's passion: China, Her People, and Her Philosophies 