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Published: January 10th 2008
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Last blog from Hong Kong...bittersweet. A friend tells me that he believes life is a circle--that all things from beginning to middle to end circulate and return to their origins. I have always thought of life as a river, flowing and moving us forward to its own destination. Maybe my time in Hong Kong is both--a 'circular river' of sorts--with its beginning, middle and end it has flowed to return me essentially to where I began although the 'landscape of me' has changed.
It is poignant and I suppose appropriate that I began this blog of Hong Kong gazing at the city from its highest point at Victoria Peak and where the blog of Hong Kong will also end--the first was a daytime visit and the final is the night view of Hong Kong. Saying Good Night and Good Bye to the close of my time here--to a city that has given me so much. The beginning and the end together. Victoria Peak is said to be one of the nine mythical dragons of Hong Kong and dragons, like my Chinese zodiac The Snake, are both karmic and marked by dramatic highs and lows throughout life. and so it is.
The middle has been full, as one of those Texas angels, Sharon says "of the good and the not so good". My father's death clearly qualifying as the latter. But Hong Kong in many ways saved me from the inevitable reverberating shock. I recall the agonizing debate one year ago as to whether I should return to Hong Kong and it was my decision alone, the toughest ones to make always are--ours alone. Val had offered me a weekend getaway in the mountains of northern New Mexico at the Ojo Caliente hot springs, a sacred place for Native Americans. Also visiting Ojo, to our ironic surprise--a group of Tibetan monks who had been invited to bless the springs. I greeted a monk and told him that I had enjoyed my time in Asia and wasn't sure if I was returning, he turned and seemed to look into my soul with the words "You must go back." I had my answer at that moment. So, if anything, this trip has been a 'silent tribute' to my Dad. Until I met that Tibetan monk at a spa in the mountains of New Mexico, I was not returning. But I knew then that
my Dad would have wanted me to return and finish what I started and I think I did it only for him--starting over like he did so many times in life--teaching me to finish what I start and to never give up--that's his legacy.
I think that monk might have anticipated the Hong Kong friendships, made since returning, were the ones that would sustain me here. I am grateful from here to eternity for Zoe's care and extended friendship to me--I could not have navigated the 'rapids' of Hong Kong without her patient and gentle guidance. She, Jacque and MaMa Yue adopted me literally and have claimed me as a sister which is a special and sparkling tribute to the abundant and abiding love of Hong Kong families. Jacque planned such a dynamic tour of Beijing that is unrivaled and took great care of Val and me during our visit. Hideko, for cooking delicious Japanese food and for her faithfulness to friendship, in spite of loopy me. Takayuki and Azumi from language class along with Anthony and Matt, have given me laughter, friendship and exceptional alcoholic cocktails! In so many ways they have helped ebb the feelings of loss of my Dad, Mark, Scott and Ed. Poignantly, I met them for the first time on July 3, the date that I would have seen my Dad again--the date I was originally scheduled to go home. I have a photo from my birthday party, their four smiling faces reflected in a mirror hanging on the wall in the picture--reminding me that maybe life is a circle.
For the enduring American friendships--Val, Kirt, Missy, Beth, Noel, Paula, Lathan, AC, Sharon, Steve, Elaine, TOPS friends and other kind friends--your care packages, emails, letters and cards, instant messages and phone calls rescued homesick me many times. I am grateful to 'pick up right where we left off' and eager to see you 'state-side' again in the coming weeks and months of 2008...and maybe we will return together for a tour of Hong Kong someday!
Living here has taught me many things but If Hong Kong has taught me one thing, it has been learned while gazing on and contemplating Kannon, the goddess of mercy, at Chi Lin Temple. It is that when we seek guidance and direction for what we wish, we must seek things to be as they should be rather than as we want them to be. If things are as they should be whether they are as we want or not, then the 'circular river' is whole and complete.
Peace to You.
M
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AC
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the circle
Melissa, what an ELOQUENT tribute to life you have written! Life IS a circle and you have described it so well. AC