Five years later ....

Five years, four months, and eighteen days later, I'm back. I didn't expect to return to the blog, and it never even entered my mind to make another post until yesterday, but here I am.

I left off in Paris in 2019. After a few days in Paris and a few weeks in Italy (it was my first trip to Europe), I returned to China to pack and say my goodbyes. I sent Mimi back to the US via Shanghai and Frankfurt in early April. On May 18th, I boarded a flight and said farewell to my beloved home away from home for most of my adult life, China.

Once back in the US, I had foot surgery, then many other medical appointments in an attempt to get my health into better shape. My cancer treatment of 2014-2016 really knocked me for a loop, and I wasn't recovering as I was told I could expect. I ended up in the hospital the day after Christmas with pneumonia. Then I continued my lung rehabilitation for my paralyzed right diaphragm a few months later when Covid hit. It was a good thing I wasn't in China when Covid came along. If you know, you know.

I had another surgery later in 2020, and it was decided that my health wasn't strong enough to return overseas. It wasn't strong enough to do much in the US either.

I spent much of my time helping my parents, who lived next door.

In 2021, my dad was in and out of hospitals ten times. He passed away in November 2021 at the age of 88. We have the blessed assurance that he is in the presence of his savior, Jesus Christ. We sure miss him a lot though. Life is just not as sweet without him in it. You can read his obituary here. I thank God every day for letting me have him for my father. He was the best man I've ever known.

I tried to fill his shoes helping out my mom, doing the bookkeeping and taking her where she needed to go. It has sure been fun spending time with her. I wish my energy level was up to doing it all, but fatigue has made it hard to keep up with everything she and I both need to do. My mom is 87 years old right now.

My sweet dog, Mimi, turned 19 years old in January 2024. She did so well in her old age. On the night of March 17, 2024, we both spent the night on the floor, because she couldn't go anywhere else. She passed away the next morning at 4:45 a.m. and was buried in my backyard the following day. What joy that dog brought to my heart and my life! I can't imagine every having another furry friend like her.

Too much loss ... too much sadness. 

My doctors consider my medical problems too complex and overlapping to try to figure out any great solutions. Their goal is to keep me stable. I have bigger dreams though. I pray that God will renew my strength and let me live my life to the fullest. Just "getting by" is something, but God has much more in mind for a child of His.

I hope this brief synopsis of the past five years fills in a few gaps. Let me know if you read this, because I'm not advertising my return to the blog, and I'm going to assume that I'm the only one that sees this unless you let me know otherwise. I'm happy to have a place to post my photos and keep an online journal once again. 

And, if I ever disappear again, don't necessarily assume the worst. I'm glad you're here!  

Paris, Day Two

Sidewalk Flower Shop

Meat Shop

Lots of graffiti, even in the nice parts of town

Bus stop in Pigallia

Housing; buildings are eight stories tall or less. This creates a uniform feeling throughout the city. It's quite a shock to see this in a big city after living in vertical Asia for all these years.

Sacre Coure in Montmartre

Sacre Coure in Montmartre

Bistro in Montmartre

French woman

At the intersection of Champs Elysees and Franklin D. Roosevelt Avenue; the French honor this American president and also Winston Churchill for their efforts in WWII.

Pedestrians on Champs-Elysees

Lunch on Champs-Elysees: macaroons and lettuce salad

Outdoor restaurant near Arc de Triomphe, across the street from Burger King

Woman at the Brochant metro station near my hotel

The two soups on the menu were vegetable and French onion. I told the guy, "I'm thinking that since I'm in France, I need to try the French onion soup." He said "I think you should too. It's excellent." He was right. It was fabulous!

Stopped for a latte at Starbucks somewhere along the Champs-Elysees at a little inside shopping center.

Coffee early in the day at a Starbucks on Wagram near Arc De Triumph. I tried French coffee at one restaurant near the Eiffel Tower. It was awful and stale. At least at Starbucks you get fresh coffee. 

Near my hotel

An American in Paris, Day One, Part One

I flew from Shanghai to Paris on Air France, a 12:40 flight. We landed early at Charles DeGaulle airport. I had three seats to myself on the left side of the plane near the window, so I was able to stretch out and sleep on the way.

It was pitch black up until 8 a.m. Not a sliver of light was in the sky, even though it appeared rush hour traffic was in full swing.

For a small fee, I was able to get into my hotel room before regular check-in time at 2:00 p.m. I needed the rest. I had no ambitions for sightseeing today after such a long trip, but I surprised myself and decided not to let the day go to waste.

The city looks and feels just as you would expect it to, based on what you see in movies and TV. Flower shops, bicyclists, dog-walking residents, bread everywhere, people pretending they don't speak English to frustrate you -- it was all here.

I felt a little bad that I'm here instead of someone who actually knows a few words of French. I realized soon after arriving that the only French words I know are the ones I learned from Miss Piggy.

Moi?

Or I want to thank someone, and knowing a foreign language needs to come out of my mouth, I thank them in Chinese. I'm only here three days. Hopefully I can survive.

Here are a few sights from the beautiful day in Paris, approximately 50-60 degrees Fahrenheit.

Hotel Street

 Neighborhood streets

 Pretty doors

 Flower shop

 Pretty flowers

 French market (had an adjoining grocery store)

These guys are standing in front of an amazing variety of olives.

 A woman passes by a wall mural.

 Souvenirs near the subway station a block from the Eiffel Tower.

 The Eiffel Tower

 It's surprisingly undeveloped near the tower, with dirt pathways.

February is the time to come ... no long lines at the tower if you want to go up (I have no desire to go up in that thing). 

A view of the Eiffel Tower unobstructed by tree branches

Petit Palais, across the Seine River from the Eiffel Tower. Look at that blue sky!

A typical Paris balcony

Around town in Bamboo Forest

A view to the northeast from a coffee shop on the 58th floor of a tall building.

Coffee shop on the 58th floor 

 Elevator 

 Local Starbucks

Hanging out at a Starbucks 

American food 

A view from east to west on a hazy day

Tea at a local garden

Vertical Hong Kong

Food for thought

Once I met a Chinese man who told me he had fought in the Korean War. He'd lost a few fingers during the war. But he told me not to worry, he didn't hold a grudge against me, an American. He said the Chinese soldiers were envious of the American soldiers at the time, because the Americans had food to eat, and the Chinese soldiers were starving. I'd never thought about how the availability of food could affect the outcome of a war. What was one of the key foods carried and eaten by those American soldiers he envied? Spam. It also was a staple for soldiers in WWII. Some people like to poke fun at and/or criticize the canned meat, but it played an important role in our history and may have more to do with your freedom than you realize. You don't have to eat it or like it, just give it a little respect. Spam entered the market 81 years ago today. 

The dog I love

Chinese New Year Preparations for 2018

Preparations for Chinese New Year 2018, the year of the dog, start several weeks before the holiday. People buy red decorations for their doors and homes, and stock up on food. Here's a market a block or so from where I live that sells inexpensive trinkets and treats. The sale of fireworks inside the city limits was banned a few years ago, otherwise you'd see lots of those for sale too.