Endings and parting

This past week Monday night I went to the beach armed with the last hundred pages of the seventh book of Harry Potter. Evenings at the beach in Florida are great, the hot humid Florida weather keeps you toasty while ocean breezes cool you off, some gusts what I would even call chilly (you midwesterners keep quiet now!). As I finished up the last pages of the book, my mind raced with excitement at the completion, yet it also dreaded those last few words whence the land of muggles and wizards would close.

I guess that is what I would consider my last days in Europe in London. The English countryside, Stonehenge, flashes of those many places I visited are sweet in my memory, but the bitterness of having to leave stays in my mouth. Although my last post was a little on the down and lonely side, it wasn't an aspect of my trip I didn't expect, not to say it was great fun. Those days of self wandering and discovery are also part of the sugar coated memories. I think sugar-coating memories is great, it helps alleviate the post-bitterness remains of time well-spent, people well met, places well visited, and friends and family well worth it all.

Just as time always seems fastest once it's over, so too now, do I lie expectant every night for the next day that brings me closer to Beijing. There are always different lonelinesses lying in wait, whether space decides to come between a family member, a friend, a place, or even a memory.

I tried with all my brain juices to pump out some poetry during my trip in my journal, but my Chinese is not up to standard still. However, since I did talk of having written, I guess I should show some proof. The following two attempts at something like poetry are here for your pleasure, and if they can make you laugh, at least I can say that I helped you crack a smile. They were both written on my way from Bordeaux to Paris, but I couldn't type Chinese til now.

車上田飛過 湖中游孤鵝 麗景連環處 欲再幾時可

踏進野林採鮮莓 見其夏景惜其雪
隨心渡河跨幾關 看破山崖登高闕
月過尖塔日纔輝 人忙備店車尚缺
佳肴美酒經數地 獨酌孤行望明月

I'll continue to post up here wherever I head, so come by anytime. Give me your blogs as well so I can keep track of all your pursuits as well. Hope all is well. And just as I had to depart the company of Harry, Hermione, and Ron, they'll always be on my shelf waiting for me to visit, so also the many times I've had to say good-bye in more than one way do I hope that one day you'll come visit too.