Two Pleasant Experiences Today

Unrelated to my meltdown, but just two more things from today - 


One of my classmates who is of my generation mentioned to me that one of the younger Chinese students had asked him how old he was. Although he wondered why she wanted to know, he didn't ask as he told her his age (72). A different Chinese classmate asked me the same question during a break today. I told her (68), then asked why she wanted to know. From her words through our interpreter as well as her facial and body expressions, she responded that she and other younger students, oh, I'm not quite sure what words to use - venerated perhaps, respected, appreciated the three of us students who are clearly substantially older. They hope to be like us at our age - active, healthy, curious, learning, living full lives still. It was really a lovely gesture to be appreciated that way. So often people are dismissive of older generations. That was a nice change.

This evening as I "went to the well" to get fresh drinking water, I looked up at the sky. It's quiet here at 1:am, nothing to distract me as I walk the lighted path. There's very little light polution, and the sky is sprinkled with handfuls of diamonds. Lightning flashes often in the distance. No clouds above. Imagine living where you can see stars like this every night. It's amazing. That's all. Good night. 


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