STRUGGLING WITH SERENDIPITY
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roasted scorpions

9/11/2019

6 Comments

 
Picture
The following day, I picked up Beth and Peggy again in a taxi. We met Brittany at Wangfuying, Beijing’s most famous shopping area. We stopped first for Starbucks coffee and tea. In the open-air market, we dared each other to eat roasted scorpions and seahorses.

No one accepted that challenge. ;-)

Next, we made our way to my favorite place in Beijing. Near a magnificent temple, Brittany filmed a video of Beth navigating a ridiculously steep ramp with help. Brittany also practiced her Mandarin with friendly locals at the Temple of Heaven and answered their questions about her friend’s injury and swimming. 

It made me happy that Beth loved the serene park as much as I did. 

Under the shade of gorgeous old trees, I drew Beth into a hug and smiled as she patted my back. A perfect moment. Finally free, guilt no longer clouded my view. With eyes wide open, a breathtakingly beautiful world surrounded me—not in spite of Beth’s injury but because of it. 

Life wasn’t just good, it was better than before the accident. 

Among the lucky ones, we gained a deeper appreciation of the connections that made our lives meaningful. I shared her smile as we left the canopy of ancient trees and moved into the sunshine. 

​“I could have spent all day exploring there,” Beth wrote, “but we left for lunch at a Peking Duck restaurant where I was peer-pressured into eating duck brain. It tastes like chicken, but I almost gagged from the texture.” 

The most honored guests traditionally received the brain of the duck, a delicacy. 

When pickled sea cucumbers followed, marine animals known for their leathery skin, Beth declined. Brittany filmed another video at the restaurant of a quad learning to use chopsticks. With no storm and no taxi problems, the day passed too quickly.

Time for the Paralympics Closing Ceremony . . .
6 Comments
Esther
9/12/2019 01:02:26 pm

Great story... Funny, beautiful and heartwarming.

Reply
Cindy Kolbe link
9/12/2019 08:24:50 pm

Thanks, Esther! Beijing was endlessly interesting. I'm grateful for the opportunity to experience it!

Reply
Jason Rhode link
10/2/2019 07:28:13 pm

We'd've tried the bugs!

Too many times, we fixate on what we've lost, not appreciating what we've gained. We're guilty of it too...then, we realize Joey and I probably wouldn't've met otherwise.

Reply
Cindy Kolbe link
10/8/2019 06:06:46 pm

Crunchy, roasted bugs? No, thank you! ;-) And I agree with you, Jason. Everything we've experienced has brought us to where we are now. We all have reasons to be grateful.

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Amy Henry link
10/6/2019 05:14:36 pm

Starbucks in Beijing, I love it!

As for the disappearing guilt, I'm so glad to hear it, Cindy. A bad moment happened. It was not intended. It wasn't a decision. But, thankfully, both of you survived. And grew.

Reply
Cindy Kolbe link
10/8/2019 06:11:21 pm

I'm glad, too. Life is so much easier without the burden of guilt. And I'm grateful that we did more than just survive, and I learned how to thrive. <3

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