The connections with someone on a trip that extended to this day, translated…
In the summer, many years ago, I’d won a raffle, to Thailand, free of charge, and got acquainted with Liu who was in the same tour group, our names are only different in just one character, we looked alike too, and, anybody would suppose, we’re, sisters.
The evening we spent in Bangkok, the four of us became companions, hired a cab, rode to downtown Bangkok, but we were, driven to a darkened alley, where the cab driver demanded to get paid extra. Seeing how fierce the man looked, we’d, worried that he might attack us, naturally, we’d, chosen to give up the money, it’s just, that Liu refused, she’d told us, she does NOT believe, that the four of us, three older ladies and a man in his primes, can’t win the fight against the driver. She’d, insisted on not paying, and started on that shouting match with the driver, one used Thai, the other, cussed in Taiwanese, neither backed down. The rest of us, were shivering in fear by the side, watching them duking it out, and, the only man in the group, actually, ran first, and the rest of us, fearing for our lives, followed his lead, as Liu saw that the rest of us escaped, she’d realized, that she wasn’t, going to win this, and so, she’d, followed us away too.
We’d shared such an encounter in Thailand that time, and accidentally, became, the closest of friends, as we returned back to Taiwan, I’d stayed in touch with Liu and, we’d gone on trips together too. Recently, she’d told me, that she’d, lost her husband, and was distraught, hadn’t slept well in nights on end. I’d told her, “Those who’d left, are gone for good, you must keep going.” There are, so many partings in this life, it’d, nearly, destroyed us, her pains, I’d, weathered through from before too, and even though my scars scabbed up for two years to date, it’d still, hurt even now. Recalling how as I met her in Thailand, that sturdiness that shone from her eyes, it’d, stayed with me to this day, I’m sure, that the iron lady at the age of seventy-one, will pass through this heart-wrenching painful period of her loss without any troubles at all.
And so, that, is how you two offered support to each other, you met on a tour, and, you were impressed by how tough this woman was, in defending all of your rights, and, because of how strong she acted from back when you went on the tours, you believe, that she can, weather through the loss of her husband now without much trouble, but, she would need a ton of social support from friends like you, that’s for certain.
Life, the Obstacle Course 