-- Ben Franklin
Ben really is my hero. Anyway, I wish everyone who reads this blog a long, healthy and happy life. Long may be the least important, unless you're healthy and happy.
Well, I'm 63 years old and I'm still not very wise. And 63 is an age when things start breaking down. A year and a half ago, I had my gall bladder removed and I had a few undesirable side effects. I've also had four serious motorbike accidents, three that banged up my kidneys pretty good. Without being too graphic, I can say that going No. 1 became something of an issue after the accidents and surgery, unless I drank excessive amounts of beer. That treatment has its merits, but I just didn't think drinking excessive amounts of beer was the optimal solution (no pun intended) to my problem. People suggested cranberry juice or pomegranate juice, but neither worked. I was pissed (pun intended). But I had an incredibly fortuitous meeting with a Chinese lady at the Chinese grocery store she owned in San Luis Obispo last July while I was taking care of my dying brother. I was buying a cool robe at her store (the robe was made in Vietnam, by the way) when we struck up a conversation. Somehow, and honest to God I don't remember how, my health problem was discussed. The woman said her mother could help me -- her mom, who was sitting in the store, was a Chinese herbalist and immediately diagnosed my problem as a kidney issue. She told me to do the following: Fry organic black beans in a pan until they begin popping (like popcorn). No oil, no nothing. Just the beans. Then soak the beans in organic vinegar for five days -- they can go in the fridge for the final two days. Then, eat 3 to 5 beans daily. She suggested I eat them indefinitely, meaning forever. I followed her instructions to a T, and sure enough, no more issues with No. 1 whatsoever. Hell, I don't even get up in the middle of the night to pee anymore. And no, I don't wet the bed. There's only one Asian market in San Luis Obispo, so if you have health issues, it's worth a visit. I'm not sure they want visitors like this, but the whole family -- lady, husband, mom and dad -- were kind and friendly. I can't thank them enough.
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Joanna and I were walking to the park last week when a Vietnamese lady made a remark that really bothered me. Joanna was on my shoulders -- she's gotten lazy in her old age -- and we walked past a woman who was with her husband and two kids. I smiled and bowed my head; she just stared back expressionless. When we got past her, the woman said in Vietnamese to her two children, "American, American." (After five-plus years, I understand a little Vietnamese.) Joanna looks American, but she's half Vietnamese. Besides, what's the point? No kidding, Einstein, I'm not Vietnamese. So I stopped, turned, and said: "Look, Joanna, Viet, Viet." The woman acted offended, like I really care.
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It rains daily at about 4 p.m. The rain is preceded and followed by stifling heat. We're still squeezing in two or three tennis matches a week. We're so evenly matched that the No. 1 ranking in the household is back up for grabs. The walk with Joanna is great fun, and because of it, we're thinking of putting Joanna in a "school" for half a day a few times a week. She saw some kids at a school/daycare/playgroup, and she really wanted to join in and play with the toys and such. Phuong will go to the international school this week to discuss price and schedule. A lot of people in town know Joanna now because of the daily walk. American, American
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My private student Sam is a pesky Scrabble player. She gives me all I can handle when we play, and the only reason I beat her this week is because I was able to play a 10-point Z.
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I finished the book about the Vietnam War by Colonel William C. Haponski: One Hell of a Ride Inside an Armored Calvary Task Force in Vietnam. Powerful, emotional, and honest. I highly recommend this book because it's so honest. An excellent read.
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