I thought with this title of my thread to share a thought I had. Of course it is easy for me to have this stance since I was, like Brian, one of the fortunate ones. My journey was also contrare to the stated wisdom on this site. I agree with most of the advice found in the Rules...take 2 thread. I wrote for almost 6 months before ever meeting Yan in person. Except for half a dozen personel emails exchanging some music files and a few brief paragraph messages, I stayed exclusively on EMF's
I get to most days now see my wife on Webcam and I love this moderen technology. But I have to also admit that part of me misses the old days of sitting down and seriously thinking on how I would craft the "today's letter" to her. It was tough to everday be creative but every now and then I had a creative spark. This letter I wrote about a month after my 1st one to her. Except for one other cupid note, I never wrote to anyone else. I never pushed to have a more direct contact, and she only willingly gave me her phone number the day before I left for my 1st trip to China last December.
I was inspired because writting to her was my medicine. I was going through my divorce and having found out that my ex-wife had not only been cheating on me for maybe the last 3 years, but it was also with my best friend, well I hate to think that if my trip had fallen on misfortune how I would have reacted.
It was only one month later that a co-worker around my age with a wife and child had gone and hanged himself, that I reflected that only a year before I had had the same dark clouds engulfing me.
I have had many brother praise my writing so I choose this EMF to show how I am still sitting on the fence.
I hope your are grabbed by my prehensile Tale.........(please someone get my Pun since I had to explain it twice to my co-workers)
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My Dear Lily,
For almost a year my soul and my spirit had been trapped upon a nameless ship with a damaged rudder. I could not control the direction of my boat. Many storms threatened to sink her and strong emotional winds pushed the craft into unknown waters were hazardous rocks threatened to rip its hull apart. Fatigued and battered, and near desperation, my ship finally came to rest on a distant shore.
My starving spirit needed nourishment if it was to survive, so I bravely ventured forth to see what I could find. Many beautiful creatures came into view. I was spellbound by their exotic features. I was indeed in a different land. Up on a hill overlooking the bay I spied a beautiful violet lily gently dancing in the breeze. I smiled and felt my strength returning. I climbed the hill to get a better view of such a remarkable flower, and as I approached, the violet flower blossomed into a lovely woman. She smiled at me and I felt my cold harden heart soften and warm to her charms. I was indeed in the presence of a wonder.
She spoke to me, but I could not understand her words. Suddenly a lovely moonlit parchment appeared in her hands. Strange symbols were drawn upon its surface. She rolled the parchment, and when she unrolled it, the symbols had changed into words that I could read. I nodded in understanding. A majestic peacock walked by, and she plucked a colourful plume from its tail. Handing me this feathered quill, she pointed at the parchment. I proceeded to write upon its surface a message to this woman. When done, she once again rolled up the paper, and when she unrolled it, my words had changed to those strange characters I saw displayed before. While scanning the characters, she smiled and I knew she understood me.
Through this magical means, we communicated to each other. She understood my needs, and carefully she nursed me back to health. With my spirit restored, she helped me gather the materials needed to repair my ship. With the boat's rudder repaired, I could now proceed on my way knowing that finally I was the captain of my ship. With control of the helm, I could steer safely around any future hazards. Now I could change direction to avoid any approaching storm.
With my boat fully stocked with food and cargo, I set sail to return home from the sea whence I came. I promised to one day to return to repay her for her kindness. With my ship heading into a glorious sunrise, I turned and waved goodbye. I suddenly realized I didn't even know her name. I yelled my question to her departing form. She clapped her hands and a giant boom filled the air. A bolt of lightning struck the prow of the boat. A magical blue flame danced momentarily upon the figurehead. I raced up to the bow to see its result. The figurehead had been altered and now resembled that beautiful maiden. And alongside the elegant bust was carved the word YAN. Now I know the name of the angel that guides and protects my boat and my soul.
I hope you enjoy our story that I transposed to a different time and era. You inspire the bard in me. I hope the translation agency does not have problems with my word selection, since I used a variety of older terms. It would be interesting to see how the above story gets translated to see if any hidden meanings are lost. Maybe one day if my Mandarin is strong enough, I will be able to read the story from your point of view. So I apologies to the agency if I give them undue difficulties. And please accept my thanks and my attempt at hinting at the company's name in my story.
I just found out today that your sister's name Weiwei means little sister, and that Wei means pretty. Also for your knowledge, I included my last name in my story. My dutch name translated into English means ' from the sea'. My zodiac sign is pisces - the fish. I wonder if when I go to Shenzhen, that I should fly into Hong Kong, and then take the ferry to Shenzhen, so that I can come from the sea ; )
My story is my gift for your last letter. You were not bold with your suggestion, you expressed the same thoughts that I have. Yes when I arrive, it would be to make you my bride. Until we meet, we won't know for sure but I am also filled with great confidence that you are the one to complete me.
I wanted to send you a special message since I know tomorrow the agency is closed. Also, until I can write again to you, be happy, because you have made me happy : )
With Love,
Ron
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