Chuck Lin

Life in a fish bowl

Mega Touch Tour 2010

Today I thank:

Laura, Reed

SMILE

4630 photos in my photo library and I cannot find the picture that best represent my good friend Laura. She came up to visit with her boyfriend Read last year and unfortunately I lost the memory card from the camera before I could import the photos.

Laura is a beautiful girl with a tremendous smile. Whenever I think of her, I see the smile in my mind’s eye. Laura is a fellow adventure traveler. She just got back from a trip to Costa Rica. I love hearing her travel stories. She reminds me that I need to travel more.

I met Laura a couple of years ago while staying at the JR Ranch in New Mexico. Laura introduced me to her wonderful friends in Arroyo Seco and took me on  a tour to see her art studio. She also has a wood kiln and one day I will go back and make some pottery with her.

I was trying my best to help a friend Mike with taking care of some horses but my inexperience with physical labor resulted in pulling my back on the second day. It was winter and the snow and ice combined with my injured back made walking very difficult. Laura came to the rescue and took me to a woman who could fix my back.

There was a huge snowstorm the previous day and the roads were deep with snow. But undaunted, Laura put me in her car and drove me to her friend’s house.

I was upstairs on a massage table with Laura’s friend who worked to relieve my swollen back, all the while looking out the window. I watched for an hour of the scene that took place at Laura’s car. After we pulled into the driveway, Laura’s car was stuck in the snow.

I watched Laura try to dig the car out through what seemed to be insurmountable odds. I was sure that we’d would be stuck there until spring thaw. I felt terrible, not about my back, but for what that situation must be doing to her back. But Laura is tougher than I am. With some ingenuity, a chain and another car, she was able to get the car unstuck.

I emerged from the house, my back felt 1000 times better and Laura came to help me into the car. As we pulled away, Laura said in the most understated manner, “We had a little car trouble”.

I know. I saw.

Today I thank: Laura, Danielle, Karsten, Sam, Corey and Yvie.

Sevilla

Some time ago I traveled to Spain with Bomee and Laura. We called ourselves The Wandering Fools and made some business cards using a printing kiosk. There wasn’t much of a plan, only to see Spain, to taste the food and to listen to the music.

Our first stop was Sevilla. We rented a small apartment from an agency in a location I would never be able to find on a map today. Each morning I woke up early to explore the city while Bomee and Laura slept in. I didn’t venture too far and each time I would pick one direction and retrace my steps. I would return after a couple of hours just in time to share the bounty I picked up during my morning trek.

Toward the end of our week in Sevilla, I decided to take an extended walk. I didn’t have a map, didn’t speak the language but this time I was determined to venture past my comfort zone. I tried to remember the path, 2 blocks, then right, then 3 block, then a left, then 10 blocks, then, then, I was lost.

Instead of feeling panicked, I felt free. I walked around heading towards whatever looked promising, whatever sounded wonderful and anything that smelled good. I wandered aimlessly and for many hours until all of the sudden, I found myself back in front of the apartment.

Today I finally went to take a walk out of my comfort zone. I got lost. But it felt good. Then I found my way home.

Today I thank: Wonder Woman, Bomee, Laura, Anthony, Jason

Got my ball and fish. I drew the Blue Devil once before in a pictogram challenge.