February 18, 2008

Monday, 18 February 2008

I was sitting in McDonald's having breakfast watching people. My favorite past time, watching people. I noticed a little lady that had to be fresh from a village. How do I know, well, her dress for one. She had the tell tale red cheeks that had been close to blistering in the cold... but they didnt, no sore scars. Her clothes while clean and neat were not the days fashion. Her hands were rough and calloused. But the thing that stood out, the most...she felt out of place. She was clearly uncomfortable standing waiting for what I think was her daughter. She probably wanted to go down to the noodle shop and have mian.. but the little girl wanted to go to McDonalds and there they were. The village lady wasnt sure what to do with the fork or the pancakes that was set in front of her. I wanted to take her by the hand and go to the noodle shop...but I would have probably scared her, most likely she has seen few foreigners. So I just watched her instead. She wanted to go back to the village, it was written all over her.

I watched an old man getting his fortune told by a street seer. He was bent over and listening to every word the fortune teller was saying. His body was in a permanent lean....He had his hand cupping his chin as though he was deep in thought, trying to put the pieces of info together. He was so deep into his listening the outside world didnt exist. I hope that his days will be filled with all that is good....however, I am not the fortune teller. I noticed lately, that the street fortune tellers are very busy...new year and all that.

I observed four young soldiers marching across the Number One Bridge. Three of them were clearly were into the march, stepping smartly, swinging their arms, very energic... But the fourth one may have drank too much baijiao the night before.... He was barely keeping time and up. And his head wasnt being held quite so high. He was having a rough march.

A few snow piles are still around, but, by and large, they are mostly gone. The effects of such a long stretch of cold weather are still showing. A couple of farmers were selling green onions that the tops were clearly frost burned. People doing the shopping are haggling over the brown tips as if the onions are no good.... Cabbages are frost burned...for awhile when the snow was the deepest, we were happy to get frozen cabbage. Spinach and other leafy vegies are a little rough looking and expensive. I guess, we should just be happy that anything survived to be sold in the markets. From what I read, prices are up because of the storm all over China. From what a couple of my stateside friends tell me prices are up in the US, too.....

I must close this musing. I cannot feel my fingers...from the cold. I hope your fortune teller says good things... till next time.