The stories we tell...

 

The winter is coming here on this Island only 80 miles from the Chinese mainland.

We have done incredibly well with Covid, no new local cases in months and only 7 deaths in total.  Hard to believe really, although our mask wearing commenced a lot earlier than most countries and continues to this day.

My home country Canada is really struggling with Covid and there is a big resurgence in cases right now. This second wave has been lethal all over the world.

It's very hard to watch as the world struggles with this and the mental health challenges that it has created seem too numerous to put into words. I believe that a new age is upon us and not the new spiritual age that some have predicted...but a new age of fear and isolation. It can definitely be eased with love and understanding and mindfulness. 

It may last all of 2021 which would mean another year without seeing my family and friends in person, an inconvenience that would be minor actually compared to people who have lost loved ones or their businesses or life savings.

Like many of us I hope for the best. Let's hope a new president might ease world tensions as well, especially in this area where it is extremely tense right now, with Chinese jets flying our coasts daily and threatening a take-over.

On a personal front my marriage is going swimmingly well and my new apartment is bright and quiet and overlooks a wonderful oxygen giving tropical forest. My job is secure and I have no conflicts or drama to speak of. 

Reading back on some of my recent posts I seemed to be either very proud, or almost bragging about my photography and my long term sobriety. I don't think this lack of modesty is actually a good state of mind to be in.  I am humbly thankful for it all.

Stay well my friends.

Married at last...

I AM MARRIED!

Let me state the obvious, I have had quite a full life with many exciting and sometimes toxic experiences...but I was always single. When I came across the world here... before covid was even a thought, I didn't do it to find a wife, I did it to find a new adventure because I was bored in Toronto.

Coming here has been the challenge that ultimately worked out. From the time I met my wife, I found her to be honest and pure, I don't think she has lied more than a handful or times in her entire life, its just not part of her DNA. She accompanied me on my first live TV thing I was doing here to sell a product, it was hardly art, but because it was live to many locals,  I was super nervous. I looked over and in the wings watching was this new friend of mine.  From that point on I felt like maybe I needed to explore a relationship with this sweet girl.  She was 40 and I was 55, so I had no idea if this would be something that would be feasible here in the East.

However, it just grew to this beautiful friendship and although her parents were Taiwanese Muslims and very strict with her, somehow we have managed to tie the knot.  It feels great, and I hope I can remain strong and consistent and kind for her as I pass into my later years.

We went on a honeymoon in the south of the country to 5 different cities and it was special and raw.
We are back in the big city and will be looking for a new apartment in the next month.

How does it feel to be married? It feels natural, it feels great. A natural extension of our love. Will and can we have a child? It's definitely possible. I've always felt an enormous sadness that I wasn't able to get my life together 25 years ago and have a family of my own. Age is just a number, let's hope so.

We were not able to travel to Canada to have the wedding and a party with my family as planned because of the virus, but as my aunt said to me "that virus was the only thing that could have kept me away" from sharing the moment with my wonderful family.

What now? Real life with a partner. We are a team and we make a very good one. My interests of photography and meditation feed my life these days and help me with all the stuff that usually challenges me in a foreign country.

To the women who have shared my life at some point in the past I feel a great gratitude. They have helped me grow as a man, and made it possible for me to be softer,  than my usual nature allows.

Somebody said to me today that Taurus guys feel like everybody that comes into their lives are almost resembling employees on a payroll, in other words, we are self absorbed. I think there is some truth to this. I think I'll try to be more empathetic and a good listener, but I will keep my eyes open to this real fault lurking in the wings.

Thanks to my good friends as well that have encouraged me on my 8 year journey of health and sobriety. Look what can happen when you put yourself in the right frame of mind, all sorts of good luck can come your way.

If you know me then you know that I have produced many photos of this Honeymoon trip and of my relationship in general on my social media. I'd like to take a little breather from that and just be in the moment for a while, but thanks for indulging me.

Rick

Broken legs and marrying in a foreign land...

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Where to start? In December I made a left hand turn on my new faster more beautiful scooter. An Uber driver came out of nowhere and I was sailing through the stratosphere onto my head and ultimately onto my knee.  The result was a broken leg and a very long time off work. I will still need two subsequent operations to fix the knee.

Then came the Coronavirus.  There's nothing I can say about that.  Being only 80 miles from China it seemed that we were in big trouble but somehow the Government here were prepared because of the Sars outbreak a few years ago.  We are still wearing masks at work and on the transit systems, but we have been able to keep the numbers very low. 490 cases and 7 deaths.

Because of the situation, my marriage in Canada and wonderful party with my family, and trip up north in Ontario for my honeymoon , had to be cancelled.

Now, in the present moment...I am getting married for the first time in my life to my girlfriend Pauline of 2 and a half years.  Her family don't approve of their daughter marrying a foreigner as they are part of the small Taiwanese Muslim sect here.  That being said, it is happening anyway, we have the rings and I have booked my 2 week vacation in July...only a month and a half away. What's beautiful is that my family is incredibly supportive of my nuptials.

That is the update, not very eloquently communicated , but there it is.

I am incredibly grateful for many things in my life.  I survived what could have been a fatal crash and continue to thrive.  I have an amazing supportive family and some really wonderful friends back home.  Who knew when I left my life in Toronto a couple of years ago in search of something unknown..who knew that I would be at this place. It's actually quite beautiful despite the pain I have endured recently.

I try to keep my mind uncluttered with trivial issues and the blockages that pop up each day.  Everyone is getting older, it's surreal. Nobody wants to see Richard Gere at 70 (although that buddhist devil just had a little baby with his wife) and Isabella Rosselini looking like a great grandmother, but there is no way around it.  Forget about celebrities,  the mirror is speaking to me loud and clear..."better watch out for the skin deep."

Beauty is everywhere though. I am noticing it more and more in nature.  One of my new cameras is a medium format Fuji from the 80s, its quite large in your hand and they nicknamed it the Texas Leica.
That son of a bitch can take a sweet photo, images so pure and yet something is off... and that transcends the reality of the scene. I love it.

Nobody reads this blog but someday I will use it as a personal diary and self publish it with some photos or something.  No doubt it will be filled with stories about overcoming fear and searching for some kind of flow.  We have definitely heard that one before.

Bye for now.