By all accounts, personal and general, one could say that
this has been a bad year. For some reason, I saw fit to snap my leg while on a
hike, which resulted in emergency surgery 5 days before boarding a plane back
to China, in February. It took me nearly all year to heal. Meanwhile, the
trickle that had been Syrian refugees early in the year turned into a flood
because of escalating violence in their homeland. ISIS further claimed
responsibility for an attack in Paris and again in San Bernadino, California.
The ChinaDaily blog server – where I contribute in addition
to our own blog - was hacked; all articles, comments and commendations were
lost. Working with that site became an exercise in frustration: comments
wouldn't post, pages couldn't be accessed... fortunately, ChinaDaily techs were
hard at work, retrieving articles thought lost forever. I didn't give up hope
on that community but...
Right around that time the fall semester started and, because
my colleague had been arrested and deported (see The Man With A Plan entry,
posted September of this year), I soon
became overwhelmed, teaching several classes per day – a far departure from the
previous semester, when I only had 3 classes per week. Because I was so busy,
and focused on nothing but teaching, I didn't
write anything for several months.
Fortunately, by the time that classroom madness started my
leg had healed sufficiently to manage the rigors of standing for hours a day
and climbing stairs to get to my rooms. However, only last week did I get a
clean bill of health: the doctor declared it completely healed. You can't
imagine the amount of pain killers I swallowed just to keep up with myself these
past months!
Taking a broader view of thing: tempers and fear flared
around the world because of terrorism: 374 attacks worldwide this year alone
(source: Wikipedia)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_terrorist_incidents,_July–December_2015
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_terrorist_incidents,_July–December_2015
We only heard about the big ones: Bankok, Paris, California
but, it seems from the statistics that every day, somewhere, people were
running for their lives. Rest in Peace to those who didn't get away, who were
caught up in someone else's madness and suffered for it.
Let's not forget those who perished in plane crashes, because
of bad weather, at the hands of others in non-terrorist acts and those who, by
their own hand ended their suffering. They should rest in peace, too.
Yes, by any reckoning, one could say that this has indeed
been a rough year, all around. What made it golden for me was the kindness
shown, both personally and worldwide during this difficult year.
European countries are risking their economies sheltering
refugees. All over the world, people grieved for those slain during the various
terrorist attacks – at least, those reported in the news. We shared a frisson
of fear at their possible escalation. In these terrible times, we united in
care and sympathy for everyone who needed succor, whether we, personally could
do anything to help or not.
As for me, kindness and care enveloped me like a gentle
blanket throughout the year. Starting with family, who cared for me during and
immediately after my hospital stay. And then, the flight crew who ministered to
me when I threw up on the plane – one of them, apparently moved by my pitiful
condition, offered a 'fu' 符 for good luck after helping me clean up. I
guess he thought I needed it? And, all of those devoted people pushing my
wheelchair-bound self through the airport in Beijing and Wuhan, even offering
bathroom stops along the way. After having been left stranded in LAX, where no
one would so much as bring me any food, let alone permit me to stay in a
wheelchair (the aide stated she had to take her chair with her, leaving me on a
bench in front of the deserted Air China counter with my luggage, a broken leg
and a pair of crutches), the charity and support offered in China caused me to
spill tears of relief at feeling no longer alone and helpless.
And Sam, who met me
at the airport! Not only did he arrange a replacement ticket for the plane I
missed in Los Angeles (because of uncoordinated efforts of the handicapped assistance
team, along with the less-than-urgent disposition of those pushing my
wheelchair), but he accompanied me home and stayed 2 hours, seeing to my
comfort, preparing something to eat (I'd not eaten the whole flight because of
my upset stomach), arranging my sleeper sofa so that I'd have an easier time
settling in. And all of this when he should have been with his family,
celebrating Spring Festival! Sam deserves a medal for the valor he displayed.
What he and his family have done for me this year goes far beyond kindness. I
can never thank them enough.
The list goes
on...
The dean rearranging all of my classroom assignments to the
first floor of the teaching building nearest my house in the aftermath of my
leg-break so I wouldn't have to hobble so far or attempt the stairs. Teachers
with cars, chauffering me to and from class. Students helping carry my things
whilst I crutched to and from class.
Friends who drove me to the store, and then carried my
groceries into my house, and put them away for me. Friends who saw to it that I
had a measure of entertainment, inviting me on outings, even though I would
slow down the fun with my crippled gait. Friends who made the trip to my remote
outpost in Wuhan for a visit. Friends on the ChinaDaily blog site who, worried
at my long absence, sent concerned messages.
And, from total strangers:
The bus driver who, noticing my pronounced limp while walking
to the bus, took special pains to see that I was settled before leaving the bus
stop. The policeman who, seeing that I couldn't make it across the street
before the light turned red, stopped traffic to ensure my safe passage. My
neighbors who, knowing I was incapacitated, took it upon themselves to bring me
fresh veggies, and never accepted payment (but I did manage to sneak in a gift
or 2).
If I should expound on year 2015 in the future, it will be
kindness that I will remember best. The old man on the bus who insisted I take
his seat, even though he was bowed with age. Those who ran to help in the
aftermath of the Bankok and Paris attacks. Those who took in refugees at the
risk of collapsing their own economies.
As though to underscore the kindness theme of this year: the
dear soul who, seeing my bike chained to the bus stop one day when the weather
turned foul, worried that my seat might get wet, and so placed a
plastic-wrapped mouse pad on it, to keep it dry. S/He even went so far as to
tuck it between the seat and the pole it was chained to, so that the cover
would not blow off in the sudden storm. That person had no idea who that bike
belonged to so I can't say that his/her actions were kindness directed
specifically at me. I can only infer that that person just brimmed with a
desire to do good, and so committed a small, thoughtful act that touched my heart.
Oh, if everyone could be that good!!!
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