How do you begin a story about a day that will never go away? Do you start with the boy who did everything right on May 20, 2013 - stayed away from windows, used his arms to protect his head and neck and remained calm - and still he died? Has enough time passed to... Continue Reading →
About face
What draws us into some faces more than others? Is it the smile or the frown or the wrinkles or the eyes that magnetize our attention and forge a memory with a longer shelf life. I realize now that I have long been a collector of faces. The beauty of a distant land or my... Continue Reading →
China’s pig fetish turns sour
When China's dead pig problem bubbled to the surface in Shanghai's rivers last week, I wasn't surprised. Every meal I ate in China last October and November featured some part of a pig. On the one night when a flavorful white meat swam in a soupy broth, I thought we'd hit chicken pay dirt until the... Continue Reading →
He enjoyed the songs of early morning when the hua mei showed off for the sun. He loved the songs of late afternoon when the winds tickled the branches and rocked the song thrush's cage as it hung over his garden of tender greens in the Chinese village of Shui Dian. When the tawny bird... Continue Reading →