Version Two of a Short Story from Beijing
Well, that didn't work, so let me try it this way:
From Aaron Rosa
I was wandering the vastness of Beijing back in August, drumming up photos, stories, observations, etc for the Beijing Dreams Project, when I got tired and decided to find a cafe....
The reality of the Olympic venues was such that cafes and such peripheral business had pretty much been squashed (rent being too high i imagine) and i was forced to walk a good three LONG Beijing blocks until i finally came across a decent looking Chinese coffee shop. With tired dogs, and a dying computer battery I nestled in for a few hours of work at the laptop.
At some point in the evening, I remember a couple walking into the cafe. They were foreigners, but speaking very quietly, so I couldn't make out what language they were speaking. In my peripheral vision i could see that the man's face was trained on me for a little while, but not wanting to get involved, i shied away from making eye contact.
Well, an hour later, i decided to pack up and head home, write down thoughts from there, and rest comfortably for the evening. As I stood up, I noticed the couple also making arrangements to leave, and I finally broke down and glanced at the guy whose attention had drifted more than once to me and my computer. Low and behold.... James White and his wife.
Indeed, Somehow, Somewho, Something had directed both of us to a random cafe in Beijing at the same time and place. Weird. And the more we discussed how we had come to be there that afternoon the more strange our meeting seemed to be.
He and his wife lived on the opposite side of the city (only 4.5 million people away as the crow flies), whereas I lived only 2.7 million people away, but had never been in that region of the city before...ever. Neither of us had been to that cafe, and we had only the weakest of reasons to be there at all. I was wandering, they were haphazardly waiting to meet up with someone.
Strange Strange Strange.
We met up again later on that week, and had a good discussion about Life, Hawaii, and those two things in combination. Anyway, I was just perusing the Futures site for articles relating to futures, and suggested readings that you teach in your classes, and I looked at the PhD's you have chaired in the past. that's when I saw his name, and thought this story might be worth sharing with you sooner than later... Hope you are well... Aaron Rosa
