A Visiting

“Ay, it’s the cost of everything these days that drives me crazy. Nowadays I’m only rolling my own.” Chris could … More

Down and Out

I’m working on the daily Wordle, my obsession, when my phone vibrates. At first, I try to ignore it, deep … More

Good Save

In my trips to China with my Qi Gong master, I’ve been able to visit places even many Chinese have … More

Figuring

“I will travel more as I’m able to do so,” Lehua said to herself. It was like a mantra some … More

Ride

My thumb, I look at it, pointed on in the direction I’m headed,that famous destination of a’ways down the road … More

Everything Is Connected

I sit listening to the ocean lap as the sun rises from the east,follow its crawl up the sky from … More

Seating Assignment

I’d been praying, walking down the aisle, my carry-on black Adidas bag held out in front of me so as … More

The 38th Parallel

I’m standing next to my Uncle Wonnie.  He’s peering through a viewing slot in the bunker.  The opening is about six inches, … More

The Ending’s Beginning

This is the end of it, I think, standing stiff after 7 hours in the air,the snaking line of terminal … More

Going Home

The first time I visited Korea, at age 65, I dropped out of the sky,a stranger in a strange land, catapulted … More

For a Moment

They’re all young, blonde university students,have an intelligent look, wear sweatshirts,NYU, Brown, Syracuse, places that requireacademic effort prior to entry, … More

Traditional Change

It’s billed as A Match Made in Heaven, a revered traditional Korean love storycarried down from a bygone age to … More

The Myth of Every Hope Fulfilled

From the top of the Gwangbok Lotte Department StoreI can see the Yeongdo(daegyo) Draw Bridge crossing Busan Harbor.From this height, … More

Man Beats Mail, No Charges Pending

The mail I sent to myself from Koreacame to Hawai‘i slower than I’d guessed.I am no longer there, I’m now … More

When Vacations End

Back from Korea,I realize to my horrorwhen I wake up,dizzy from jet-lag,that I have to cook for myself.Breakfastand lunchand dinner.All … More

War Story

On Jeju Island we travel rough backroads on our small bus,bumping along narrowly through perfectly planted fields,row on row of … More

A Face

The Gyeongju National Museum houses a collection of art and artifactsspanning the 1000-year history of the Korean peninsula’s Silla period.The … More

Return to Nami Island

Annie and I had planned to ride the ziplinefrom the mainland to Nami Island,famous as the romantic setting for Winter … More

Souls of the Korean War

There are soldiers buried in the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Busanwhose bodies were not returned to their home countries.Examining … More

Being Free

I’m back home from my trip to Korea,watching the election returns, the right to vote,a cornerstone of our democracy, a … More