'Broken
String Theory'.... I was playing a gig that wasn't going well. Very
chaotic onstage and off, just not feelin' it, and then I broke a string
in the middle of a song... had to switch guitars... something was just
'off'. (first broken string in Asia) That night, the thought crossed
my mind, 'Maybe it's time to go home'. Wrote an email to explore that
possibility... Yup we're on the same page... time to reconnect ...
It's been a challenge to be in love and on the other side of the world
from one's partner... Changed my ticket for a week from today. (give or
take). Valentine's Day in Eugene... Hey, who says I'm not romantic?
(OK it took me 60 years... but whatever....)
Rich
Glauber... 'crisis intervention specialist'.... There have now been
three times when I have inserted myself into a voices-raised conflict
between a westerner and a local. I'm drawn to tying to help out in
those situations. The first two were in Chiang Mai when I tried to
mediate a couple of disputes at the guest house between customers and
staff. Last night was something different. I was awakened
by a shout in the middle of the night right outside my door. It was
that special kind of sound that a guy will make when he's very upset and
confused. It was followed by the yelled question 'ARE YOU A LADY BOY?
YOU SAID YOU WERE A LADY!!' followed by 'I WANT THE TOURIST POLICE HERE
RIGHT NOW'. and then, 'YOU'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE!' The owner's of the
guest house come out, there are some voices raised in Khmer, and the
young Brit is insisting on getting his money back. 'SHE SAID SHE WAS A
LADY!.... I want the police here right away! and then shouting at the
owners... 'I'll pay extra for the room if you get my money back from
her. She said she was a lady'. (and they couldn't understand him cuz
it was too fast and too upset. (oh but they got the picture).
Enter Glauber, 'eminence gris' who has slipped on a pair of pants and a
tee shirt. I talk to the kid, 'Uh, you don't want the police here...
it won't go well for you.' 'WHY NOT?" Look you made a mistake, you're
not the first, it happens... cut your losses, you learned something, let
her go on her way, relax'. Within thirty seconds, the kid is
apologizing to the owners, asking forgiveness, bowing and scraping...
All in a day's work (in Sihanoukville). Ah these kids today...
