Maple Bear on the Silk Road

January 29, 2025

Where a Bear took us cover

At a meeting in Lanzhou, China,

on the ancient Silk Road,

we ate sunflower seeds and discussed spread sheets.  

Water bottle and sunflower seeds

Rodney’s attack of sciatica began in Istanbul. It worsened on our long flight to China from Dubai.

Still, at the public marketing event, he smiled widely for a picture. (Nice corsage, eh?)

Rodney and two women

And in the evening, he stoically presided over a sumptuous banquet table. 

His back pain was starting to diminish.

Banquet table

But then…

The new school owner offered yet another toast. And in his excitement, he lifted Rodney off right his feet.

Ganbei!

And then dropped him. Right onto the restaurant floor. 

“It’s a good thing he plays hockey,” remarked the other old, white, Canadian guy at the table that night.

“Why’s that?” I had to ask. 

“He knew how to land.”