"Real Men" and Animals....

The most amazing thing happened last week in a small city in South Korea.  I was the guest of a university for the creation of a collaborative sister university relationship.  My hosts were fabulous and did the usual job of perfect hospitality.  After an amazing traditional luncheon, one of the young professors took me for a short tour by auto of this very historic place.  We walked and talked serious professional topics.  Most interesting to walk through a temple park dating back one thousand years and to talk 21st Century student culture and technology!

In the car ride back to the bullet train station, we approached an intersection with busy traffic.  There in the middle of the crossroads was a small brown Pomeranian dog.  Unattached to anyone, any car, just sitting there, shivering, looking at each car that went by, as if to say, "Come back, please, don't leave me here"

I spoke up.  My friend also saw him.  He commented, that some cruel people probably left him.  I looked back, the dog was just stationary, not moving out of the middle of traffic.

I took a deep breath.  Then I asked, for some unknown reason, if he also like animals.  He sighed and said "Yes" with a very heavy tone.  He told me he just lost his dog after 17 years.  He said he was incapacitated for a week, could not work, the dog was not an animal, but a friend and part of the family.

I said, "You have heart.  The same is with me.  I just lost a dog of 17 years as well."

Mine was also a Pomeranian.

I will never see that dog again, but will never let it go from my memory.  I had to give it to God to take care of it, find it a good home....not traffic.

"Real Men" have dogs.  Real men, lose dogs.  Real Men cry, and never forget these best friends.
Real men must go on.....an on.....

Life and Death on a Bike: Whiteflash Reminds Us

It was a very cold day in Seoul.  20 degrees Fahrenheit.  Colder North wind blowing strong.
I was crossing a very busy eight lane street at the intersection with another very busy eight lane, fast highway in the middle of downtown Seoul's Gangnam area.

I got halfway across to the safe pedestrian island, when I heard a crashing sound, a collision of two motor scooters at the intersection.  One of the bikers emerged safe and unshaken and looked back, then roared away.  I hestiated to look but did right back at the scene and saw the other biker skidding across the pavement, bike going one way on its side, the human biker like a log just rolling over and over on the pavement in deep, roaring traffic.  I honestly thought he was gone.  No movement, cars rushing past him on both sides.  He was limp, lying in the middle of one of Seoul's busiest crossings on a very cold, cold day.

No one stopped, no pedestrian lept forward to help, no one.  Cars just kept whizzing by.

I was still at the halfway point on a safe island just watching.  He started to move, then rolled over, then got up, blood on his forehead.  He managed to grab the scooter and walk it to the island, staggering all the way.  It was now right before me.  I could shake his hand it was now too close to just walk on by.  Then he collapsed right down at my feet.  I had wanted to pull him out of traffic, but now there was no choice....I had to help.  I asked him, "Can I help you?  How can I help you, Are you alright?"  Stupid questions.

He waved me off...."no Englishe", he said....he was in clear pain lying there.

Then another biker saw this and stopped and talked him to his feet.  He too cared.  He was the only other one.  He soon roared off into the cold day.  The wounded man was staggering but on his feet.  He waved me off again from any help.  This guy was young, in his late 20's I guess, handsome, as big as an NFL player, yet he almost was killed this day.

He would make it through this.  I made sure he got to the other side, then I had to be gone.  Nothing more to do, nothing more to help, I had done what I had to do.

Cold days like this and scenes like this at our feet remind us to go home and hug the ones we love and remember that life is a breath in the cold air, a split second from death, yet we somehow make it.  I will never see this man again, gone into the crowds of millions.  Yet I will see his face as long as I live.

Cold days we do all we can.  Sometimes it is enough, sometimes not.  This day, was a good day, all things considered.  For him and also for me....