Summer of Service

This is James, password forgotten, on Francine's account. So far, so good in the PRC. Better than good. Fan-freakin-tastic.

Let me tell you some things you definitely want to know. First and most obviously, the Great Wall is really, really big. The kind of big that makes you and everyone you know seem a little insignificant. And there is a slide with full time staff yelling 'slow down'. Chris Schlegel did not need this.

Second. Emperors used to occupy glorious sub-cities like the Forbidden City and the Summer Palace. With them, thousands of servants. The male servants were eunuchs. They did not pose any threat to the emperor, for a number of reasons, including that they did not mac on the emperess. Instead, they did servant stuff, but also made suggestions, which were sometimes followed, as to how China ought to be governed. Many of these eunuchs were not politicians. All, in fact. Which explains some interesting historical blunders. The following speculation is based lightly in truth.

One of the suggestions? A marble boat. A marble boat which actually does not float. Which was paid for with funds misappropriated from the naval budget shortly preceding the naval defeat. Which followed the construction of a MARBLE BOAT. I thought that was funny and possibly suggested by a well-meaning eunuch.

Anyhow. If you were to select, at random, a person on this SOS trip to be your best friend, well, that would be a great deal. I'm a little surprised at how competent and hilarious this group is and feel incredibly lucky to be a part.

Tooting our collective horn, and for a damn good reason,

James