But I Digress

This is Mike. I post this picture to illustrate that Mike is tall. Very tall. Like basketball tall. Much taller than most people we met in China. Kids seriously used him as monkey bars more than once. He also has a loud voice and infectious laugh that would always draw attention. There was no place we could go in China that people didn't instantly recognize him as an American. And when he would whip out his pidgin Chinese, people would start chatting with him on almost any subject. He received marriage proposals, solicitous offers, sage wisdom, free advice, and often directions, but my favorite was a conversation he had with one government official on tour of Yubeng Village. The official looked at Mike and said "So, you are an American?" When Mike responded affirmatively, the official laughed and said, "I like Americans. American people are very good. American economy is very good. American government? Not so good." Right on. It just makes me think of Crooked Trail's moto: "I love my country, I just think we should start seeing other people."