Part Three - Anticipation

We can never know about the days to come
But we think about them anyway,
And I wonder if I'm really with you now
Or just chasin' after some finer day

Since my trip had been planned at the last minute, I didn't dare tell too many people I was coming until everything was 99.9% in place. I had toyed with the idea of not saying anything and just showing up, but that would not have been fair. My last trip, I was treated like royalty by our skater's fans. Not to tell them I was coming was unconscionable. The ladies had been so generous with their time and so accepting of me as a total stranger, it would be the ultimate insult to appear unannounced. I did want to make sure, however, that everything was secured because to say I was coming and then not show up would have been equally wrong. 


Since my first trip to Seoul, many things had happened. I had become an "empty nester," dealt with enough moves and shakeups to make Elvis proud and we had all taken a journey to Mount Olympus. I was very aware that while the friendships I had forged 18 months ago seemed strong, the cultural differences were great. Days and distance were not allies in our "15 Minutes of Fame" world. While I had kept in contact with many from the group via Facebook and email, I knew that all our lives were moving inexorably forward and it would be understandable if we all had simply drifted apart across the vast ocean of time. 

I have always told my kids, "No ticket; no laundry," meaning that if you don't make the effort, you don't garner the rewards. Now, I was taking my own advice for a change. When all was confirmed for my return to Seoul, I crossed my fingers and set the wheels in motion. I began reestablishing contact. To my delight, the response was immediate, positive and enthusiastic. I didn't know what to expect; all I knew was that most of us would reunite at some point in my six day stay. The question was when..