Wall

A late flight into Beijing last night brought us to our home on the outskirts of the city around 9 pm. We have rooms in a designer home at The Commune. All the attendants wear thick woolen jackets that are buttoned right up the middle and have a breastpocket on the left side. Everyone wears stars. Even the cigarette sand in the lobby's ashtray was moved into the form of a star.

I looked outside the dining room window at about six this morning to the Great Wall off in the sunrise. It's golden among the green mountains.

Once Natlie was off to an arts and crafts lesson, Jack the driver and I went up to the wall. We walked and walked but it wasn't enough. I wanted to see more.

Up and down, steep and steady moments, all thick stone, thick bricks, thick walls make up the most strange and beautiful piece of art.

I wished so badly my family was there to see it with me.