The 2nd day of my trip to Bemidji was not just for fun. Danny arranged my 1st T/Ms meeting abroad. Besides meeting Bemidji T/Ms, I was going to deliver a speech. My topic was Taipei T/Ms. I thought it was an excellent opportunity to bring Taipei, Taiwan to their attention by telling them how amazingly T/Ms has flourished in Taiwan in recent years from my prospective. I woke up long before the sun rose. I tried for hours to go back to sleep in vain. Well, it was not the first time I suffered from insomnia before delivering a speech. Being excited about the trip, I was in a high spirit. Danny was going to escort me to the meeting fifteen minutes before it started.
The drive took only about two minutes. The streets were quiet, the air was fresh, the sky was clear, I thought,” Where are the people?” Then a lady coming out from her car greeted Danny. She was Kim, a T/M. We shook hands, and walked together into the venue while chatting. I felt more relieved and relaxed. The venue was just like a meeting room, perfect for T/Ms meetings.
Bemidji T/Ms came in the venue one after another. Danny introduced me to them one by one. T/Ms of the Day, Jenny, was one of the early comers. She thoughtfully set up the reception area with cakes, fruit and agenda. I was amazed seeing the cakes and agenda were designed like Chinese and American flags. How incredible, thoughtful and creative! It made the cake and fruit look especially yummy. They were all designed and made by Jenny. What a brilliant work Jenny did for the meeting! Then the news man of the public TV station walked in. After setting up the camera, he came to me saying that he’d like to interview me for about ten min. after the meeting. Feeling honored, what else I should say except “with pleasure?” The meeting began!
The meeting proceeded very smoothly yet efficiently, one session after another without stop. Jenny presented every speaker pertinently. Danny introduced me earnestly based on my T/Ms background. Two prepared speakers including me. Table topics were about promoting Bemidji, very timely and resonanced the theme of the meeting. There was quite difference I observed between theirs and our meetings. But the focus and spirit was the same. They hold the meeting at noon for only one hour long that leaves no time for intermission and joke or variety session. My speech was impressive according to Danny. They all gave me positive comments and sincerely invited me for some special activities. I felt very grateful yet sorry that I couldn’t change my schedule to prolong my trip. I was very grateful for the warm welcome I received. Jenny especially prepared a gift for me, a big bath towel with my name stitched on. I was deeply touched and speechless. I couldn’t chat with all of them as I had an interview to do with the TV news man.
After the interview Jenny came to me and invited me to her cabin at the beautiful lake of Bemidji in the evening. Wow, a night program except originally planned ones. Danny was going to take me to a ranch to ride a horse, and make a tour of the town. I knew I would stay up late again. But missing the precious chance of seeing a cabin that I had only seen in the movies and turning down Jenny’s hospitality was absolutely not going to happen.
We had to say goodbye to the rest of T/Ms and headed for the ranch. After we came back from the ranch Danny showed me the small, quiet and beautiful town full of Indian artworks. The Landmark of Bemidji “Paul and Babe” was indeed gigantic, just as huge as Danny described. I was totally relaxed after the T/Ms meeting. I felt so chipper and excited that I took a lot of pictures.
Danny arranged one more program, golfing, after touring the town and before dinner. Golf is Danny’s favorite sport. He can play it whenever his mood fits as there’s a beautiful golf court in the small Bemidji. He proposed to teach me a little bit after he knew that I had never played golf before. To help me enjoy it, he led me to the Driving Range and the Putting Green that are for novelties to have a hand-on practice. I was terrible at first, but with Danny’s instruction and after a few times try and error, I learned quite some tricks. Just when I was having fun, we had to leave. We couldn’t play long as Danny planned to make a special dinner to welcome me.
Cooking takes time and Jenny would come to pick us up at 8:00 p.m. to visit her cabin. The dinner was finger licking good. Must say Danny is truly a wonderful cook!
At Danny's home, I saw what a lovely family he has; beauiful wife Mary, two handsome and brilliant children Zach and Erain, and two lovely twin grandchildren. Both of their children are married and live in other towns.
Jenny showed up at exact 8:00 sharp. We took her car. While driving, Jenny told us how she and her husband got the cabin by chance, and what great time they have had with the cabin.
Jenny’s Cabin was classic, cozy and beautiful, better than I pictured. The duck stretched out the lake; the clean and clear water allured people to bath in; the balcony, the warm and cute bathrooms, and the wooden house were all very comfy. What a perfect place for the owner to get away from pressure, work, and the city. After seeing the cabin, Jenny wanted to drive us to other side of the town that we didn’t have time to see. Then a sudden thunderstorm made it impossible. Besides, it was late.
I must thank all the T/Ms in Bemidji, Danny, and Jenny again for the very delightful and fulfilling day.
http://picasaweb.google.com.tw/taipeitmtrini/2010SummerBliss#
Trini
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