There’s No Escaping Kudzu
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Oakland News
By Linda Aldy
Happy first birthday to my great-nephew Sadler Ross of Oakland. He’s the son of Bailey and Hilary Ross and grandson of my brother Rich and sister-in-law Jennifer.
Like many in our area, we had family and friends who were evacuated or fleeing the recent hurricane. Fortunately, our crew from the Florida Panhandle suffered little damage from the storm and has returned to their homes.
I am writing this week from Seoul, South Korea. I had been very concerned about the 15-hour flight, but Delta did a great job of helping us transition from Atlanta to Seoul’s time, a 14-hour difference, with their food service and use of lighting. It all helped make the flight not seem so long and reduced the jet lag I have experienced on past travels. It has been strange realizing I am living in a different day from my folks back in Mississippi! It is Sunday afternoon here but late Saturday night/early Sunday morning hours back home. I have to remember to check the international clock settings on my phone so I don’t interrupt anyone’s sleep!
Our apartment is right across the highway from Yongsan Park, which is a large urban park being created on the site of the former U.S. and Japanese military garrison in central Seoul. It is the size of Central Park in NYC. I know many of us had relatives who served during the Korean War. Some of them would have been stationed here.
There are numerous similarities between our countries that I’ve noticed, including kudzu and ginkgo trees. We passed a Tupperware store, and there are 7-Eleven convenience stores everywhere! But what has really changed, according to locals, is that there are now coffee shops, including Starbucks, scattered three and four to a block. There are small shops that have excellent coffee and small local chains. My son, who is very knowledgeable on matters of coffee, said the upswing in Koreans and Japanese drinking coffee over the past 15 years or so has actually driven the price of beans up, especially the higher-quality beans. The best place we have been so far was owned and operated by a guy from Australia!
James and I offer our sympathy to the family of our classmate Earl Pace. Earl had spent his professional life as a pharmacist in Columbus, Mississippi. I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised to realize that we knew some of the same people. As I read his obituary and saw the list of pallbearers, I realized that we had mutual friends. Such is the nature of Mississippi!
Don’t forget Oakland Day this Saturday, Oct. 17. There is something for everyone!!
My next report will come from Hong Kong. I’m excited to see that city. Y’all take care of each other!
