2018.09.17 01:45
September Song, 2018 and my Walk 조중행 |
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It was a long August. Ten days ago, in Bundang, Namsan, everywhere, all the trees were as green as newly mown lawn and it was brutally hot, hot, and humid. Even those noisy cicadas had to stop those melodies and the tall weeds/reeds along Tanchun(炭川) seemed limp in the scorching August heat waves.
My office was the coolest place to be, always with refrigerated(?) air coming in and bright sunshine flooding into my office through large windows and I didn’t mind the increased work load, at least for the time being, with two simultaneous maternity leaves in the department this summer. It was a true luxury in the summer heat.
For the whole month of August-heat, I could not take my usual evening stroll along “Tanchun” river to the neighbourhood book store “교보 문고”, especially after those cell phone messages from local government warning the old citizens about the danger of heat stroke.
It is September now. Several days ago, it was 백로(白露), the day of “white dew” and everything changed. Maybe mywife, arriving from Chicago last week, brought cool weather with her.
The summer passed and the year is slowly passing on. Last Saturday, during our usual gathering at Namsan, noted early change of coloring of the leaves on the trees and the crystal clear blue sky allowed exceptional visibility of the downtown Seoul and all those familiar peaks of 북한산, “인수봉”, "비봉””백운대” “보현봉” “향로봉" reminding us of our younger years---- I even noted few brown leaves scattered on the pavement.
남산에서 북한산 쪽을 바라보다 |
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Sunday morning, with another beautiful morning coming in, I couldn’t stay home. Took a long walk in the early morning. As I got out of the apartment building, I had to walk through so called “the Café-district” in the neighbourhood to get there ‘the Tanchun walkway’. After the Saturday Night fever(“불토”: 불타는 토요일) of youngsters, the district was dead quiet, deserted and the street was clean.
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Cafe District early Sunday AM
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Temperature of the air was pleasantly perfect. Cool wind started to twist along the ground, between the trees and tall reeds along the stream, with morning chill in the air,-- seeping into my lungs, as I walked along the river.
Many red dragon flies were out there in pairs this year, their wings’ jazzy whispers tremble, as they navigate over the stream, and the carps were twisting & dancing in the mirror clean water. There were some geeze, white egrets, loons.—come to think of them, some of them might be more international or transnational than me, spending different seasons on some exotic foreign soils.
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Along "Tan Chun"탄천
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In a few weeks, the leaves would turn red, begin to spin on the branches and come fluttering down, rushing the waiting winter to come to us quick. No one will be weeping except the willow(from Try to remember).
And another year will be gone, another rolling on-- into 2019.
My journey along the road of life will continue.
이 musical 이 초연되던 해,1960년에, 휴전 몇년후 한국 촌 구석에서 온 이들이 이 노래를 이렇게 소화했다는 것이 놀랍다. 작년 이맘때 이 노래를 Brothers Four Version 으로 올렸었는데, 벌써----- |
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prepared by J.H. Choh,MD(class of 1969) | |
2018.09.17 14:41
2018.09.18 01:32
I visited my brother’s home in 분당 every October. He was the original city planner of the city.
He drew roads, locations of important public offices and facilities, even named apartment
buildings. My brothers and sisters altogether 7 gathered in his home and headed out to 탄천. And
had dinner in the city. I could appreciate his work. It is a beautiful city. One Friday night in May,
I had a phone call that he passed away. Following Monday, I submitted my resignation and am
retired. I will be in Korea soon and I will miss him dearly this year.
2018.09.18 03:05
Since I am practically disabled from fear and aches for high risk hiking & skiing (my BMI top
secret ㅎㅎ and old bones on top of ??old age ㅎㅎ ), I should settle with 남산 & 탄천. . I think you were teasing as a revenge on me for showing the picture of 백운대, 인수봉, 비봉, etc, all –-
your old play ground,선배님. To hike off road in the highlands of Colorado would be an impossible
dream for me.
I have not skied either for many years. But I dream I would ski leisurely with my grand kids , one of
these days, at least on the “School Marm” in Key Stone or some other easier trails in the area or Deer Valley.
If I fall down without injury and make Tommy or Amanda smile or laugh, that would be
blessing and another Kodak moment in my life.
In another month or so, there will be snow for you in Colorado, maybe four feet deep, calling us.
Although I am not much of a skier, Ah! all those names “Montezuma” “Arapahoe” “Copper
Mountain”—Squaw Valley Vacation ---bring me the memories--
Dr.Ohn. If you in town, give me a call 031 787 -2044 or Email me.
위로의. 말씀 드립니다.
2018.09.18 05:59
Hi, Doc; Sorry if I made you feel bad by mentioning Colorado hiking.
At least you are a person who was able to look up the mountains in Seoul and even took a picture of them.
I will never take a revenge on it. But I am very grateful that you show me the picture of 북한산 massif.
It may be the only true home left in Korea for me.
In your picture, it is really strange that 북악산 seems to be a baldy. Don't tell me it got old too???
It never looked like that in my old days in Korea.
Maybe, there have been a brisk growth of trees near the summit and the rocks appear more pronounced.
In my visit to 도봉산 in the 1980s, I noticed the huge and dense growth of azalea bushes along the trails.
Despite of so many hiking crowds, the mountains were maintained well. I was really glad.
Taking a good care of the environment and nature is a sign and symbol of a rich and civilized society
By the way, as shown in your picture, if you could look far "above and away", you are not an old man !!
It is pitiful that most young or old people are busy looking down their toes all day long.
If you and your grandchildren want to spring-ski in the month of May in Arapahoe Basin Slopes,
please let me know. I will be glad to take care of you.
Spring skiing is good for an old man (like you?) and his grandkids. ㅎ, ㅎ, ㅎ.
2018.09.18 07:36
When the apple is getting ripened in our country club,
I know it would be September and our golf season is getting winding down.
I had a fond memory about Bundang as well.
My late oldest brother lived in Bundang before moving to 수지
and I used to visit my late mother, who lived with my oldest brother at that time.
I often walked with my brother through 탄천 in the early morning and I
enjoyed tremendously those atmospheres. Now my Mom and oldest brother
were gone, but those old good memories remain forever.
When we three are together in those days, even I was close to 70, they
treated me as a little young boy, which was totally appropriate considering
my mother being late 90s and 80s for my brother,ㅎ,ㅎ.
I had visited my mother every October for over 30 years and I lost interest
when my mother passed away. I plan to visit Korea leaving the end of September
and it has been three years since I visited last time.
I love visiting Korea, especially in autumn. Even my brothers and sisters are
getting old, but they are there for waiting for me and I will enjoy definitely
with my old buddies through all those Korean 먹거리 and 볼거리.
Thanks for your essay, which reminds me of my old memory! Dr 조!
I am sorry to hear your younger brother passing! Dr.온!
God Bless him and your family!. 규정
I guess Ms. Youngok Shin is one of the best in the classic soprano songs.
Somehow, her singing of the above autumn song doesn't seem to match that of pop singers.
She does some pop songs pretty well but, here, she sounds very awkward.
I just wonder why the classic opera singers can not imitate pop singers.
Don't they know? Or they don't want to and simply insist on singing their own way?
The autumn is in full force in the highlands of Colorado.
The fall colors will be at its maximum this week and possibly next week.
I went 5-mile hiking at 9,000-10,000 feet last Saturday. It was wonderful.
We went off the trail and searched for the two hidden lakes that show only on the map.
We finally found them in a deep pine forest and one was full of lotus plants.
There were no traces of any human activities.
We might have been one of the very few who saw the strange hidden lakes.