LOST IN HONG KONG. (written 08/22/2007)

Lost. Completely and utterly lost. My selective hearing made it impossible for me to remember if my aunt told me to meet her on Li Yuen Street East or West. My nose led me down one street and then up another alley way. The smell of Dim Sum and freshly baked pastries ignited my olfactory senses. My salivary glands went into overdrive! I licked my lips and called upon the forces of my willpower to keep walking down the street past all the enticing eateries.

At last! I escape the seductive food district to find myself realizing every woman’s fantasy--I had stumbled upon the shopping district! Oversized billboards and colorful posters decorated every inch of available space. Fashionistas and businessmen lined the sidewalks. My eyes feasted on all the latest trends from Prada, Chanel, Vivienne Tam, Coach, Lacoste, and many more! The steady stream of people rushing from store to store made it a challenge to stroll in a slower cadence for some fabulous window shopping.

For a micro-minute I envisioned myself living the lap of luxury. Early morning spa treatments, lunch with all my posh friends at the Ritz, afternoon trips to all the brand name shops to view their latest collections, and an elegant dinner at the most exclusive restaurant. But lets face it...I could never live like that! Maybe it would be nice once every couple of months, but that is not what life is about. Where’s the spontaneity? the adventure?

Eventually, my sore and blistered feet lead me to a nice little local gift shop, hidden among giants. Where I indulged in some little trinkets for my siblings, and bought some postcards for those times when the flood gates to my creative genius opens up and I’m inspired to write.

I rise up from my makeshift seat, a rusty metal round thing with pieces of cardboard on top. I check my cell phone in hopes of receiving just one bar of signal. Still nothing. Exasperated, I turn about face abruptly and walk in the opposite direction. Lost in thought, I doggedly scuttle down the street. In my frustration, I was unaware of the preordained accident until i ran head-on into a helpless lady carrying an armload of shopping bags. I apologized profusely and scrambled to help retrieve the littered purchases. In the midst of ramblings, I look up and stare right into the eyes of my long sought after aunt! My savior--I was found.