A Perfectly Perfect Day

Had a perfectly perfect day.  Got started about 7 on our 4th of July picnic.  Took a boat down the river to a cave + had our lunch in a nice cool place + then the gang all went swimming + I went wading + managed to get most of me wet.  The ride back in late afternoon was beautiful - the river was so pretty.  Got caught in the city going and coming in ginbows.  Had so much fun today.  - Annette, July 1941

Every July 4th, I play an orchestra concert in a nearby town.  We meet for a 3hr rehearsal, and after a short dinner break, we perform on an outdoor stage for hundreds of people having picnics with their friends, family, and loved ones.  Marches are played.  Veterans are honored.  Fireworks close out the show.  A few years back, one of my colleagues and I decided that even though we were there to perform, we wanted to enjoy a picnic, too!  Now, we coordinate our menus, pack up our picnic kits, and head out to work.  During our dinner break, we find a shady spot, spread out our blankets, and enjoy the calm, quiet moments before the concert starts.  We brave the rain, the bugs, and the heat, and it is all worth it. 

This 4th was particularly nice - low humidity, nice breeze, not a single rain cloud.  It was perfectly perfect, just like Annette's day.  Although, we didn't have river boats or swimming holes.  Nor did we have air raid alarms to worry about.  Annette was in China at the beginnings of the war, and she lived through some dangerous times.  I love that on her first July 4th away from home, she was still able to have a picnic and enjoy time with friends.  

In this country, July 4th is synonymous with picnics and fireworks.  But not everyone gets to take time off to be with their families.  I am luck to have a job that allows me to spend time with my friends and family, even while working.  I hope all of you had a wonderful July 4th, and I hope we can all be grateful for the sacrifices of others, whether in 1776 or 2018, that make that day possible. 

A Huge Feast

All the foreigners were invited to a huge feast today by all the Generals Major - met so many big shots.  There were 200 present.  This affair was all 'tung ming guo' - all allies together - and has never been done in W.  The food was good but not extraordinary, but we did enjoy being there + meeting so many of the people.  - Annette, January 1944

Last night was the Opening Night of Rodgers and Hammerstein's The King and I at the Fox Theatre.  I'm sure many of you know the story.  Anna, a single mother of English upbringing, travels to Siam to teach English to the many wives and children of the King of Siam.  Just before Act Two, the King learns that Western countries find him 'barbaric,' so Anna helps him plan a lavish party to display the kindness, beauty, and tolerance of the kingdom of Siam.  In some ways, the party is a success...and some ways not.  No spoilers!  Go see the show! =)

While playing the show last night, I kept thinking about Annette and her role in China.  She played organ at the church, helped train the nurses at the hospital, cared for the children at the orphanage, and through it all, taught English to the women and children who lived in the village.  Here, she describes a party with some very important military leaders.  She describes the event as "'tung ming guo' - all allies together."  This is likely tong meng guo, or 同盟国.  This was a time to celebrate the collaboration between the US and China - one never before done in Wanhsien.  I'm sure it was quite a lavish event - much like the party that Anna and the King planned.

What an exciting evening!  Of course, she mentions the food - a crucial element of every party!  I wonder what they served their American guests.