Jeffrey Miller's Blog: Jeffrey Miller Writes, page 27

Not a peep out of North Korea

Will there be a December surprise from North Korea?

I’m surprised that North Korea has been unusually silent the past few weeks. Even after President Obama was re-elected there was nothing out of Pyongyang. Not since the incident with the pro-South Korea leaflets being released along the DMZ has the North made any announcements.

Last week, November 23rd was the second anniversary of the Yeongpyeong Island shelling. Although South Korean military and civilian leaders gathered on the island to remember the event, there was not a word from Pyongyang.

With Mr. Ahn bowing out of the presidential race in the South making it a two-way race between Ms. Park and Mr. Moon, I wonder what the North has up their sleeve? Will there be a December surprise of some sort to influence the election?

Blustery Daejeon

Monday started cold and then it got colder and windier followed by periods of rain. By mid afternoon, the day had turned out to be a glorious blustery day.

A glorious blustery day?

Most of the time in the Korea, especially in cities like Daejeon, the skies are hazy. But after a hard rain or a hard wind, the skies clear up and the views are glorious.

I took this photo from the 5th floor of SolBridge. Although not too clear, you get an idea of what a glorious blustery day looks like.

I love days like this one.

I Hate Facebook

You heard me right. I hate Facebook. No, hate is too nice of a word. I loathe Facebook.

Why, pray tell, would someone who spends 2-3 hours a day posting, commenting, uploading, and talking about his books, come out and make such a scathing claim?

What’s wrong, Jeffrey? Aren’t you getting enough “likes” on your posts? Are people merely “liking” your book plug posts instead of actually clicking on the link? Have you been to Farmville just one too many times?

The answer is none of these.

I hate Facebook for one simple reason.

It makes me homesick.

For years, I’ve gotten by living in Korea without missing too much about home. Sure, over the past 22 years the holidays have been rough from Thanksgiving to Christmas but they have been bearable. I’ve been able to keep some traditions alive like sending greeting cards and for a couple of years even putting up a Christmas Tree. And what I have missed I’ve been able to articulate and reflect on my own terms in my writing (Invaders from Mars and Other Tales of Youthful Angst) or this blog.

Then Facebook came along and the next you know, everyone’s posting their holiday pics of plump roasted turkeys, mounds of mashed potatoes, stacks of pies and cakes for starters followed by brightly decorated real Christmas trees…well, you get the picture and then some.

Facebook is a place to share and we share every aspect of our lives. We tell people where we are at, what we’ve just eaten, and when we’re going to go to bed. It’s like a surreal cyber Waltons.

I love Facebook. It keeps me connected to home, but it also makes me miss home and my friends a lot. The past week has been brutal and there’s still four more weeks to get through until Christmas.

Excuse me if you don’t see me around Facebook too many times around the holidays.

 

Welcome Home, Bobby

It took sixty years, but one more soldier is coming home.

Bobby Ray King went to war more than 60 years ago and never came back.

His parents and immediate relatives died without knowing what happened to the 19-year-old with the gap-toothed grin, and King became a footnote in family history.

But the military didn’t forget.

“You don’t leave a fallen American behind,” according to the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command’s website. “The families deserve an answer.”

The story of Bobby Ray King coming home would resonate strongly any time of the year, but around the holidays it is all the more heartrending.

Welcome home, Bobby.

God Bless you and your family who never gave up hope that you would return home one day.

A letter home from the Korean War

November 23, 1950

Kunu-ri

My Dearest Mary,

Good morning and Happy Thanksgiving Honey. Here I am again with all my love to you and Ronnie. It is now Thanksgiving night here in Korea and I am sitting in front of a fire writing this letter to you. I hope this letter finds you and Ronnie both well and I hope that you have a wonderful Thanksgiving this year with your parents.

The Army went to great lengths to make sure all of us had our Thanksgiving here in the valleys and mountains of Korea. We had our turkey and all the trimmings. It was about as good as it could get for army chow but I think it was more for morale than taste. One of my buddies said it was the best chow he’s had in Korea. I don’t think he was joking because he was angry that he couldn’t have seconds.

Tomorrow we are moving out again but no one knows where. We are all feeling a bit anxious and nervous about what lies ahead for us. We all thought this war would be over by now and that we would be on our way back home. Many of us are still clinging to the hope that we will be out of here by Christmas.

Bobby paused to warm his hands over the fire and throw on another scrap of wood. He rubbed his hands together and continued the letter.

The nights have been very cold and some of us still don’t have enough winter clothes; maybe some people thought we would be home by now and didn’t bother to order enough.

Give my regards and love to everyone and give Ronnie a big kiss and hug for me. I miss you so much my darling. I can just close my eyes and see your sweet, smiling face in front of me and the wonderful memories you and I have as well as our precious and adorable son. The only thing I ask of you, my darling, is to be as brave as you have been these past few months and pray for my speedy return to you and our son.

Until the next time, my darling, I close with all my love.

Your loving and affectionate husband,

Bobby

He threw the last of the wood on the fire and sat by it for a few minutes after he finished the letter. He heard Harold stirring in his foxhole. Probably a bad dream, Bobby thought, or maybe too much turkey and stuffing. He grinned and stuffed the letter into an envelope. It would be the last letter he would be able to write to Mary for another two weeks.

The Shoes

Not that that kick-ass Power Pop band from Zion, Illinois.

Just single shoes for sale in shop near SolBridge.

What’s up with the monkey butt?

A sign in downtown Daejeon.

Comparing Apples and Oranges in Daejeon

Apples and Oranges for sale in downtown Daejeon.

Yes, you can compare them. The oranges are cheaper

Friday night in Daejeon

And I am working late. Not too late, but after putting in an eight-hour day, late enough. The days get longer and longer and at the same time, the semesters seem to be flying by. Feels like this semester just started and now there are only three weeks left.

Tonight, students were competing in the Fall 2012 Case Study Competition. It’s a big event at the SolBridge International School of Business and one of the school’s showcases; one of the events that the school takes a lot of pride in. I was on hand to take photos and as I went from one classroom to another, I stopped to take a few photos.

Daejeon at the night, not exactly a city of lights, but I do like the raw, gritty edge these photos have.

Cover Design by Anna Takahashi

I was really lucky when I asked my friend Anna Takahashi if she would be interested in doing the book cover design for Ice Cream Headache. Her response: I really wanted to do a cover for you! I’m glad she did. Her design is amazing and really captures the feel of the novella.

Check out Anna’s other amazing creations here.