Dears,

In honor of the Chinese New Year, and in keeping with tradition, I’d like to send Rose The Egg Chef a red envelope with a little bit of money to help her family.

Remember, Rose is a single mother in a society that doesn’t provide a lot of services for people in exceptional positions. Rose makes the eggs at the Hill House Hotel six days a week, and works another job, too. She took two days off for Chinese New Year, and thereby lost funds in order to celebrate with her kids.

Her impact on me was so great, as was that of the elegant Chinese Medicine Man I met  in front of the Korean War Memorial, that I decided to honor them both with this traditional gesture.

I’m not going to send a lot. Maybe $20, but wondered if anyone else touched by her story, her presence, her smile would like to join. I’m thinking really small amounts like $5. Here’s my PayPal Link.

Can you imagine the joy on Rose’s joyful face when she gets the red envelope? I bet it will match the joy on my Elegant Chinese Man’s face in this picture.

Since returning from Seoul three weeks ago, I’ve been working hard on the book. The story is so grim, and so difficult to revisit, that I find myself thinking more and more about Rose and the Chinese Man. They continue to bring me peace while I work on a story that is anything but peaceful.  They will play a significant part in the second half of the book.

It’s hard to believe that I have been to South Korea twice in my lifetime. Once, in 1988, when my friend was murdered by my other friends. Then, in 2014, then I met two of the greatest people on the face of the Earth. That’s why, at least for now, the book is called “SPLIT.”

And by writing it, I hope many divides will come to an end.

Love,

Nancy