Wednesday, July 05, 2006

Happy Mystery

I knew that my younger brother Jon had inherited some ‘things Chinese’ from his mother-in-law. I had already received a couple of small painting and some bookends from her estate years ago – when she had gone into a nursing home. When I visited his Nevada home a week ago, I was not prepared for the incredible paintings, nick-nacks and furniture – nor the story of how they came to her.

She was working in China in 1947 as single 25 year old woman. With the change of political regime and the rise of Mao, all foreign nationals were given three weeks to leave the country. So Hazel crated up her personal items including various items she had picked up as decorations – hardly a collector or thought of value, but many families were leaving the country and prices had been good.

Then the rules changed – any one not traveling within 24 hours would be arrested! The only passage she could secure was on the Trans-Siberian Railway, with only one suitcase. Everything was abandoned in labeled wooden crates in the house she had rented. In a reverse adventure of Ingrid Bergman in “inn of the Sixth Happiness”, Hazel traveled from Mongolia to Vienna – alone. The rest of her life with a special husband, international business consultant could fill a book also, but this is about Chinese paintings. (I think he was CIA).

In 1992, with a change in the Chinese attitude about dealing with the Western world, Hazel received a magickal surprise. Her crates arrived! No shipping charges – unopened – no damage – no explanation. Not a gift either, probably – just an efficiency imbedded in the oriental mind, and perhaps Communism – or a desire to make peace with the world.

We do not always need answers.


papa

1 Comments:

At 8:21 PM, Blogger Anita Marie Moscoso said...

When these things happen in my life I sort of ride with the tide.

But that doesn't mean I don't turn them around in my mind the way you have here.

Anita Marie

 

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