Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

I have been a member of Fishing Forum Stages since around 2019. Along the way since then some of you have commented about my having lived an interesting life. Well, whether that is true or not, let me tell you stories of, or about people that are truly amazing. They are in the league with Forrest Gump, except the story of Forrest Gump is pure fiction, and theirs happened.
The first is a young Chinese woman, born and raised in Beijing. She graduated from one of the prestigious universities in Beijing with a degree in architecture.
While in college, she rode her bicycle over to Trenaman Square every day and talked with the gathering of students and disgruntled workers who were discussing different things they considered unfair or unreasonable and should be changed. Whether they had legitimate complaints or not is beside the point. Her father, a medical doctor, forbade her to go there on the very day the Army sent in tanks and crushed what the communist leadership thought was a rebellion. This no doubt saved her life.
There were hundreds of students and workers slaughtered in what the Communist considered an open rebellion.
She applied for a graduate degree in the United States and was accepted at a college in Florida. She came and while here, married, and also began working part time at Smith Barney, a large stock brokerage company. She was so successful there, and enjoyed it more than architecture, she was promoted and began working as an assistant branch manager in New Jersey.
On a very fateful day, she and another Smith Barney manager were in the company meeting in the second tower in lower Manhattan. They were aware of the plane hitting the first tower and had just begun to evacuate the second tower when a plane hit it. Both she and her companion were able to get out of the tower and away from the scene just in time!
A bus driver for the city’s bus line could not make his normal route, so he picked up a lot of the people fleeing the towers and delivered them back up town. She borrowed some running shoes so she could get back home. By this time, she was able to make a telephone call to her husband, and he had not heard of the tragedy until then. Over the years, I have had several branch managers. None were as good as she. If I had a problem, she would listen carefully and see that it got resolved.
In the second example, my wife had been in communications with the young Chinese teacher. This young woman asked Jean if she would assist her in coming to the U.S. and work toward a graduate degree at the University of Houston. On the day they were to take the teacher to the airport, the troops had blocked all streets around the Teinamin Square and stopped all bus and taxi services. The teacher, her husband and twin boys had to walk miles with her suitcases since there were no taxis or busses available.

This worked out well. We taught her how to drive and she bought a car. Later, she helped her husband and twin boys to come to the United States. Neither the husband nor the boys could speak any English, but it wasn’t long for the boys, since they were in elementary school and assimilated very quickly. It took a little longer for the husband. They now own and run a successful seafood import business. The twin boys have graduated from college with graduate degrees and are married with children.
There are always flowers or other gifts to my wife. They are doing well and have not forgotten my wife’s help. The Chinese wife told Jean “They lied to us!” referring to Communist leadership. Just Sayin…RJS

Gordon Loc: Charleston South Carolina

That's a great story Robert. It's good the hear when peoples lives turn out for the better.

OJdidit Loc: Oak Creek Wisconsin

Great stories!

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

They are like our extended family. We are included in any family event, and feel at home with them, regardless of the event. While we have many others, these are as close as any. Just Sayin...RJS

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

While you cannot choose your blood kin, or even the married relation-ship ken, you can choose your acquaintances for family.

I worry about war with China since many of our closest friends, as family, if hostilities breaks out. Most are now U.S. citizens and have sworn allegiance to the U.S. they might wind up under pressure from secret service agents.

We are known as aye (aunt) and xixi (uncle) and they know we would help them in any way possible if they were in trouble. Just Sayin...RJS

Gmchief Loc: New Hampshire coast

I’m sure our Government would never do that to our own citizens, would it? (Japanese,1942) I will keep them in prayers.