EXTRA LUGGAGE

                                             IRENE LEE(2003)

“You want to bring WHAT onto the plane?” Agatha replies “Only an audio tape player, a few Yuanji and Tai Chi tapes so we could exercise while on vacation. Oh, don't worry; you won't have to carry anything.” So, into her luggage they go, tape player, audio tapes, exercise clothes and a second pair of sneakers. Needless to say, Agatha's carry-on luggage was busting at the seams when I noticed it outside LaGuardia Airport. I made my observation known and she quickly assured me that she will not further burden the load by buying souvenirs.

    It was an uneventful flight to Utah. We met up with Georgette and Penny in Chicago for the connecting flight. The foursome explored most of the tourist attractions in northern Utah in a span of seven days. We visited the Capitol, the Mormon Temple, Kennecott Copper Mine (one of two man-made objects which can be seen from outer space; the other is the Great Wall of China), the 2002 Winter Olympic site and other places. It was a fun-filled week in scenic Utah, I wish I had a panoramic camera to take in such breathtaking views.

Irene Lee (first on the left) is dancing

   We had a busy schedule. Morning call was at6:30 am for Yuanji and Tai Chi. Agatha brought along an alarm clock (another piece for the luggage) so she wouldn't miss her morning routine. At the crack of dawn every morning, with snow topped mountains in the back and swimming pools next to us, we practiced to music while pool workers and ants did their chores.

      The trip was wonderful and what made it especially nice was the fact that we were able to start the day with Yuanji and Tai Chi and were energized for the day. The music, the mountains, the morning freshness and the silence in the air created a rapturous serenity for our practice.

      Towards the end of the trip, we, of course, went shopping and treated ourselves and loved ones,. The evening before our departure, I tucked the tape player into my luggage; Agatha couldn't put it back into hers, the space was taken up by souvenirs. I had a wonderful time, exercised a lot and felt great practicing the forms. The extra luggage, after all, was well worth bringing.