The twinge in my leg intensifies as I hobble down the sideline.
I’ve no choice but to step off the pitch, yet again. Because my calf has gotten twingy, yet again. Because I didn’t warm up like I know I should have, yet again.
I pant heavily and curse under my breath. And it is not until later, on reflection, that I know what it means.
A chance to pause
To see what exists beyond the pitch
As I reach the corner flag, atop a small ridge, I have a bird’s eye view.
The first thing I notice is the cow.
Grazing lazily, tail swinging, a metronome keeping time with the breeze. Her indifference fuels me, most likely mocking my seriousness.
Relax, Boss. This too shall pass. We all need to take care of our calfs.
I imagine her saying, in Cow.
A woman tends rows of greens, steady labor and strong back. Oblivious to it all: the rancor of football, the just-off-the-pitch just-off-pitch karaoke singer belting out a Vietnamese standard next door, the six boys giving their all next to her on the makeshift badminton court. Oblivious, because. She has work to do.
It’s not your typical badminton court. Sure, it’s defined by a net, but it sits atop dirt patches, slightly off-level, bordered by farmland, draining into the dark waters of Tay Ho. In the middle of a city of millions.
I straddle the sideline, hobbling slightly and testing the calf, watching the gentle arc of the shuttle, hearing the boys share the score and bark directions (I assume) to switch sides, when one of them looks up and sees me.
Halllloooo! he shouts
Hello! I respond with a smile and a wave
Two of his friends join.
Halllloooo! they offer.
I wave again.
It’s meeeeee! the first boy yells again.
Yes, I see you!
And, just as quickly as begun, the conversation ends. The game, the friends hold more interest than this random, hobbled foreigner.
And the limits of language, as they do, impose their will on our dialogue.
But we all smile
And the pain in my calf seems to have let up a bit.
I like the repetition of “yet again.” It really adds to the frustration
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This quote has so much meaning,’And the limits of language, as they do, impose their will on the dialogue.’ Glad you are here this month, I hope the ‘straddling’ gets better.
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Oh you’re in Hanoi! I’ve taught there too…I’m in India now. I enjoyed your story and hope your calf is getting better!!
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Fun wordplay with “calf” – I expected a cow, but not the leg part! A vivid and real, in-the-moment piece. I felt myself hobbling with you!
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Your piece is crafted beautifully and the details, so rich and lyrical, transported me from snowy Maine to Vietnam.
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You build the slice so efficiently from the pain in your calf to expanding you view, finding new details to share and the thoughts that surface. I enjoyed reading it.
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Clever play with your words. I can see your interactions with the cow and boys.
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Incredible how good a little conversation listened the pain in your calf.
Sometimes, we can forget our own misery when we are distracted.
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This is a beautiful slice! Love the way you bring us right into the story with the pain in your calf, and how the small thought journey you take us on ends with the pain subsiding. So much to love here! Thank you for this amazing writing!
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Your play on words give this post such spirit and energy. Pair the double meaning of calf and the just-off-the-pitch, just-off-pitch melody with your dialogue with the cow and the boys in the backyard, your slice helps us all pause and smile.
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I could so easily follow your journey through your rich description. Thank you for the visual! I hope your calf is feeling better!
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The joy March has brought! A great slice about communication…whether speaking Cow or English, we shall all speak in our own words! It’s a joy to meet you here!
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For sure. So glad to be here with you too, TK! 🙂
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I love how you crafted this slice. My slice for today also has cows and boys, but thankfully no injuries. I look forward to reading more of your adventures this March.
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I hope you are doing ok now…I’m just catching up. It sounds like an injury is a perfect excuse to step back and notice. Maybe that’s the reason Buddhist monks are not supposed to run. Well written, brother D.
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