【职场点滴】Walking from Beijing to Memphis

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  (长安街）

   

  

   

  A returnee story and a prayer for BJ and SH: 

   

  A dozen years ago I brought my family back to China. My workplace was in financial district in Beijing, few blocks away from China central bank and Chang An avenue。 

   

  My company's employees were mostly Chinese and about 10 or less were American as the firm was a joint venture of China and the U.S. Back then  during President Hu era the relationships between two countries were pretty good. 

   

  They kept one of Chinese workplace traditions, after lunch employees could have half hour to one hour free time -- taking a nap,  doing their own things like personal banking, shopping at mall, or even going home. I would frequently go for a walk along sidewalks of trees lined Chang An avenue, perhaps the widest street of the country; actually the west side of Chang An avenue did not have too many tourists or crowds, and only several high quality sit-down restaurants along the way, that made it more pedestrian friendly. 

   

  One day I asked myself while strolling down the street, "what do I miss in the states? " 

  I looked around and saw small areas of green grasses by the curb under the trees, i realized that I missed the smell of freshly mowed grasses (in the air), which are not usually available in a big city such as Beijing or Shanghai.

   

  ......

   

  Several years later we returned to the same place (house)  in the U.S. 

   

   

  Today I got a prayer for the people of Beijing and Shanghai: 

   

  《Walking in Memphis》 - - you could fill in the 3 words missing if you want. 

   

  Put on my blue suede shoes

  And I boarded the plane

  Touched down in the land of the Delta Blues

  In the middle of the pouring rain

  W.C. Handy, won't you look down over me?

  Yeah, I got a first class ticket

  But I'm as blue as a boy can be

  Then I'm walking in Memphis

  Was walking with my feet ten feet off of (B?, a military guy from CA)

  Walking in Memphis

  But do I really feel the way I feel?

  Saw the (g?) of Elvis

  On Union Avenue

  Followed him up to the gates of Graceland

  Then I watched him walk right through

  Now security they did not see him

  They just hovered 'round his tomb

  But there's a pretty little thing

  Waiting for the King

  Down in the Jungle Room

  When I was walking in Memphis

  I was walking with my feet ten feet off of B?

  Walking in Memphis

  But do I really feel the way I feel?

  They've got ( c?) on the table

  They've got gospel in the air

  And Reverend Green be glad to see you

  When you haven't got a prayer

  But, boy, you've got a prayer in Memphis

  Now Muriel plays piano

  Every Friday at the Hollywood

  And they brought me down to see her

  And they asked me if I would

  Do a little number

  And I sang with all my might

  She said

  "Tell me are you a Christian child?"

  And I said "Ma'am, I am tonight"

  Walking in Memphis

  (Walking in Memphis)

  Was walking with my feet ten feet off of (B?)

  Walking in Memphis

  (Walking in Memphis)

  But do I really feel the way I feel?

  Walking in Memphis

  (Walking in Memphis)

  I was walking with my feet ten feet off of (B?)

  Walking in Memphis

  (Walking in Memphis)

  But do I really feel the way I feel?

  Put on my blue suede shoes

  And I boarded the plane

  Touched down in the land of the Delta Blues

  In the middle of the pouring rain

  Touched down in the land of the Delta Blues

  In the middle of the pouring rain.

   

   
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