Carl Lance

It’s A Mess

     We moved into our house in Texas right after I retired.  The house was 23 years old and had been rented out for the last seven.  It would need a lot of work to make it our home.  A contractor was highly recommended by our family, so we quickly agreed to let him […]

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Sarap ng Buhay

     We are finally back home in Texas!  Thank GOD, we made it to retirement and look forward to our “Sarap ng Buhay (zest of life)” with our family friends and loved ones.       I realize this is a blessing many people never get, but it isn’t the way I had imagined it would be. 

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Almost Finished

Almost Finished –      The movers packed up our possessions.  Fifteen years of living overseas went into six shipping crates that we won’t see for more than a month.  They even took away our car. Everything will be loaded on a ship bound for Texas. The apartment seems so empty now, with only the “furnished”

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Protocols

After working for 16 years with the State Department, I have a basic understanding of why we need and follow diplomatic protocols. We need these rules so our Diplomats can live and work in countries with different intentions, rules, and laws than we in the United States have. In countries that oppose us, these protocols

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Life Is Not A Performance

     Last night we attended an acrobatic show at the Chaoyang Theater in Beijing.  The hour-long variety show was like a circus, with beautiful costumes, thrilling acts of daring and amazing skills.  The performers began their training as young as six and endure a lot of pain to gain the strength and skill they need

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