Ashi

I am waiting for it on sale also. Which is also giving them time to sort bugs out. Paying less for a more polished product. What a weird concept. LOL. Currently I am playing Cultist Simulator. LOL. Such a weird game. Big learning curve and careful reading is required. Great for tinkers like me. Don't know why it's called Cultist Simulator, because I can see the engine to have the potential to become "Create Your Own Subculture Simulator," except the police and press are constantly after you. LOL.

Great questions and I love all the responses. Now I need an editor.

FROM: Sojourner TO: Perfect Stranger DATE: FEB-28-2019 Dear Stranger, I am glad you are reading this. That means you did not throw this letter away and move on with your life. I hope this unsolicited letter doesn’t alarm you or anything, because that’s not what I intended. This is the first time I’ve ever done something like this, too. I mean, sharing my life with a perfect stranger. If you don’t mind spending few moments reading through my letter and the enclosed photos, I

Hello Kitt. Age is a state of mind. I was dreaming of some guy would cuddle me. That would make me feel young again. LOL

*Ashi sprinkles salt, pepper, tandori marsala, and paprika on spring chicken, rubs it with extra virgin olive oil. Place it on onion slices and send it directly to oven*

LOL. Okay, thanks, Tim. Spring chicken. Mmm, yum. LOL (what's spring chicken?)

Hello. The new normal can be abnormal again, if we stay calm and keep other people informed.

Tim, I am an old fart. LOL. I've been your fan since you joined GA. But thank you for the welcome. 🙂 I'll come see you time to time, of course. Oh, Molly. You're very kind.

Oh, wow. I Love it! Especially the part you have your special stationary set! I would love to do that! I am not sure how Perfect Stranger feels. I am writing Sojourner, but you as readers are free to interpret Perfect Stranger. If I were Perfect Stranger, I might get creep out.

I am pretty sure I can write a happy ending for Sojourner. I am the author. LOL Yes. Everybody deserves to be loved. Thank you @mollyhousemouse and Tim @Mikiesboy. You guys are too kind.

Some of these chapters were written extremely carefully. I know they look fairly simple on the surface, but they caused me many troubles over. Difficult subjects can get very touchy, and the matters I touched on, if not worded properly, can get explosive..., and become derailed of what I was trying to deliver. While I believe I've become more eloquent than I was younger (though not an excuse to become complacent), but I might lost some insight I had when I was younger. I mean younger folks is more keen about events and talk very straight forward and though not quite understand why they had those emotion inside: anger, depression, frustration with the world, frustrated with their hormone. LOL. But this is a story of a 30-40 year old boy who is still experiencing some delayed growing pain, so it's a very tricky story to write. I don't want to undermine the intelligence of the readers or put down people's experience when they're going through what Sojourner faced. I know I did go through it, and I am sure I am not alone.... And when you're this age, you build up a thicker skin, so things don't just trigger because of a single event, but tons of things going on at once. And I am trying to deliver all that in a consistent manner so the logistics of it is just crazy. I hope the story comes out in a matter-of-fact way, because that's what I intended, so people can be more focused to the core subject I am trying to put out: the walls among people (I know in the story it's about Sojourner and his mom, but I do mean it in a more broad manner). I am trying to make it as timeless as possible. This might be my only time to write something like this, so I want to do it right. I really do appreciate with all the feedback you guys put out.

I can't get embedded pictures to work, so I used links. Maybe I'll just post them in the gallery. Thank you for the feedback. I've gone through that gate a billion times. It's like a ritual when I go to Chinatown, so I put that little detail into the story to make the story more authentic in feel. BUT, the reason why Sojourner felt the trip was a bit trite is different from why I feel though. I think I'll let reader interpret it as they see fit. I just noticed I had a plot hole (something else, not related to Chinatown). I'll see what I need to do to fix it, though I think most people won't notice it.... Thank you again, Molly.

Cool short. Written by Dustin Lance Black....

FROM: Sojourner TO: Perfect Stranger DATE: JUN-04-2019 Dear Stranger, I’ve been strolling around Golden Gate Park last couple of weeks. I found out if you drove here early enough, you might still find some free parking spaces on Fulton Street without hour limitation. Maybe you already knew that, but I think it’s nice to share. Observation tower level of de Young Museum is where you want to be. You can definitely spot the orderly rows of residential area so typical of Ri

I am very saddened by the events rolled out lately. It's not the first time there are protests over police brutality, but it's been a good while since some violence of this scale rolled out. The city I live in is currently under emergency curfew due to civil unrest. It is not a time to place blame. It is a time to reflect, how we could do things differently, using each of our very limited influence, so there is a future for younger generation. I just want people to stay inside and be safe. I do understand people are under emotional and financial duress with the pandemic. I really do. U.S. Constitution allows peaceful assembly, so please only express your rights in a civil manner. Pen can be mightier than sword. A few clear rhetoric can go a long way, saving lives of others for decades to come. Hatred, however, divides people, and I am afraid to admit, last longer. I was on BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit), our mass transit system one day and yield a seat to a senior lady. It was only a matter of seconds before others starting to do the same. I am a strong believer of setting good example, starting with ourselves. A graceful gesture will be much more meaningful to our humanity. Do forgive those who trespass against you. We are all learning together how to be a better human being. At one time or another, we most likely have done some regretful things, but if no one gave us grace and room for improvement, the world would be a very sad (and immature) place. Forgiveness is much more powerful than hate, so use it. My current story, The Sojourner of San Francisco, expresses some of my latent concern about how things are progressing. It is, in my own ways, a cautionary tale of the city (and by extension, the world in the broadest sense). It is meant to make people look more inside to encourage tolerance and empathy. The history of San Francisco is woven throughout for a good reason. Those who don't study history are bound to repeat it. I do wish some messages would come across sooner, so people would appreciate our co-existence better. Unfortunately, now it is the worst timing to be telling a story of a 40-something boy who is frustrated about the world and the story is unfinished, making people likely to jump to the wrong conclusion (what? People misinterpret other people's words in our Internet Age? No way!?! 😉 LOL). Trust me, the story does have a positive ending. I just need to write it out. LOL. In the mean time, please minimize the mental impact of outside influence. It would lead to a happier life. I will post one more chapter, which fortunately is a more positive chapter. Please do believe in humanity. We can do it. This is where you play John Lennon's epic song Imagine. LOL

I was going to say something about PS..., but that'll be a story spoiler. LOL Can't say anything at this point. Tomorrow I am going back to work so this story will be on hold indefinitely, so I am going to try my best to publish as much as I could before my time is not mine again.

Thanks. 🙂 I hope you guys have no trouble seeing the photos.

Tim.... It's very funny you should say that.... The final chapter is LTR/12: Would You Tend a Field Which Refuses to Bloom? But now I know your answer already.... Thank you. You have a very special touch.

Yeah, I try to find new way to tell stories. I don't even remember how I came up with the idea, to be honest. It seems to take a life of its own now as I am too focused on the content rather than how I started this story. I was going to say Simon vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda (the movie Love, Simon is based on) or I Am the Cheese, but I highly doubt it. I think it's probably something in my RL that triggered it, but it's been too long I can't pinpoint what. COVID-19 gave me the time to fulfill things I wanted to do in life but couldn't do. I know one of the chapters I haven't posted it yet is because of the movie Boys (AKA, Jonas, AKA I Am Jonas... don't know why so many name changes, probably naming right issue with Jonas brothers). That movie just haunted me so badly.

Thank you Tim.

Thank you.

Yeah. I think Sojourner just wanted to write, as stated in first letter, and he hopes Perfect Stranger would read it, but not holding his breath.

You're very kind, Tim.

Yeah, right? I don't think how deep it can affect us emotionally, to be denied of love. They think it's very different from heterosexual type of love, because they're thinking about sex.... Love is the same.... Yes, hopefully some parents can understand for their own sake. Tim..., you're such a loving person....

Oh my. LOL. You really are growing up in the Internet Age. Honestly, I haven't written a real letter for a long time also. Not since middle school actually. LOL. Try it sometimes if you got a chance to practice your handwriting.