From the Buddhists
Near Randy's plant is a Buddhist Temple. I must confess I don't know what type of temple it is. Right before Randy came back for the funeral some of his employees went to the temple on our behalf. A monk at the temple gave them three things to give to me. 
In the center is an image of Guan Yin. To the left is a bracelet of very fragrant wooden beads; to the right one of stone beads. These two bracelets have to do with balancing out the cold and the heat in my system. The Chinese have very strong notions about hot and cold and how these affect people. And it isn't just things that are truly hot or cold. Some foods, like lychees, have "internal heat." Apparently eating too many lychees will make you break out in a heat rash because of their heat. Anyway, for the first four weeks I am supposed to avoid cold (I am guessing that they didn't realize that it is January in Pennsylvania). I shouldn't drink cold beverages, and I shouldn't be cold. They sent the wooden beads for me to wear because wood is not cold. After those four weeks I can switch to the stone beads.
I have been wearing the wooden beads, not because I am a Buddhist. But the warm fragrance somehow makes me think of Randy in China, and I actually feel a little less lonely.
In the center is an image of Guan Yin. To the left is a bracelet of very fragrant wooden beads; to the right one of stone beads. These two bracelets have to do with balancing out the cold and the heat in my system. The Chinese have very strong notions about hot and cold and how these affect people. And it isn't just things that are truly hot or cold. Some foods, like lychees, have "internal heat." Apparently eating too many lychees will make you break out in a heat rash because of their heat. Anyway, for the first four weeks I am supposed to avoid cold (I am guessing that they didn't realize that it is January in Pennsylvania). I shouldn't drink cold beverages, and I shouldn't be cold. They sent the wooden beads for me to wear because wood is not cold. After those four weeks I can switch to the stone beads.
I have been wearing the wooden beads, not because I am a Buddhist. But the warm fragrance somehow makes me think of Randy in China, and I actually feel a little less lonely.
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