Maggie & I walk everyday….everyday, rain or shine.

Today was rain, but it started off as just a really light drizzle. So I thought we might be able to squeeze in our walk before it started pouring again.

We walked, as always, through the rice fields, past the restaurant & over the causeway towards the woods of the abandoned Army training area.

At the end of that causeway is a brick house – the same house who owns the slum dogs I keep meaning to write about, the same house that has the mound of wood scraps in the back, the same house that planted the sunflowers.

This is their one of their dogs who’s allowed to roam the backyard slums.

Most days when we pass by, we see the woman who lives there, working away on her garden. At first, you could tell she was uneasy about Maggie. Koreans just aren’t accustomed to big dogs.

But everyday I smile & bow when I pass by – the traditional Korean greeting.

Smile & bow. Everyday. Smile & bow.

(She doesn’t speak English – I still don’t speak Korean.)

Today, through the drizzle as we walked past she walked-up & handed me 3 beautifully ripe apricots – fresh from the fruit trees that grow alongside her house.

Progress.

I bowed profusely & thanked her very much.

Maggie, suddenly realizing I had something good to eat in my hand, began jumping up & down a bit as if to say, “I want one! I want one!.”

So I quickly tucked them away in my pocket before she really started pitching a fit.

I was afraid Maggie’s jumping might’ve spooked the woman, but she laughed & shook her finger at her.

Progress.

(Where’s the third one?…Smashed…in my pocket…wasn’t pretty.)