Tria Chéria

All this happened years ago, at the monastery of "Saint Ignatius of Antioch" of Sokolski, about 10km from Gabrovo, near the village of Charkovo. I stood fascinated in front of the famous miracle-working icon of Maria-Tria-Chéria. An old monk was busy around the church occasionally looking over to me. I was prepared for this moment but actually seeing it so close, took my breath away. I examined it carefully inch-by-inch. It was most magnificent, a true masterpiece. 

I turned my head was surprised to find the monk standing next to me - he was in his seventies, with a full white beard and rich braid on his back from under his black toque. He held two huge yellowish wax candles, one in each hand. I bowed "Good morning, father!" He replied in good but heavily accented English: "God bless you, my son, welcome to our house. I am Father Postolin." I told him how far I came to see it and proudly showed off telling of my studies, the opinions and theories on origins and the meaning of the icon. He listened smiling and nodding and after I finished, rolled his eyes: "Son, the truth is simpler, always, or have you not heard of Father Ockham, of Ockham's Razor fame? He was a Franciscan, not of our faith, but nevertheless learned and wise. Truth is that many years ago, Father Bogumil the Blessed, greatest Icon painter of his days, who always said that one wrote icons, not painted them, he worked on this one icon here for many, many weeks and all could see it's beauty. He finished it but for the decision on Mary's hands, he was uncertain and, for now, he left all three. Thereafter which he retired to his cell to pray to God to guide him on his doubts and later he went to the cellars for the plum spirits for which the monastery was so famous. Father Bogumil the Blessed, greatest Icon painter of his days, he did like a drop or two, but that cold February night he may have had more than a drop or two and fell down on the floor where the abbot found him in the morning. Thus, with God, in His wisdom, calling to him his son, Father Bogumil the Blessed, greatest Icon painter of his days, the icon stayed untouched as you see her before you now." 

I was stunned, could not move, my mouth gaping. Father Postolin shook my hand warmly and said: "Go in peace, my son and with you shall go my blessings."  

Yun-Lin and the Oscar

This is Chen Yun-Lin and his two sons, Patrick and Avery, as I met them at a poker tournament downtown. He is ranked 25,052nd in the world and #319 nationally with life-time winnings of $2,894. We went for tea and ice-cream and he told me his story. Years ago,  in his native Seoul, he was a bright economics student active in the "Wild Strawberry Movement". After graduation, he came to Toronto and was hired by a major investment house. His boss, Bob, was a jerk and a bully and a liar who made everybody's life miserable. In his domestic life, Bob was uxorious; his wife Evy was famous for her awesome physical beauty and fierce, ferocious jealousy. One day, when they went to see a client, Yun-Lin planted a pair of sexy panties under the seat in Bob's car. An enormous scandal ensued both at Bob's home (where Evy broke Bob's nose with a bottle o Chablis) and at work where the truth somehow came out and Mr. Chen was fired (he went back to Seoul). Over drinks with his old university buddy Bong Jun-Ho, a struggling screen-writer, Yun-Lin talked about Toronto and told the story of the planted panties. While in Korea, Yun-Lin met Ran Chae-Won, a dazzling and successful graphic designer. They and fell in love, got married (Jun-Ho was the best man) and moved to Toronto where both found good jobs, bought a house and had two kids. Recently Jun-Ho, by this time a successful moviemaker, came to visit and to show off the Oscar he won. They had a great time over a huge traditional meal with lots of drinks and talked about the old days when they were poor and how well they eventually did (Yun-Lin and Chae-won didn't have the heart to tell him they haven't seen any of his movies). Jun-Ho kept laughing and pointing to the Oscar saying that Yun-Lin owned a piece of that. After Jun-Ho left to catch the red-eye to LAX, Yun-Lin asked his wife: "Do you have any idea what he meant about me owning a piece of his Oscar?"