Mitchell's Big Adventure in Chengdu & Xiangtan China

All of the following is absolutely true, but does prove that we can experience magical events from the least likely of sources. Not Harry Potter magic (though I did find his mirror), but unexpected magic.
I went to Shanghai (even the name sounds magical).
I have some meetings in Shanghai on Mon/Tues this week so I decided to come to Shanghai early only because last time I was here only one day and hadn’t really seen anything and figured I could use the weekend for some tourism.
Saturday, I awoke to discover that immediately across the street from my hotel is the City Sports Arena which just so happens to be hosting the - 2007 Summer Special Olympics.
Turns out anyone can go for free. No ticket. No special pass. Just walk in. I did.
Hundreds of the world’s Special Olympians simply sitting around in open areas with all of the spectators. No special security. No separation. Nothing (now, I did think the lack of security was a bit odd, but this is an all access event).
The USA team was not around, but I found and talked a few minutes with some Canadians spectators and then found a seat to watch. The events for the day were Track. I watched the 1500, the 400, and the 400 speed walk. My seat was at the finish line on row 2 – I couldn’t have been more than 20 yards from the track itself.
This was an incredible event. Very low key. The Athletes had uniforms by country, but other than that I saw no country flags, banners, people dressed in patriotic garb or any nationalistic behavior. What I DID see was that as each Athlete crossed the finish line everyone, and I mean everyone, cheered as though that Athlete just set a world record time. This was sports the way they are supposed to be. These Athletes were not competing for lucrative endorsements, or big money payouts, or world record fame or country nationalism; no, this was sport for the purity of sport. Just fun. Some competitors almost missed their starts because they were waving at the crowds. One man completed the 1500 and immediately kissed the track, waved to the crowd and when his helper came to assist him in leaving the track so the next race could queue up, simply waved him off and ran up and down the side of the track in his own victory lap waving at all the fans – and nobody was worried to stop him. Everyone cheered with him and when he was sufficiently satisfied with his celebration, he trotted off the field and next race began.
I sat and watched for 2 hours. I kept thinking of Ms Holcomb at Pine Street and was going to buy her and Ryan(?) a shirt, but they were sold out.
I didn’t know this was happening in Shanghai – but it was one of those simple unexpected magical moments that make you sit back and appreciate many of the simple things in life. Absolutely spectacular.
After becoming very relaxed, I headed back to the hotel for a taxi to my evening activity. An evening with the legendary Grammy award winning musical player, composer, conductor, visionary – the spectacular one and only - Mr. Chick Corea. Live, solo concert with his grand piano. I was checking in at the hotel and looked up and saw a flyer for his show. So the concierge helped me get tickets. I haven’t heard his name in 20 years and suddenly we were both in the same town. Unexpected Magic.
I arrived at the concert hall in plenty of time and was surprised yet again. In a performing hall next to mine, there was - a clown show. Before their show began these guys were horsing around out in the lobby with anybody that happened to walk in – which included me. They are a troupe from several countries who are working together and doing a tour of China. Why? Just because they can. The clown who decided to clown with me turns out to be from Clearwater, FL. When I told him I was from Tampa, he gave me that wary “yeah, and I bet you say that to everybody” look. So I told him I was a Plant High Panther and he laughed with an “OK, you convinced me!” We chatted a moment, but there were kids around and he had to go back to work. He went to his show, and I went to mine. What are those odds? Two guys from Florida in Shanghai at the same concert hall on the same night. Unexpected magic.
Chick Corea was wonderful. Small crowd and he talked and laughed, and made jokes, and pulled out his camera and took pictures of the audience (said we would be on his web site) and man, oh man, can he play! Two hours of solo work. Some simple short tunes and some longer complex ones. Very wonderful. Very relaxing. And of course, very magical.

Now I know what you are thinking. There is no way Mitchell can add to all of this in one weekend. Ordinarily, I would agree with you. I’m not that exciting.

But I did.
Jay, are you ready?

Can you say – Shanghai Formula One Grand Prix?
That’s right. A day of F1 racing at the 4th running of the Shanghai Circuit. Now this was noise!! I sat in one of the turn sections where the driver comes in at 165 down to 55 and back to 155 in like, one second on his way to 200 on the back stretch. I am not a race guy, but this was a ton of fun. High pitched whine of the engines, the sound of gear changes, and it had rained some so we had the big rooster tails of water shooting out the back of each car. I was going to get the 4 boys (Jay, Sam, Charles, and Thomas a Ferrari hat, but at $45 each, I vetoed that idea – sorry guys). Kimi Raikkonen won. Ralph Schumacher (Michael's brother) spun out in the 1st turn of the 1st lap and was never a factor.
A day at the races - definitely unexpected magic!!

I am now exhausted and ready for bed and if you think that I will wake up tomorrow ready for another day of work – well now, THAT will be magic!