Fred Van Liew
- Apr 22, 2023
- 3 min read

Pa Opens Up

We arrived in Yingge

five hours and twenty minutes after departing Tainan.

Unbeknownst to us, the young man who helped us at the 7-11 had purchased a ticket on a “local”,

24 stops between A & B.

With no illusions of being whisper quiet, it was nevertheless comfortable,

more like an old Amtrak than a Bullet Train.

It rocked back and forth as it made its way past cities

and towns,

temples,

farmhouses,

and green fields.

Unlike the coastal journey from Taipei to Taitung, there were no mountain vistas or ocean views to delight, so Pa and I had time to talk.

I assumed we’d catch up. Or plan a little, with Japan coming up. But he wanted to talk about “his world”, as he calls it.

“I apologize, Fred, for not telling you much. What I told you about baseball and family is infinitesimal in comparison to all that’s there.”

Admittedly, I’ve had questions. But Pa being the private man that he is, I’ve not wanted to intrude.

“You see, we have a code. Not a rule as such, but an understanding that should we get an opportunity to visit home - our old home - we not say much. It’s one of those rift in the universe things. Divulge too much and things on the other side might be altered dramatically.”

I could imagine, although they say the truth can’t hurt. Maybe that’s just a local thing.

“But all this talk about gods and goddesses, deities and saints, has made me want to set the record straight, at least with you.”

Having had doubts, I appreciated Pa’s willingness to let me in on some inside information.

“It’s pretty simple, Fred. There’s just before and after. No birth, no death, just transition. Of course there are regions. For the most part, those who departed earth stay with their own kind. There are exceptions, of course, but that’s for another time.”

I’d wondered about that too, hoping to one day meet an extraterrestrial.

“And those revered ones, those in whose names so many have died, they’re just like the rest of us.”

I told Pa, that when the time comes, I’d like to meet some of them.

“You certainly can, but it’s difficult to get one on one time. They’re as popular there as when they were on earth. But we have these events. They’re called Holy Fairs, sort of like Woodstock they say. By the way, I would have like to have gone, but I was 93 at the time and it wasn’t possible.”

I was impressed by Pa’s interest, and said I would have like to have gone as well but my senior year of high school was about to start and couldn’t make the trip.

“Anyway, people come from far and wide to the Holy Fairs. They’re great, and all the great ones show up. And some you’ve never heard of who have interesting messages too.”

A stop away from Yingge, we had to get our things together.

“One last thing, Fred, we all get along there, the Big Names even more so. They’re funny guys. A while back I overhead two of the biggest: