As time ticks by and I continue steadily towards my destiny, I can’t help but look back down the path I’ve created on this planet and to the “whoms”, I’ve spent much of my ideal and progressive time with. So much time that when I look at these folks nowadays, a smile creeps on for I see to who my influences, my knowledge, and energy help create. I see a bit of me in each of these persons. I see where I help give that someone a path in which they graciously skip on daily, that knowledge of enjoyment that can be simply reached to escape the planet and no one makes that so visually clear than one
Mrs. Tracy Wang
aka
Flying Figure
I slipped back into Beijing, China in 2011 to make sure my “business partner” was satisfied with a life that she could manage, those gaven me the chance to play a bit in the craft beer world and more by opening THE drive-thru. During which time in the early opening months in the weeeee hours of an early morning beer session that I came across Tracy being stationed all alone behind a desk in a dreaded wine office on the 16th floor in Tower 5 of Sanlitun Soho. Thank you wechat! From that time forward, we became close companies. Heading off to do beer events at The Green-Tea House, closed, to just about anything relating to beer. Traveling to Stella Artois beer competitions, Shanghai Beer Festivals, Beijing bar tours, and way more incriminating activities throughout Beijing.
Check out Tracy’s entry for BEERTOPIA
At some point in 2012 Tracy quit her wine office job and during her transition to the magazine companies, she spent several months work by my side at The drive-thru which time she not only drank to learn, but also assisted in PPT presentation regarding craft beer styles, cheese, chocolate, and sausage pairings plus basic education for we were the forefront of the booming beer industry no matter how fake it may seem. We learned so much together at that time.
Smoke buddies, beer connoisseurs, and shit talkers. Tracy was by far the best F.W.B. any man of my stature could have. Our close beer oriented friendship continued for some five-plus years follow my move to Trouble Bar. Visiting or chatting with each other almost every day for any reason to hang out. Tastings of the latest import craft beer my import business could obtain and so forth. Our every birthday, holidays. Long walks throughout the concrete jungle distributing flyers for craft beer events… To the later years of bowling, theater, to all days visit when one would return back from an extended journey.
Miss our “daddy-daughter days” as we called it.
It seems that Tracy and I were around anything beer related throughout China. I give all I could to her at those busy and insanely crazy years of my life. Being a self-supporting foreigner in China managing business, relationships, and trying to keep the stress down was beyond intense for my county boy ass As my security with my Chinese business partner dwelled, our friendship and time together would take a toll. Miss interpretation and words would go askew and before I know it, it was all my fault for it seems that I let her down. How? I am not sure for I thought our friendship was simple straightforward and past the drama.
Peking Opera Drama… Makes Hollywood feel like a Barbie doll house.
Check out what Boyce has to say! Must Tries Series | Tracy Wang reveals her ‘Flight of Flights’ brewpub tour of Beijing
Even though our paths these days have lead us to different views and opinions, this session, this session is my effort of kind words for all the times
“I didn’t take up for you. I’m sorry. I’m proud of you.“
It would be karma that the very liberal foreigner related magazine company we spent hours talking shit about would be the very company in which she is now senior editor of. I remember like yesterday, some three years ago now, the weeks of conversations about applying for the food & beverage editor job in which I told her
“to just do it.“
!FUCK NIKE!
“It will be to your benefit in the long run“.
A move to unwanted beginnings towards an end for the time was coming to save my sanity by divorce China, moving back to blue skies & green grass, and try to lead a more fruitful lifestyle. Rocking the boat once Chinese folks are “comfortable” make for happy ending no matter the stories that make that boat float. Just keep it floating.
I look back daily and feel proud knowing that Tracy is smiling like the photo above about her progression in life. Her work at The Beijinger & Great Leap Brewery, knowing that she feels proud of herself for she has successfully reached level 2 of the Cicerone Certification Program, as well as WSETII. Giving her the advantage to not only enjoy craft beer but to have the mindset to thoroughly see and feel the value of it. She also became a certified scuba diver and now travels the world in search of fine beer and clean water.
Makes me happy about myself. That… I am a good influence on some.
Continue the positive movement through life love. Daddy’s proud!
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My Tringle: Business partner, wife, & Tracy. The smile on my face during these moments where priceless.
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