LINDA VALDEZ

Are Mexicans still spending millions of dollars a day in Arizona? We’ll soon find out

Opinion: Arizona leaves money on the table when it comes to tourism from Mexico – we just don’t know how much. A new study will fix that.

Linda Valdez

The Republic | azcentral.com

View Comments

There’s gold along Arizona’s southern border and it should be more aggressively mined to benefit you and your family.

But you don’t hear much about it.

What you hear is the bad stuff about Arizona’s border with Mexico. (And, yes, there are problems.)

But let’s face it: The average Arizonan has little to gain from the relentlessly negative political hyperbole about the border.

Mexican shoppers help you

On the other hand, you and your family have a great deal to gain from increasing the number of legal Mexican shoppers to our state.

That’s the border story you don’t hear. But should.

Gov. Doug Ducey – who has done his share to feed the Trump administration’s big, bad border frenzy – is going to help tell that story by updating a 2008 study into how much Mexican shoppers spend in our state.

There’s gold in that spending.

How many millions? We don’t know

How much? We don’t know.

We do know the contribution of Mexican shoppers to our economy was significant a decade ago.

The 2008 report done by the University of Arizona’s Eller College of Management found Mexican visitors spent more than $7.3 million a day in Arizona stores, restaurants, hotels and other businesses.

That money supports businesses and jobs, as well as producing sales tax to help fund basic state and local services – like your child’s school.

It supports schools and local services

The 2008 study found legal Mexican visitors represented “a staggering 48.62 percent of the total taxable sales in Santa Cruz County.”

Keep in mind: The 24 million visa-holding Mexican travelers who came here that year far exceeded the number of people who crossed the border illegally in any year.

You didn’t hear much about those legal border crossers, which is a real shame.

Arizona didn’t do much to treat them like valued customers, which is a lost opportunity.

Dissing our customers wasn’t smart

In 2010 – after years of ugly rhetoric about the dangers of the border – GOP Gov. Jan Brewer signed a xenophobic anti-immigrant law that resulted in boycotts, lost conventions and bad press.

It also inspired deep resentment in Mexico.

Despite it all, Mexicans continue to visit. 

A recent study for the Office of Tourism found that in 2017, tourists who stayed overnight in our state spent $22.7 billion in Arizona. Two-thirds of the foreign tourists were from Mexico, according to reporting by The Republic’s Russ Wiles.

We don’t know how many more Mexicans would have come if we’d been nicer. We do know that neighboring border states – and Nevada – were courting Mexican travelers while we were making rude gestures.

A new study is coming – at last

What’s more, this broad study of tourism did not capture day trippers from Mexico or people who stayed in private homes, so it most likely under-represents the contribution of Mexicans to Arizona’s tourism economy.

We need an update of the 2008 study for that – and at long last, Ducey’s Office of Tourism is getting ready to do it.

Scott Dunn, director of communications at the tourism office, says a request for proposals for a new Mexico visitor study should go out in September.

 “The more data we have, the better we can grow the Mexican market . . . our largest source of international travelers,” says Dunn.

Here’s what the study needs to do

He says it will be a “comprehensive study of the Mexican market,” but adds that it is too early in the process to say exactly what it will cover.

There are a few important things to consider when when designing a new study.

• A new study of Mexican tourism has to look at day trippers who shop in border cities. The recent, broader tourism study looked only those who stayed overnight.
• The study should also build on information from a 2015 report for the Maricopa Association of Governments that said expanding the border crossing zone statewide could to increase the overall number of Mexican tourists and “generate up to $181 million in additional estimated spending and 2,179 additional jobs … ” Currently, visa-holders who have passed all legal requirements to travel in the United States still need a secondary permit to travel more than 75 miles into Arizona – effectively limiting their shopping to Tucson.

Give Gov. Ducey some credit

Unlike Brewer, Ducey has worked the Mexican market to Arizona’s advantage.

Under his administration, Arizona opened a trade office in Mexico City, assigned liaisons to encourage trade and worked with Mexican elected officials to build relationships. He even touted Mexico as Arizona’s top trading partner.

That trade relationship accounts for $2.4 billion a month in commodity flows to Mexico through Arizona’s ports of entry, according to July Arizona-Mexico Economic Indicators prepared by Eller. But that’s down from $2.9 billion in March 2017.

We still need a cheerleader

Our economic relationship with Mexico requires attention – just like any other relationship. Arizonans need to understand that.

Yet Arizonans continue to hear more about the problems at the border than about the great economic benefit and opportunity the Mexican border represents.

That needs to change.

The overdue update to a decade-old study of Mexican shoppers is a good sign.

But we also need to hear more from our elected officials about the gold mine on our southern border.

Reach Valdez at linda.valdez@arizonarepublic.com.

As the year 2021 starts to wind down, it becomes time to reassess the year and maybe our lives. So much has happened in the last year and a half with Covid. Much of it bad (social isolation, losing friends and family members), some good (connecting with more and more people by Zoom.) It is time to think: I am getting what I want out of life? Am I happy? What can I do now and in the near future to bring my life more in alignment with what it should be? If nothing else, Covid has been a reminder to each of us that things happen and we might not have as much time on this planet as we thought. cew

Oct 18, 2012, 02:40pm  Forbes Magazine

The 25 Biggest Regrets In Life. What Are Yours?

Eric Jackson

Contributor

I write about technology and media

Fork in Road

We are all busy. Life happens. There’s always something to distract us from getting around to certain things we know we should do.

Soccer practice.  Work. Home renovations. Getting that next big promotion.

And with the explosion of always-on smartphones and tablets delivering a fire hose of urgent emails, not to mention Twitter and Facebook (FB), in recent years, things have only gotten busier.

In the backs of our minds, we know we’re neglecting some stuff we should do. But we never get around to it.

Then, something happens.  A good friend or loved one – maybe close to us in age – drops dead unexpectedly.  We begin to think about what our biggest regrets would be if we were suddenly sitting on our death bed.

Here is a list of the 25 biggest ones we’ll probably have.

The question is, are you going to change anything this afternoon or tomorrow in light of this list?  Or are you going to go back to your busy life?

Death in HR – Conclusion

Brother Huang stood up. “I think Chi Li has had enough for right now. She will go back to meditation. Mr. Sam, if I could speak to you further at my office.” Huang turned away and walked with the girl back into the meditation building.

Sam walked back to the brother’s office and saw the young man again inside.

“He wants me to wait.” The young man nodded and went back to work.

In a few minutes, Brother Huang returned to his office. He sighed and poured himself another cup of tea. He waved the tea pot at Sam who declined.

Huang plopped himself down on his chair.

“Ah, as you can see, Mr. Sam, Chi Li has been very traumatized. It is going to take some time. She will need medical help.”

“Yes, but you have done so much for her here.”

The old man nodded. “Yes, we have, we have. But. . . there is more.” He touched a finger lightly to his forehead. “You understand, that we cannot quite touch.”

Sam nodded.

“You will have the mother contact us, yes? And we will talk.” He handed Sam a business card of his own. Then, reached behind him and pulled out a couple of brochures. “And should you, Mr. Sam, wish to come and study meditation with us some time, you would be welcome.”

“I would be honored, Brother Huang.”

They both got up and bowed to one another. Sam stuck the card and brochures in his satchel and let himself out.

                                                            ###

Brother Huang watched as the big American left, his arms akimbo on his hips. He sighed and turned back to his office.

“Did you tell the American about the fox?” his younger co-worker asked him. “How she came here as an injured fox and then turned back into a woman?” His thin eyebrows were up.

Huang sighed again and shook his head. “No, he would never believe me.  Never.”

                                                                       ###

Back home in Tranquility, California, Sam was in Kristie’s kitchen pouring himself a cup of coffee.

“The whole thing is fantastic, Sam. Unbelievable!”

He nodded to her and sipped from his cup.

“How did you know? How did you ever know to look for her there, in all of the out of way places?”

“It started with the grandmother really and the little Buddha shrine in the apartment. The grandmother told me the whole family was Buddhist and practicing Buddhist, not just lip service. Vivian, or Vi, had completely turned her back on the whole thing. Rejected it completely.”

Kristie sat at the kitchen table and listened, transfixed.

“But then when I went to her apartment, I found the same little shrine, just stuck in a dusty corner. That’s when a little idea came to me.”

“But to walk there, on foot. And, how did she know where to go? She had never even been to the place.”

“Ah, that’s where you’re wrong. She had been there before. When she was a kid and her father was still alive. She used to go with them and the grandmother too. They would go for weekend retreats to do meditation. But, then the father died, the mother didn’t drive much, the grandmother not at all and they forgot about the place.”

“But she didn’t and after all those years. Amazing.”

Sam nodded his head and tamped his mustache down a bit.

“So now what?”

 “Well, the mother is at Green Veil, going to spend a little time getting reacquainted, kind of thing. Then, she will encourage Vi to give up the fancy apartment and get some therapy.”

“Ah, the job at Hi-Tech?”

“Ah, yes. Hi-Tech. Quite a place that. Don’t think Vi will be going back to Hi-Tech.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Let’s say a little fox whispered in my ear.”

“Oh, Sam. I never know when to take you seriously or not.”

He grinned at her.

“Hey, dinner’s on me. I got paid.”

“I’m in. Our favorite place?”

“Our favorite place – steaks, baked potatoes and with any luck, apple pie.”

“Sam, you’re a pig.”

“Yup.”

                                                            ###

That night a big, harvest moon hung in the sky. Moonlight twinkled on the leaves of the plantings around The Green Veil Monastery.

Quietly, a window opened, and a lone figure crawled out and then crouched on the wet grass. The figure, tall but very thin, moved into some bushes and there was a faint rustling sound. Another figure came out of the bushes, but this time it wasn’t human. It was a red fox with a thick, bushy tail. The fox sniffed the air a minute. Then, looking around, almost with stealth, the fox scampered across the grass and ran into some green undergrowth.

The bright moonlight continued to fall on the silent, green landscape.

                                                               ###

Some months later:

In downtown San Francisco the lights shone brightly in the big hotel and loud music could be heard out to the sidewalk. Inside, multi-colored balloons danced at the ceiling and a huge Hi-Tech, Corporation sign hung in silver letters on one wall. Happy Holiday Event! was proudly displayed on the sandwich sign at the front door. The maitre’d checked off names from a guest list. A large crowd, dressed in their finest, were milling about, eating canapes and sipping drinks from an open-bar.

CEO, Dan Cole and Jeremy Bright, Head of HR, stood together at the side of the festivities. They both looked dapper in black tux’s and matching bow ties. Jeremy held a crystal champagne flute and Dan, a cut-glass tumbler of scotch.

“Good turn out,” commented Dan.

“Yep,” replied Jeremy, “good year.”

They both sipped their respective drinks.

“People seem to be having a good time,” Jeremy opined.

“They should, for all the damn money this thing cost,” Dan said grudgingly.

“Too bad Vi couldn’t make it back for the party,” Jeremy looked at Dan. “I hear she has really changed. Gone all Buddhist or some such thing.”

“Pah,” Dan grunted. “Yeah, too bad.” He turned and smiled at Jeremy.

They clinked glasses together.

“Don’t I just know it, don’t I just know,” Jeremy smiled back. They both laughed and turned back to the party.

                                                           The End

Read more of Courtney’s writing in:
https://sites.google.com/view/webbywritercom/page-5?authuser=0

Death in HR – Part IX

(Sam Reynolds, PI, has been hot on the trail of Vi Lee, HR Manager at Hi-Tech Industries. Vi had disappeared suddenly. He has just gotten done interviewing staff at Hi-Tech).

“That would be very helpful, Ms. Wells. Thanks for your time.” Sam got up to leave.

“Oh, and, in the event she is found and comes back. What are the chances of her getting her old job back, or any job with the company for that matter?”

“Not a snowball’s chance in Hell, Mr. Reynolds. Not a snowball’s chance.” Robin smiled thinly and led him to the door.

                                                            ###

Sam had a key to Vi’s apartment the mother had given to him. Later, he drove over there and let himself in.

He spent time wandering around the ultramodern two-bedroom, two bath place. Finally, he sank down in the living room and was just quiet and absorbed the atmosphere. The apartment was high up in the complex and very quiet.

He kept looking around and saw a little glimmer of gold.

Getting up, he went over to a corner desk with an old computer and computer screen.

“Probably the last year’s model,” he laughed grimly. He pushed it aside and looked behind.

There sat a small, fat smiling Buddha decorated with cheap gold paint. Very out of keeping with the rest of the apartment. He fingered the little bowl at the bottom and could see it was an offering bowl like the one at the grandmother’s place. Water had dried on the bottom of the bowl.

Sam was thoughtful.

He pulled out his cell phone and got reception. He called Kristie.

“Hey, how’s my best girl? Of course, I miss you. I would be a complete fool not to… No, fine… You got your computer thing handy? Right. I want you to look something up for me. Monasteries… No, monasteries, Northern California. …No, that’s what I said. …Yeah, call me back, please later. I’ll be in the hotel. ..Love you… Yeah, bye.”

He disconnected the call and stared out into space.

                                                            ###

Later in his hotel room, Kristie called back. He grabbed pen and paper and got busy writing down information.

“Okay, got it sweet. Thanks for this. Should be home by the end of the week.”

“Love you too.”

“No, I think this may be the ticket. Yeah, okay. Bye.”

Sam hung up the phone and looked at his notes. He got up and went over to the satchel he took with him on jobs. He pulled out a large paper map and spread it on the bed.

Looking at the notes, he got out a sharpie and made dots on the map. Three dots. Looking at the map legend on the bottom he put guesstimations of the distance from San Francisco. Finally, studying the map, he eyed one in particular and circled it.

He tapped the dot with his finger several times. “Yup,” he said aloud. “Yup.”

The next day, Sam got up and checked that the recent picture of Vivian Lee was in his satchel. He went downstairs to the lobby and got on the hotel computer. He did a map search first and then printed the map.

He loaded the address into his cell phone and checked out. He might be coming back but he didn’t think so. By 8:30 am he was getting gas in the truck and heading out of the city to the foothills above the Silicon Valley.

An hour later, Sam was driving up the curlicue back road amidst greenery and trees. It was hard to believe he had just been in the big city an hour before. He had to go up and down the road several times before he was able to spot the small sign.

Green Veil Monastery the sign read. He turned in and went up the rutted road. He stopped when he got to some buildings, stopped the truck and stepped out.

He wandered around a bit before a young man, shaved head, wearing a grey tunic came out to greet him. Sam stated his business.

“Follow me,” the young man told Sam in a high-pitched voice.

Sam followed, and they went into one of the smaller buildings. There was a little office there and a sofa for guests. Sam sat. The young man disappeared into the back and he could hear low voices.

In a few minutes the younger man came out, left and a much older man appeared.

“Hello, I am brother Huang. How many I assist you?” The man bowed. He was dressed in the traditional monk’s tunic.

Sam got up and bowed also. He had the photo of Vi Lee ready and handed it over to brother Huang.

“I am Sam Reynolds and I have been hired by the mother of Vivian Lee to find her. I believe she is here.”

Brother Huang took the photo and studied it for a full minute. He handed it back to Sam. “Please come with me.” He turned and walked back into a small office. Sam followed.

The brother sat in a small chair behind a desk and gestured for Sam to sit.

“May I offer you some tea?” he waved to a little glass pot on the side with hot amber liquid inside. A soft flowery scene floated through the room.

Sam nodded yes. The brother got up and poured the liquid into two small ceramic cups without handles. He handed one to Sam.

“The young woman you are talking about, Chi Li, renamed here, came to us a few months ago. She had taken a bad fall, hit her head and was scratched, bruised and dehydrated. We took her in and nursed her back to health.”

Sam nodded and sipped the tea. It had a satisfying, delicate taste. “So, she is back to normal you are saying.”

“Well,” Bother Huang smiled and gave the slightest shrug.  

With that shaved head he reminds me a little of that Buddha statute I keep seeing,

Sam thought.

“Physically, yes she is back to normal. But, there are some other problems.”

“Problems?”

“She still doesn’t seem to really remember who she is or where she is from. That is why we have not sent her back.”

“Can’t remember?”

“She remembers certain things, snatches of memories. But there are . . . gaps.” Brother Huang smiled again.

“Can I see her? Talk to her?”

“Yes, of course. But you have to understand. I can’t have you take her away, we do not really know who you are. Just this little business card. . .” He eyed the card Sam had given him. “It is not really proof, you understand.”

“Certainly, certainly. You have to be careful. I could be anyone.”

The brother nodded beatifically.

“But the mother has been through a lot too. I need to talk to the girl some to be sure this is the daughter. They thought she was dead. Just so to not raise false hopes. You understand.”

“False hopes. Mr. Reynolds, the world is made up of false hopes. But, still, let us go to where they are having morning meditation and you can see for yourself.”

They got up and Sam followed the brother out and across the compound to the largest building. It had a pointed Asian style roof done in curved blue tiles. The corners of the building curved up in little points to the sky. Vivid primary colors painted the outside of the building.

They both took off their shoes and entered. A small group of people were kneeling in front of another brother and doing a repetition sing-song chant. Brother Huang pointed, and Sam saw one figure among the others.

It was a woman he could tell that, but with the shaved head and the loose grey uniform, it was difficult to tell. The chanting stopped. The man in the front looked at Brother Huang who made a small gesture with his hand. The man nodded and went over to the woman and whispered.

She got up and turned around and walked over to him. Sam had a funny Deja-vu feeling. The eyes were the same but, wow, the rest of it.

It was Vivian Lee, he was sure of it. The face was too much the same. But the head was shaved, and she was wearing a bulky grey tunic and loose grey trousers. There were white socks on her feet and she had lost weight.

Bother Huang put a hand on her shoulder and spoke softly “Let us go outside.”

They sat outside on a couple of benches and the brother told her who Sam was and why he was there. She listened with wide eyes.

God, she looks so young. It’s really hard to imagine all those really horrible things people have said about her, Sam was thinking as the brother spoke.

“Chi Li, I think it is?” Sam started. The girl nodded.

“Do you remember anything? Anything at all?”

“I remember bits of things. A big tall building, lots of people. I used to work there I think. A woman, maybe my mother. A lot is fuzzy.”

Sam nodded. He pulled out the photo from his satchel and handed it to her.

“I believe this is you.” He handed it to her.

She took the picture and stared at it several moments. Then, a tear appeared and rolled down her cheek. She wiped it away and nodded.

The brother stood up. “I think Chi Li has had enough for right now. She will go back to meditation. Mr. Sam, if I could speak to you further at my office.” Huang turned away and walked with the girl back into the meditation building.

The conclusion arrives in Part X.

Read more of Courtney’s writing in:
https://sites.google.com/view/webbywritercom/page-5?authuser=0

(Vi Lee, high powered HR manager for Hi-Tech Industries has disappeared. Her grieving mother and grandmother have hired Sam Reynolds, PI, to find her. Sam and Ariel Jones, Art Museum administrator have been to see the two women.)

Ariel nodded. “I would say so too.”

“Also, a few weird items from the grandmother I’m not sure I even want to discuss right now.” He shut his mouth and leaned back against the seat and closed his eyes.

Ariel grimaced with impatience but had to be content with that for now.

                                                            ###

Sam stayed the night in his hotel paid for by the grandmother. He took a shower and watched some football. Before going to bed, he reviewed his notes.

“Hum,” he said to the room. “Curious. More tomorrow, Sam Reynolds. You better get some sleep.”

His first stop was to San Francisco Police Department where he spoke to the detective in charge of the case.

“I can give you a copy of the incident report. I might let you look at the file but, since you ain’t no regular cop, can’t let you have copies.”

“Okay, fair. What was your impression?”

Detective Smyth looked at Sam. “You recording this?”

Sam held up both hands, “Clean as a whistle.”

“Okay, but you didn’t hear it from me. Bitch on wheels. Typical uppity ladder climber, making it to the top. Kill the competition on the way up.”

Sam registered surprise at this candid appraisal of the victim.

“Hey, don’t get me wrong. Classy dame, brainey, good at her job, degree from a top-notch school. But truthfully, think the folks over at Hi-Tech are relieved she’s gone.”

“Relieved? Really?”

“Yeah, got the distinct impression she had stepped on a few toes on her way up.”

“Enough to make this happen?”

“Naw, those corporate clowns are too uppity to do any dirty work. We were all over the boyfriend for a while but he’s a pretty boy model type. Plus, he was on a photo shoot out in the desert when she disappeared. He’d have some real trouble getting back from the Mojave during the time frame she disappeared.”

“So, nobody you can think of for it?”

“Well, we never give up on these things. Maybe one of those preppy types does have more balls than I’m thinking right now. And, if you come up with anything, you’ll tell us, right?”

Sam nodded agreement and the two men exchanged business cards.

“Okay, Detective, got to mosey down the road. Will be in touch.”

The detective nodded, picked up his file and walked Sam out to the front.

“So, the grandmother paying you?”

Sam nodded.

“Ah, too bad about those two. Personally, I don’t think the gal is worth the money. But, then again, you got to make a living, right?” He grinned at Sam.

Sam had made an appointment with Dan Cole, CEO at Hi-Tech and drove over and parked in the underground garage. The receptionist ushered him politely into Mr. Cole’s office. The man lept up from his desk and came over.

“Mr. Reynolds, nice to meet you.” Cole was effusive and gave Sam an overly hearty handshake. Sam plastered a smile on his face.

The two men sat, Cole behind his desk and Sam in front.

“Tragedy about Ms. Lee. A complete tragedy.” Dan Cole said sadly. “But I don’t know what I can tell you. You’ve been to the police?”

“Was just there,” Sam replied. “Spoke to the detective assigned to the case.”

“So,” Cole spread his hands wide, “what else is there?”

Distracted for a moment, Sam noticed the man’s white hair almost glinted in the office light. Hairspray he decided. Collecting himself, he pulled out his little notebook and pencil.

“Just wanted to get a little background from you. What kind of person was Ms. Lee, as a person, employee? That sort of thing.” He smiled genially at Cole.

The man took a moment to respond then steepled his fingertips together and adopted a concerned expression.  

“Well, hard worker, team player, great asset to the corporation. Smart, very driven, Vi had made a name for herself in the time she was at Hi-Tech.”

Sam noticed the man’s eyes kept flicking toward a picture on his desk. Should be a wife, whose else’s photo would he put there? He asked himself. He also noticed Cole had the same kind of coffee set-up on the side board like Ariel Jones’ office.

He put his pencil down a moment. “Oh, I see you have a coffee maker. Could I get a cup?”

“Oh sure, sure.” Cole seemed happy the conversation was on anything except Vivian Lee.

He was about to get up.

“No, no. Let me. I love playing with these new gadgets,” Sam was on his feet and over to the coffee carrel in a moment. “Trying to get my girlfriend to buy me one for Christmas.” He chuckled. “You want one?”

“No, I’m fine.” Cole was shifting papers about on his desk, looked eager to get back to work.

Sam took his time getting back to his chair and veered over a little to glance at the picture on Cole’s desk. A pretty blonde woman. Wife for sure. He sat back down and actually took a couple of sips of some bad coffee.

“So, no ideas about what could have happened to Ms. Lee? Was she unhappy at all, talking about leaving Hi-Tech, anything . . .?”

Cole looked surprised. “No, nothing like that at all. In fact, she was right in the middle of a big project to consolidate all our HR records for this last year. We were in the plus side of the ledger for once, and we were to do a presentation to the stock holders. She had been very instrumental in getting operating costs down to a manageable level.” The man adjusted the silver cuff links on his starched white shirt.

“Hum. Operating costs. Manageable level. So, was she was in charge of layoffs, Mr. Cole?”

Cole looked flustered. “Well, more like early retirement programs. We always did the best we could with our older employees. You know, the golden handshake thing.”

Sam nodded. “Exactly,” he replied sincerely. “Could I get the names of close co-workers Mr. Cole. I’ll just take a few minutes.”

Reluctantly, Cole gave Sam the names of Robin Wells and Jeremy Bright. Sam assured him again he’d be brief. Sweaty but relieved, Cole handed Sam off to his secretary to walk downstairs.

“Oh, one last thing Mr. Cole.” Sam turned back. “Since Ms. Lee has not been officially declared dead, what happens to her job if she comes back?”

Cole gaped for a minute. “Well, she has been replaced. You realize of course, we couldn’t let her desk go unattended. Now, if she came back, as the valued employee that she was, we would have to find something.” His voice trailed away uncertainly.

Sam thanked him again and went out the door with the secretary.

After Sam was gone, Dan Cole flopped in his chair and stared at the picture of his wife. I should have never gotten involved with that woman, never. It was a huge mistake. Maybe we should plan a vacation, Hawaii or something for our twentieth-fifth. Might be a good idea. That in mind, a serious Dan Cole flicked some lint off his thousand dollar suit and got back to work.

As Sam traveled down the elevator, his mind was busy. There was definitely something going on there with the boss. The man was too friendly and too nervous. Spent too much time looking at the picture of his wife. I’d put him down for the job except he seems too much of a weiny to do it. Hired job? Not completely out of the range of possibilities even in a place as sophisticated as the windy city.

The secretary led him to the desk of Robin Wells. She explained Jeremy Bright was out on a call with clients.

Sam thanked her and introduced himself to Robin, a plumpish, thirties something young lady. She was pert in her navy-blue business suit, fashionable haircut and huge cat-eye red glasses.

Robin had him sit down in her office and went to close the door.

“So, you’re the guy the grandmother hired to look into the Vi thing.” More of a statement than a question.

Sam handed her one of his business cards. “Yes, I’m the guy. I’m looking to see if you can give me a little background on Ms. Lee. I understand you took her place.”

“Yes, I did. I was her admin assistant for a year and since I have Masters in HR too, they decided to promote me up.”

Sam thought he detected a little defensiveness in her tone.

“I see. So, you worked for her a year. You must have known her pretty well. What . . . ?”

“She was a bitch, Mr. Reynolds. Grade A, to the core, Class 1 bitch. Is that what you’re looking for?” Robin pushed out the harsh words with a pout.

Sam must have looked surprised.

“Hey, I’m sorry for the mother and the grandmother, right? She was their kid. I get it. But you have no idea what she was like to work for. She had a major attitude and treated everyone, especially me, like crap. If you think for one-minute people are sorry she’s gone, think again.”

“If she was so horrible, how did she ever get promoted?”

Robin rolled her eyes theatrically. “Well, I am sure there is more to that story than will ever be told. However, she used to kiss everyone’s ass bigtime until the day she got promoted. Then, wamo, watch out. Personality change.”

“I see,” Sam tapped his pencil on his little pad. “So, is there anyone in particular..?”

“I heard they were all over the boyfriend because they had a big blow out at a restaurant. She was overheard threatening him. That’s what I heard, but it’s all I know.”

Sam looked at her without saying anything.

“Personally, I know she took the break-up real hard. Then, she was drinking more than ever.  Maybe she just couldn’t take it anymore and killed herself.” Robin shrugged.

“And, how did you know about the drinking?”

“Her breath and the trash cans,” the young woman replied.

“Ah,” Sam replied. “And Mr. Bright, he is . . .?”

“Jeremy is out on business calls. I’m not sure what else he can add. You want me to have him call you?”

“That would be very helpful, Ms. Wells. Thanks for your time.” Sam got up to leave.

“Oh, and, in the event she is found and comes back. What are the chances of her getting her old job back, or any job with the company for that matter?”

“Not a snowball’s chance in Hell, Mr. Reynolds. Not a snowball’s chance.” Robin smiled thinly and led Sam to the door.

                                                            ###

Continued in IX

Read more of Courtney’s writing in:
https://sites.google.com/view/webbywritercom/page-5?authuser=0

Death in HR – Part VII

(Vi Lee, ambitious and driven HR manager for Hi-Tech Industries has disappeared. Her grieving mother and grandmother have hired Sam Reynolds, PI, to find her.)

                                                                  ###

Two days later Sam was back in Dr. Jones’s office with the spectacular view of the City.

The good doctor had a PhD in Art History and was an administrator at the De Young Museum in San Francisco. Sam had previously done a little work for her getting back a valuable painting, stolen from the museum. In so doing, he saved her reputation and basically, her job. Although her employers had paid Sam a nice fee, she still felt indebted to him.

“So, you know these people how?”

Ariel Jones was up making a coffee for Sam at her little coffee side bar. This time she put the brew in a heavy paper cup instead of the tiny china cups she usually used.

She handed it over to him.

“Patrons of the arts. Mostly things Asian. The grandmother is loaded, and the mother is not doing too badly either. The grandparents ran a popular restaurant in North Beach, ‘Frisco, for many years. Golden Tiger, became popular with some of the movie people over there. That’s where they got their money.”

“Hum.” Sam sipped his very good coffee.

“And the girl, ah, young woman. You’ve met her?”

“Once, she came to a gallery opening with the other two. A special Chinese exhibit.”

“What did you think?”

“Snotty as fucking hell.”

Sam raised his eyebrows.

“Sorry,” Ariel told him. “Just, she seemed like she had some kind of chip on her shoulder, out to prove herself kind of thing.”

“Not like you then, Dr. Jones?”

Ariel Jones tossed her head. “Not like me at all. I am simply being myself.” She gave him an icy smile and sipped some tea. 

“Right,” Sam tamped down his grey mustache with one knuckle. He was still trying to get a handle on these modern women. Wasn’t sure he was ever going to  understand them.

“So, we’re going over to see grandma now? Right, and the mother will be there?”

Ariel nodded.

“Okay, then,” Sam got up to put his cup in the trash. “Guess time’s a wasting.”

Ariel Jones drove them over in a surprisingly conservative silver Lexus.

“This your car?” Sam looked perplexed.

“What did you expect? A Rolls?”

He shrugged. They made the trip in twenty minutes as Ariel deftly maneuvered   the car through city streets.

Inside the expensive apartment complex, Sam was advised to leave his boots at the door. A previous visitor to Asian countries, he was familiar with the tradition.

They all sat on the plush sofas and chairs in the expansive living room of the elder Mrs. Lee.

“And nothing, you’ve heard nothing at all?”

Vivian’s mother sadly shook her head. “Not one word. The police said if it was kidnapping, there would be a ransom.”

Sam had out his little notebook and was making notes in pencil.

“Suspects?”

“They talked to that Australian boyfriend of hers many times, but nothing.”

The older Mrs. Lee sat and nodded with fat, pudgy hands across her belly.

“She was very upset about him,” the old woman finally spoke. “She came to my apartment and was crying. Told her him no good for her. She not happy.”

“Crying you say?” Sam lifted his pencil a moment. His eyebrows went up. “What was she crying about?”

“Young man break up with her. Don’t want to be boyfriend anymore. Told her for the best. He too young.”

“He broke up with her? And she was upset?”

“Very upset. But, I told her for the best. She not kill herself. She too strong.” The old woman nodded her head, lips pressed together tightly.

Sam looked at Dr. Jones. She gave him a ‘I don’t know’ look.

He noticed a little Buddhist shrine in one corner of the apartment. He got up to go look at it. The Buddha was gold and seated next to a water wheel that rotated with water. There was a little receptacle for offerings and a place for a candle.

“So,” Sam was looking at the old lady now, “your family is Buddhist?” The woman nodded. “Was Vivian a practicing Buddhist?”

A little sob erupted from the mother.

The old lady shook her head. “She no longer believe.”

“Hum.” Sam picked up his teacup. “Oh, look, the water is cold. Mrs. Lee, could I trouble you . . ..?”

Mrs. Lee, the younger, hanky to her mouth, grabbed the tea kettle and went to the kitchen. Sam arched his eyebrows at Ariel and nodded toward the kitchen. Catching the hint, Ariel got up, following the mother.

“Can I help with anything?” He could hear her voice.

Sam turned back to the grandmother. “Mrs. Lee is there something you’d like to tell me?”

The old lady glanced at the kitchen and back at him, then leaned forward.

“She doesn’t like me to say. She doesn’t like it.”

Sam smiled at her. “Like what?”

The old gal smiled. “Magical creatures.” Sam’s eyebrows shot up.

“I see them in my dreams, many, many times. Not a good sign.”

“What did you see, Ma’am?”

“It was the fox, he tricky that one, and my granddaughter together. Not good. Not good sign. Then, the tea. . ..”

“The tea?”

“I read her tea leaves last day she come see me. Bad signs, bad future. She very angry at me. I not make it up,” she looked at him. Sam nodded reassurance. “I just read what I saw. Not good, not good.”

She sighed heavily.

“Something else?” Sam looked at her.

“Things better when my son,” she pointed at a picture of a man on a side table, “was alive. We go to visit the monks many times. Things happier then.” Sadly, she stared at the picture.

At this point Ariel and Mrs. Lee were back with more hot tea and white powdery Korean cookies. Sam found himself eating more than he intended. Soon, it was time to leave.

On the way back to the museum, Ariel kept trying to pick Sam’s brain, but he wasn’t giving up much.

“So, what did you find out?” she insisted.

“Well,” he paused, “what looks to be a very smart, headstrong young woman. Very determined to break with her past and become 110% Americanized. Your impression?”

Ariel nodded. “I would say so too.”

“Also, a few weird items from the grandmother I’m not sure I even want to discuss right now.” He shut his mouth and leaned back against the seat and closed his eyes.

Ariel grimaced with impatience but had to be content with that for now.

Continued in VIII

Read more of Courtney’s writing in:
https://sites.google.com/view/webbywritercom/page-5?authuser=0

I was recently very surprised in a conversation with a young female friend. My friend is gay and happily involved with another gay woman. The surprise was when she advised she had no ‘straight’ male friends. None. Why? “I don’t trust them as far as I can throw them.” Wow. Some statement. A hundred years ago, both of these ladies would probably be married already.

As social norms shift and pressures on women relax somewhat, more and more women (gay and not) are choosing to not walk down the aisle. What this means for the guys, of course, is a shrinking marriageable market. The consequences of all this are yet to be seen.

#NoMarriage movement sees South Korean women reject Government pressures to marry and have kids

By Yasmin Jeffery

Posted Wed 31 Jul 2019 at 2:46pmWednesday 31 Jul 2019 at 2:46pm, updated Wed 31 Jul 2019 at 3:39pmWednesday 31 Jul 2019 at 3:39pm

Moensan is 26, unmarried, childless and plans to keep it that way.(Supplied: Moensan)

Help keep family & friends informed by sharing this article

abc.net.au/news/nomarriage-movement-south-korea-women-reject-marriage-kids/11367488

“Aren’t you lonely?” This is a question student Moensan is used to being asked.

Key points:

• Declining marriage rates in South Korea are lowering the birth rate, leaving the country with an ageing society
• The Government has been criticised for its efforts to push women towards dating, marriage and childbirth
• The YouTubers behind the #NoMarriage movement say officials need to listen to the reasons women are deciding not to marry

The 26-year-old, who lives in a provincial city in South Korea, is unmarried and childless — and plans to keep it that way.

“There are many things I want to do in life that you can’t do if you get married,” she said.

Of course, being firm on her decision not to get married doesn’t mean she never feels lonely.

But, Moensan said, the occasional feeling “doesn’t mean I need to go on a date or get married. I just want person-to-person association. A relationship with someone I can talk to, empathise with, and truly understand”.

“I’m lonely sometimes, but I don’t need a man!”

Moensan is far from alone. South Korea — a country where dating, marriage and having children have long been entrenched ideals — has experienced a significant decrease in marriage rates.

And according to data collated by Statistics Korea, it is only getting worse.

Last year, 257,600 marriages were registered, compared to 305,500 in 2014, prompting the Government to make various attempts to get more women to walk down the aisle.

This is where Seoul YouTubers Jung Se-young and Baeck Ha-na come in.

The unmarried, child-free activists are leading the call to normalise the decisions of Korean women like Moensan not to get married or have children with their channel.

Both told the ABC they had felt a pressure to get married before reaching a certain age.

But, after being introduced to feminism, they said they started to realise how Korean society pushed women towards marriage.

“In my case, my regional background led to my decision,” Ms Jung said.

“I was born in Gyeongsang Province, which is considered the most conservative region of Korea.

Baeck Ha-na, left, and Jung Se-young are trying to normalise remaining single.(Supplied: Jung Se-young and Baeck Ha-na)

“I saw with my own eyes how married women are treated and discriminated against, so I decided marriage does not help women at all.”

Over the past five months, the duo has amassed more than 24,000 subscribers to their YouTube channel SOLOdarity, where they discuss government intervention and share what life is like for a “bi-hon” — someone who chooses not to marry or have children.

Ms Baeck is also part of the network Elite without Marriage, I am Going Forward (EMIF), through which members meet to talk about marriage, children, and life without either.

There are many reasons people choose to be childfree. Readers share their thoughts on overpopulation, furbabies and freedom.

And now, thanks to a nifty hashtag encapsulating their movement, #NoMarriage, they are making headlines.

The aim of the #NoMarriage movement is to push the Government to react and to spark a change in expectations in South Korea, where “women are considered to be subject to family ownership, and women who say they don’t want to marry become a target of attack,” Ms Baeck told the ABC.

“It has to change and we will make it change.”

Death in HR – Part VI    Courrtney Webb

(Vi Lee, HR Manager at Hi Tech Industries, has disappeared.)

Police were still doing inquiries but, a body had never been found and they seemed to be out of leads. The mother and grandmother, however, were still heavily grieving and mourning her loss. Neither had given up hope of finding their girl.

                                                            ######

It was a sunny Saturday morning. Sam Reynolds, PI, was at his kitchen table sipping on a mug of fresh coffee. He loved this time of year. The sunshine seemed brighter and the air more clear. Fresh breezes pushed out the sluggish, heavy air of a long summer. Neighbors were busy raking leaves; pumpkins and Jack O’Lanterns were appearing at doorways.

Sam was reviewing the latest football results when his phone rang. He glanced at the clock. 8 am was a little early for Kristie to call. She was usually a late riser on her days off. He answered it.

“Sam Reynolds.”

“Yes, Dr. Jones, of course I remember you.” Who could forget that

 dish? he wondered.

“Yes, this is a good time. Business? Let me get some paper. Just a minute.”

Sam got up and rummaged in his desk drawer and pulled out a pad and pencil.

“I’m listening.” There was conversation on the phone for several minutes.

“But certainly, the police . . ..”

“I’m not sure what I can do.”

“Good friend of yours. . . patron of the museum. I see.”

“Well . . ..”

“No, I have time. It’s just . . ..”

“Next week?” He sighed and looked at the wall calendar.

“No, I’m free. Okay, if you say so. I will drive up. If it will make her feel better. But once again, I am not sure what else I can do.”

“Okay, sure. See you on Wednesday.” Sam sighed again hung up. He gave a big stretch then got up to refill his coffee cup.

“Women, always getting into trouble,” he said out loud and went to finish his paper.

Later that day, he was having lunch with Kristie and told her about the phone call. 

“Called her a sort of Devil-Wears-Predator kind of person.” He bit into his sandwich.

Kristie laughed. “It’s Devil Wears Prada, Sam, not Predator. Do you ever watch movies at home?” She giggled again and glanced sideways at him.

He munched, unconcerned. “Of course, I watch movies. You know that. John Wayne was a fine actor and I have seen Saving Private Ryan several times.” He sipped his coke.

“Oh, yeah, right,” Kristie replied. “War, war and then more war. Real movies.”

“Damn straight.”

He munched some more and did his own sideway glancing. Kristie was his go to for all things having to do with fashion and females.

“I don’t exactly know what that means. The Devil-Wears whatever.”

“It’s a famous movie with Meryl Streep . . ..”

He looked at her quizzically.

“Oh, never mind who was in it. Basically, the boss lady, you get that part right, Boss Lady?”

He nodded agreeably.

“The Boss Lady is a super bitch who is very selfish, self-centered and runs everyone around her ragged. She is very demanding and everyone including her own family ends up hating her. This making sense?”

He nodded again, finishing his sandwich.

“In the end, she just burns through one person after another and ends up pretty much alone and lonely. Was that what Dr. Jones was talking about?”

Sam wiped his mouth with a paper napkin.

“Think so. I wasn’t sure. But now you explain it, yes, it’s starting to make sense.”

“So, this woman was killed up in San Francisco?”

“Disappeared, more like, and no body found. The police and everyone else think she’s dead. She disappeared one morning and not a word since. If it was kidnapping, they would have heard something by now. . . but. . . nothing. Nothing at all.”

“Weird,” Kristie offered.

“I know, that’s what they are all saying. Very weird. However, since she was apparently not well liked, they mostly suspect someone did her.”

“Hum,” his girlfriend replied. “You driving up there?”

“Wednesday. Got an appointment at Dr. Jones’ office. Then we will go meet with the mother and grandmother.”

“Who’s paying?”

“Grandmother. Apparently, she’s the one with the dough and also might be the last one to see the girl.”

“How old is this girl?’

“Thirty something.”

“Sam, that is not a girl.”

“Well, to me, sweetheart. She is to me.” He gave her dark blonde curls a playful tug.

“You want company?”

“You’re working. Anyway, how could the credit union get by without you darlin’? They would have to close the doors.”

Kristie shook her head. “Why do I always feel like it’s my job to keep an eye on you, Sam Reynolds?”

He gave her an innocence look with his big blues. “I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about Ma’am.” They both laughed. Kristie twinkled at Sam. At sixty-six years of age, he was still in great shape due to  long hours at the gym. However, she remembered too well the times he had been in tight spots. She knew he often depended on his friends Smith and Wesson to bail him out.

Read more of Courtney’s writing in:
https://sites.google.com/view/webbywritercom/page-5?authuser=0

Death in HR – Part V

(Vi Lee, HR Manager at Hi-Tech Industries has disappeared.)

Robin, admin assistant to Vi Lee, slumped back into her desk chair.

There are days when the corporate salary just isn’t good enough. Christ, why didn’t I become a kindergarten teacher like my sister? Screw the money.

Scowling, she jabbed the buttons of the phone again. She had the number memorized and was desperate to reach Vi and figure out what was going on.

                                                      #

By the afternoon, the department was buzzing with rumors. Vi Lee, ‘the Dragon Queen,’ had not come to work and no one knew where she was. At this point, Jeremy picked up the personnel file for Vi. He called her himself several times. Getting no answer, he called the head of the company and requested a meeting.

In the big guy’s office, the two men reviewed the file.

“What do you think happened?” The CEO asked Bright.

“Well, sir, I believe she had a fight with her boyfriend. Maybe they broke up? She has been very on edge recently and there may be some. . ..” He gestured with his hand tipping an imaginary bottle into his mouth.

“Oh. . .,” Dan Cole breathed out, a note of understanding.

Bright nodded and shrugged.

Cole scratched his chin and gazed out. Then, “We don’t do anything for 24 hours. Give her a chance to show up. Don’t want to cry wolf and that kind of thing.  After that, Jeremy, it will be your job to call the mother. If the woman knows nothing, tell her to call the police.”

Jeremy frowned at this pronouncement but said nothing.  

“And, shit,” Cole, spit out. “Just when we need those figures to wrap up the year end. How could she do this to us? If she’s off on some damn fling with another boy-toy, I will personally wring her skinny chink neck myself.”

Jeremy grimaced at the racial slur. Backing out of the office, he promised to call the second he heard something.

The next day, Jeremy Bright was standing in front of Vi’s apartment door knocking.  He had coaxed a neighbor to buzz him in. He stood there several minutes. No answer. An old lady across the hall finally peeked out.

Feeling foolish he said “Looking for Vivian Lee. We work together.”

The old woman looked quizzical. “Well, she goes out early every morning in her gym clothes. Don’t know where she goes. I see her when I walk my dog.”

“Have you seen her today or yesterday?”

The old woman thought. “Don’t know. Don’t think so.”

“Thanks, ma’am. The manager?”

“First floor.”

Cursing, Jeremy took the elevator back to the first floor and went to the security desk. He pulled out his driver’s license and a business card and began explaining to a very reluctant guard how he needed to get into Ms. Lee’s apartment.

After several minutes and several phone calls; the senior security guard slowly got a set of keys and went back up with Jeremy. The guard knocked several times, then, unlocking the door, he went in with Jeremy following.

“Miss Lee, Miss Lee, security.” There was no answer.

Both men cautiously entered and went from room to room. Nothing. Shafts of sunlight played through the louvered blinds. Jeremy could see dust motes hanging silently in the air.

“Well,” the older man said, “she doesn’t look to be here.” He gave Jeremy a helpless look.

“It would appear,” Jeremy answered tartly. “Thanks,” he said bruskly and stomped back to his car.

Back at the office, Jeremy pulled out Vi’s personnel file again. He located the phone number of the mother.

“Fuck!” he said loudly to the room and made the phone call. 

The next morning, they had still heard nothing.  A hysterical Mrs. Lee rushed into their office in tears. The secretary led her to Mr. Bright’s office.

Mrs. Lee finally made the phone to the police and promptly collapsed on Jeremy’s silk sofa, choking with emotion. 

“Jesus, I hope she doesn’t ruin that silk finish,” he thought grimly to himself.

Instead of voicing his thoughts, he offered the distraught woman a glass of water. Carefully helping her up off the sofa, he had his girl help her out of his office and out of the building, sobbing the whole way.

“Great, now I get to do that damn report. Shit, and I was going to get out and do some hiking this weekend. Maybe some fishing. Crap. I’ll kill that bitch,” he mumbled to himself.

Plopping down at his desk, he stared out at the brilliant view of the San Francisco harbor and the deep blue of the ocean. Why didn’t I become a science teacher like my brother? ‘Cause you hated science and were never very good at it, he answered his own question. Bitterly he got to work.

                                                      ######

Police detectives were assigned to the case. Two officers came to the office and began asking questions. It doesn’t take them long to figure out what the staff thought of Ms. Lee. 

Far away, in a secluded Buddhist monastery, a ragged figure stumbled onto their property and collapsed. The monks rushed over, picked up the body and took it to their infirmary. The person was unconscious and could not answer questions. They lit candles and started saying prayers.

                                                    ########            

Two months later, things at Hi-Tech had almost returned to normal. Robin, the assistant, in a surprise promotion, moved into Vi’s place. The business as usual approach dominated the atmosphere. It was almost as though Vi Lee had never worked there. 

Police were still doing inquiries but, a body had never been found and they seemed to be out of leads. The mother and grandmother, however, were still heavily grieving and mourning her loss. Neither had given up hope of finding their girl.

Continued in VI

Read more of Courtney’s writing in:
https://sites.google.com/view/webbywritercom/page-5?authuser=0