Although I have no interest in gardening as a hobby, I love gardens. That led me to the TV show 'Love Your Garden', and an episode in Season 7 where they designed a garden for Jack P King. Mr King was a prisoner of war in Japan for much of WWII, and was forced to be part of the hellish project known as the Thailand Burma railway.
I was fascinated by Mr King, who died in 2020. He was an artist and a writer who turned the pain and horror of his captivity into something hauntingly beautiful. This included a book which he illustrated, called The Moon Dance Girl. I have taken the liberty of including its cover art here, because I cannot get this lovely vision out of my head.
Despite all he went through, Mr King showcased the beauty of his experience in his later memories. He chose to create a beautiful life out of the ashes, and I greatly respect him for that, even after only a few minutes of seeing him on the screen via a gardening show.
It also reminded me of one of my many debts of gratitude. In two days, my first novel will be published. I wrote it in peace in the comfort of my own home, and that is partly because of him, and others like him.
So...thank you. To all the veterans of Canada and the UK, thank you.
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