Saturday, July 19 - I laced up and ran eight miles this morning in Singapore's East Coast Park. It's a great path right along the beach. Lots of ships were docked in the harbor, full, I guess, of everything that's needed to make this island nation function.I passed by this cable waterski park. Take a look here. It looks like great fun. I think I'll try it soon! I thought of my dad and all of those hours he spent in the boat teaching my brothers and I to ski. Stop. Start. Stop. Start again. Boy, would he love this place!When I was done with the run, I was able to find a taxi very quickly. Mr. Tan picked me up and we headed back to Tanglin View. It should have been about a 10-minute drive. Mr. Tan spoke in broken English, but enjoyed telling me all about Singapore.He said, "I'm 61 and very happy."Since Singapore didn't become an independent nation until 1965, I said to Mr. Tan that he must have seen many changes in his lifetime."Ah, yes," he replied.Mr. Tan told me about his father, who rowed a wooden boat out to the ships in the harbor and picked up passengers one-by-one. He said he worked every day, with no day off.Mr. Tan said "I got a little education and then got this job." He raised a son and daughter, who graduated college and now work for Price Waterhouse.About 20 minutes had passed by now. It was obvious that we went the long way."They have good job. They own a car. They live in a condo. Their children, my grandchildren, I have no idea what they will do."As we pulled up in front of my building I said, "You must be really proud of them."He looked back at me with a huge smile. "Yes sir, I am very proud. Very proud."And so was I. Sometimes the long way is the best way.