So we got there, put our names down and waited (there are different stools to sit on at different stages of the wait, it was very systematic). When I got to the front of the line, the man asked what my zodiac is then gave me three zodiac options to choose from - I had no idea what this meant but one of my options was horse and I chose that simply because I've been brainwashed by my family to think everything horse. For another 399NT, I could add another zodiac to make the bracelet/string more powerful (the analogy I had in my head was the options or add-ons when you buy a car for better performance, or the extra topping you get on your Pinkberry for extra deliciousness). Then the man took out the red string, put the horse jade and a few extra beads on, and set it aside.
Then we moved and waited in another line. When it was finally my turn, I was told to put my hands together, palms up. The woman put my string in my palms, told me to close my eyes and make my wish while she does sort of a spell-casting type of move to the string, and she would tell me when it's time to make the wish again a minute later. I did as told, with my eyes closed I followed and repeated the wish they had written for love luck (how unimaginative of me, I can't even make my own wish!), adding an extra clause to it. I did it again in English, just in case there's a different, non-Chinese-speaking, holy spirit who looks after people living abroad. Then there was so much time and so much silence that I decided, what the heck, I might as well repeat my wish, practice makes perfect, right? Finally, the woman announced that it was time to make my wish again, I did (now for the 10th time maybe), she tied the string on my wrist, I paid, got a business card, and we left.
I contemplated on getting a second string for work/wealth luck, but my better judgment stopped me. I'll come back if this first string works.
The really silly (sorry, holy spirit, I don't mean silly) thing about this is that I'm now supposed to wear my watch on my right wrist because the string can only be worn on the left wrist and having a watch there would somehow diminish the string's effectiveness. I won't complain about having a really fobby-looking thing on my wrist, I don't mind spending an exuberant amount of money on one string that feels like it's cutting my circulation, but if I were to give up a 20-year habit of having my watch on the left wrist, this thing better work. Love better be around that damned corner.
(See below for pictures taken today. This is the crowd on a Thursday afternoon, so mind you, of course it has to work!)
