The parents came and went, we had a good time.  It was fun being the interpreter for them, although Shirley might add that she shouldered most of the burden.  I paid my first visit to Badaling Great Wall and the Ming Tombs (missable).  Stayed at the Haoyuan Binguan (Good Garden Guesthouse) courtesy of my parents, a siheyuan four-sided courtyard house in a hutong just a 10 minute walk from Wangfujing.  Saw a T-shirt I'm going to buy when I go back with Dave next week, had a big picture of Lei Feng on the front.  Also bought Water Margin comic books.  Bonus!  Added another style variation.