Show us something good about Mondays.
- you get a clean slate
- a time to amend what went wrong the previous week
- it's a new week, therefore new challenges and opportunities!
My father and I call each other Hutsai. It's a term of endearment that we share between us. In Chinese, Hutsai is a rough translation of "good food." Now, you may ask why do we refer to each other as good food?
Well, my father has been a good provider so it's okay for me to make that allusion. But me? Well, today I'd like to believe I am.
However, when we started calling each other that, I was not earning yet. I remember, my mother (whom we also call Baliling---this is another interesting story) one time served us her new recipe, and we (my father, brother, and I) all agreed that it was super delicious. Papa then blurted, "hu-tsai!" The expression stuck with us through these years.
Hutsai turned 72 last Wednesday (November 7). When we asked how he would like to spend his day, he said that this time, he wanted some peace and quiet with Baliling---no party, just them together.
Later that day, I asked them again how they spent their day together, Baliling said that they went driving around (yes, at 72, he still drives) and just talking. Reminiscing maybe. It warms my heart to know that after all these years, they still seek each other's company and find refuge in each other. And they still have a good conversation, and yes lots of laughter, too, going between them.
I carry their joy and love with me wherever I go, and because of that I have lots of joy and love to share, too. I know my brother feels the same. I pray that they continue that way, and that Hutsai remain a strong inspiration in our family for always.
Again, happy birthday, Hutsai. We love you very much!
Yes, I feel like a 12-year-old. You know that feeling when you're both excited to be almost 13 and yet a bit uncertain what being 13 holds?
That's exactly how I feel now. I've passed through the 39 years of my life, and I'm both excited and uncertain about the big 4-O! Well, they say life begins at 40, and that 40 is the new 30. :)
Hey don't get me wrong here. I'm thankful I reached this stage: happy, fulfilled, and blessed in so many ways I can't even begin to imagine. I'm just amazed at how far I've gone.
I still have dreams though, but mostly dreams for my family. My husband and kids have become my source of joy. Whatever makes them happy, makes me happy, too.
It's ironic that the first time I set foot in school and realized that I could be better than most everyone else, I set my eyes on higher education, and a highly successful career. A family of my own never crossed my mind then. I even had a feeling I'd end up like most of my paternal aunts who had remained single and successful (a judge, an internist).
So after university, I went to graduate school, and got married right after. :-D Then my world took a different turn. I may not be super successful (though, right before I turned 39, I was offered a board seat in the company... still...) in my career, but I have never been happier and fulfilled.
I feel not a year older at all! For all these, I'm grateful to my creator.
Hey, look at the blessings I got by being 39!
