My Beautiful Mother

My Beautiful Mother 11/2/1927--9/11/2009 Beloved wife-mother-grandmother, WWII and Chinese Civil War survivor, special ed teacher, artist, hard hard worker, wonderful cook, gardener, Majon partner, smiley face, silly goose, sunrise watcher, listener, good friend, peace maker, sampler of simple pleasures. Full of love and affection for all. Happy from within. Always amazed by and thankful for her good fortunes in life. Mom we love you forever.

This picture was snapped at the Taipei airport on that July day in 2009 when we left for home after visiting Taipei for 5 days. Mom was not going to the airport but at the last minute she decided to go and see us off. She felt better that day. I said: hey guys take a picture with Weipou ( grandma in Mandarin) . And they bent and put their faces next to their grandma's. Mom smiled. It was the last time I saw her awake.

Woman In the Painting

Woman In the Painting
Wednesday, December 16, 2009 at 11:36pm

82 years ago--1927, the year of the rabbit---my mom was born on November 2 on the lunar calendar, which falls on December 17 on the solar calendar this year.

I stood gazing at this painting mom had done in early 90s after her retirement. There is a beautiful young woman sitting leisurely under the banana tree, a fan in one hand, waiting or resting? What's on her mind? And what went through mom's mind when she drew this? Mom never talked about her work. She enjoyed her art as quietly as she endured hardship.

There was nothing leisurely about mom's life before her retirement. Like millions back in those days she grew up in war torn China, suffered deathly losses ( her mother and brother), and had to flee the Communists from Mainland to the island of Taiwan in 1949. There she settled down to life with dad a military man, raising four children in the military village. She worked full time as a teacher; walked most days to open air markets to get groceries for the family of six. She fanned the little coal stove to cook and hand washed all laundry. I still remember the excitement over our first ice box cooled by huge chunks of ice delivered to our door, and the first black and white TV. Mom sewed most of our clothes and raised chickens in the small yard for eggs and meat.

Mom has been gone three months now, or maybe I should say her life was "completed" three months ago. I say this because she was very happy and satisfied with her life. I wonder if the woman in the painting feels the same way.

Longevity Noodles--A birthday Tradition

Longevity Noodles--A Birthday Tradition
Monday, November 23, 2009 at 9:46pm

Ever since I could remember, mom and dad always made noodles to celebrate birthdays in our house. Longevity noodles we called it. There were no parties and no presents most of the time due to very limited finances. The birthday girl or boy got a hard boiled egg in his or her noodle bowl. I almost forgot about the cake. Well, there was no cake because where would we get one?

Year after year we looked forward to longevity noodles on our birthdays, with the boiled egg in the bowl. It is hard to believe, by today’s standards, that we never felt poor or deprived. We were perfectly happy with the noodle dish mom and dad prepared especially for our special day.

This is how to make it. First, stir fry some ground meat with chopped garlic, ginger, and green onions. Then add in chopped Napa cabbage, shitake mushrooms, and enough water to make a soup. Just as the soup comes to a boil, add scrambled raw eggs into the boiling soup and turn off the stove. Stir the egg to make egg drops. Season with salt and pepper, and add cooked noodles after sprinkling a few drops of sesame oil. I still request this dish each year for my birthday, in addition to gifts, cake, and flowers.

What is on my mind right now is the big TG dinner for 14 people in our house. But I am aware that the next birthday is approaching quietly as well. This year, I will have to grow up. And make the noodles myself. On a quieter day.