My parents had already made plans to have breakfast with my grandparents, but didn’t tell them that I would be in town. They had to tell one set of g-parents because my yeh-yeh didn’t feel like going out for breakfast until he found out I was back. But there was still another set of g-parents that I was able to surprise. I’ve been wanting to improve my Cantonese, and I keep telling myself to just call my grandparents more often. I’ll think of conversations in my head where my Cantonese isn’t half-bad. But then when I see them in person, I’m tongue-tied and suddenly don’t know what to say. I really should practice speaking Chinese more, if only to communicate more with them.

My mom also invited Auntie Mimmy and Eden, but Auntie Mimmy didn’t tell Eden that I was in town. I had just received a sad e-mail from Eden earlier that week about how her fish died and how she was terribly sad, so I was hoping I’d get a chance to see her. Apparently she was grumpy about being woken up so early and refused to even brush her hair, but she was all smiles when she found out why her mom had dragged her out of bed.

I love each one of my cousins, especially after having the privilege of watching them all grow up. But Eden is a unique one…she talks about wanting to go to UC Berkeley and being a hippie. She loves animals and wants to save the earth (”If I bought a car, I’d buy a hybrid.”), and always wants to “punch ‘em in the face” when she hears something that makes her mad. She talks about how what is on the outside doesn’t matter–only what is on the inside–and how she doesn’t understand why people care about clothes so much, especially people who wear things like belts made of genuine leather. She wanted me to wear green to Baldwin’s wedding “for her.” And she even entered a writing contest because she wanted to win a trip to Australia. If we could bottle up her passion and her intensity for life, the world would be a better place.

It’s visits like this where I am left really missing being around my family more, especially my extended family who I cannot as easily keep in touch with via e-mail or telephone.

I pretty much hung out with Auntie Mimmy, Eden, and my mom until it was time to go to the airport. I saw Dorc for a little bit–not as much as I had hoped for–but she fortunately had a free day to come to the airport with mom and dad.

And that ends my adventure up north…and next time, I’ll continue with my adventure in SoCal…

Four whole days and multiple Californian cities later, I’m back in Seattle, just in time to catch a freak hail/snow storm after having a few days of sun and flip-flops. My co-worker says flip-flops are overrated, but I think she’s just jealous. Anytime I don’t have to cover my feet is great!

My California adventure began on Tuesday night when I flew into Sac and was picked up by Christopher, Na’s bf, who was there to “drop his co-worker off,” or so Na thought. When we got back to her apartment, she was asleep on the couch, so I woke her up. In hindsight, Christopher and I thought of some cooky ways we could have woken her up and confused her even more, but oh well. I just gently shook her awake, and when she saw me, she was totally thrown off. “What are you doing here?? What’s going on?? Are you here by yourself?” So we explained the whole thing about Christopher flying me down to surprise Na for her b-day.

The next morning, we had breakfast at IHOP, followed by a beautiful drive out to China Camp in Marin County. The weather was amazing–clear skies, warm, but still cool. We did a really mellow hike (more like a walk) through shaded trails where we saw wild turkeys, two deer, and some lizards.

After that, we went into the City, well, just to Clement Street, where we pretty much just ate ourselves down two blocks…first, dim sum at Wing Lee Bakery, then a break at Green Apple Books, then egg puffs, ending with boba at Sweet Delite. The sun was out for the most part, but as we were leaving, the fog began rolling in, leaving me a little sad and wistful about the days when I lived there. As much as I love living in Seattle, I still love, love, love SF.

We met up with my parents in Davis for dinner, went back to Na’s place for birthday cake for Na, me, and Christopher, since our birthdays are all within two weeks of each other. I really enjoyed staying with Na. There’s a certain level of comfort and security from just hanging out with someone you’re so comfortable with. Also, without Matt there, I’m not worrying if he’s bored or needing time alone. It’s also rare that I hang out at Na’s place, since I’m usually at my parents’ place, so it was nice for me to get that experience of staying over with her as opposed to her always visiting me in my apartment or house.

We woke up at the buttcrack of dawn for Na to get to school. On the way, Na stopped at Raley’s to get coffee, so I got to surprise one of my uncles who works there. (The barista there, who Na has gotten to know by being a frequent customer, saw me with Uncle Angus and said, “Oh look, your sister has already made friends with the produce man!”)

Na had to work, so the birthday portion of my California adventure ended Thursday morning…

“I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes–I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” Job 19:25-26

Happy easter!

(Easter eggs from 2005, decorated with Evelyn and Melanie)

When we first moved here, we were warned about the tough winters…shorter days and colder (wetter) weather. Winter seems like something that everyone dreads, especially after being spoiled with warm, sunny days where the sky is light till at least 9:30 at night. But winter passed surprisingly quick this year, and before I was ready, I started seeing green shoots peeking out of the ground, from bulbs I planted in November. Leaves began appearing on my hydrangea bushes, which had been bare since late fall. Life seems to be coming back to Seattle (which, unfortunately, also means growth on our blackberry bushes, which had given us a breather by being dormant all winter).

Spring brings freshness to the city. As we drive around, I spy once-bare flowering cherry trees now full of delicate white and pink blossoms. Magnolia trees are preparing to soon bare large magenta or white flowers whose petals open up like tulips before spilling over onto the ground. Yellow daffodils are already lining the streets, and today, I spied a couple of tulips.

This morning, Matt and I took a short walk at Seward Park, where the grass was just covered with tiny daisies. However, at the base of only one tree was a small blanket of these violet-colored flowers that smell amazing (apparently, the big fuzzy bees hovering around them agreed). I couldn’t resist to pick some, which I’m sharing here with you all.

Welcome to spring!

History of St. Patrick’s Day from the History Channel’s website:

St. Patrick is believed to have driven the snakes from Ireland. Once a pagan himself, St. Patrick is one of Christianity’s most widely known figures.

The modern secular holiday is based on the original Christian saint’s feast day also thought to be the date of the saint’s death. In 1737, Irish immigrants to the United States began observing the holiday publicly in Boston and held the first St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York City in 1766.

Today, the tradition continues with people from all walks and heritages by wearing green, eating Irish food, and attending parades. St. Patrick’s Day is bursting with folklore; from the shamrock to the leprechaun and to pinching those that are not wearing green.

And since green is the best color of them all, who wouldn’t want to be wearing it?!

Christ with  me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,

Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,

Christ on my right, Christ on my left,

Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,

Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,

Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me,

Christ in the eye that sees me,

Christ in the ear that hears me.

-From a poem by St. Patrick