| June 2001 |
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| Post-It Notes for ... |
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| Fathers' Day, 17th Dad cooked his best congee with fish and fried rice-noodles this morning. Before breakfast, I gave him the gift I prepared for him. He liked it, and I was glad. My sister's back! First time seeing her after almost a year. She's so much taller, and looks very charming. Hope that I can be a good friend and sister to her in the nine days left in Hong Kong. |
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| Monday, 18th Relived a spark of spontaneity that'd been lost between two sisters as we both suddenly decided to go to the Peak though in thick jeans and under the bright sun in Central. My leather shoes could be clumsy, but I didn't allow it to. We found our way to the Peak Tram Stn. together, and commented on anything we thought of or saw. Sometimes, running out of topics, I tried too hard to break the silence. But finally, my sister corrected my attempt, "Just be yourself, and don't need to say a word when you don't have it". Recently, I enjoy taking my sister's insightful and encouraging perspective on many things. Today, I was also impressed as well as grateful for her simple question, "have you had some fun recently being at home?" Excellent question. I could have drowned myself in my own seriousness about anything if she wasn't there to stop me on time. |
| 19th, Tuesday The last day at Mook Fook (a service centre for new immigrants), Summer 2001. Mook Fook is a place where a child can receive a warm hug when she stretches out her arms, tell the most innocent story and be listened to, and be helped on his homework as long as she asks. Mook Fook is a place where a young man can find a big brother to look up to while growing up, get a pat on the back when he has succeeded, and be constantly reminded that he can do it if he chooses to bravely persevere. Mook Fook is a place where a broken heart can be listened to, sheltered and supplicated for, where a man's heavy burden, though not immediately rid of, at least faithfully shared, and where one life touches another and vice versa since imperfect both are. Mook Fook is a place where the least matters the most, where the unloved can still find love in a most hostile city, and where seeds are planted into little hearts, awaiting to blossom, in hopes that some day they will find and accept the most Amazing Love above all. Mook Fook is also a place where one enters intending to bring love and blessings to others in need, but ends up receiving much more love and blessings than she could ever imagine before. Mook Fook is a home where each life within it is loved and touched by Him personally, be he/she rich or poor, the serving one or the served. |
| 20th, Wednesday Dizzy and pooped out from being tossed, looped and spinned in the Space Wheel, a Mine Train ride, three Dragon rides, and at least five Crazy Galleon rides during all of which I screamed my head off with my sister under the bright scorching sun plus some rains in uneven intervals. She loved the rides, too, and other things that happened during the day. Hard to explain; four words: Another Splendid Sisters' Day! |
| 21st, Thursday, At Mook Fook Missing the teens too much, I really don't wanna leave them, especially Hong Wang and Kin Kwun. Hong Wang, I always admire your honesty and kind-heartedness. Jo Jo, thanks for trusting me in studying Chinese with you. But remember that in the end, it is really your effort not my help that will bring you success. Ah Ming, speak English bravely! I hope you will do well in your Conversation Exam tomorrow. ... All the sudden, craving boiled ubes that I used to eat at my maternal grandmother's home. Before becoming ill and weak, Paw Paw used to sun the ubes for at least two weeks before we ate them boiled. I remember they felt so soft and tasted very rich. I have always loved the taste of ube. So knowing not much time is left at home, I immediately called my mother at work, urging her to make me an ube meal! Of course, such special kind of crop as ube is pretty seasonal - hence, hard to be found. So my Mom even called her sister, my Aunt, to also look for ubes for me in Monkok. In the evening, when my parents went grocery shopping, my Mom got me some ice-cream, guess in what favour? Ube Milk!! I screamed speechlessly, except for several disrupted "Yes! Yes! ..." upon my discovery. Though it's not the "real stuff", it's definitely the love and thoughtfullness of a mother, much softer and richer than anything else. |
| 22nd, Friday Very Hot Weather Warning is posted (i.e. 33+ Degree Celsius). Unaware, I played tennis with my cousin at 4pm under the scorching sun. I grew up with Rick at my Grandma's; we used to fight over toys, food, space, and attention, and together we could also flip the whole flat over and annoy my grandparents awfully. I was a brat; she joint me, and then the two of us became two brats! Separated for so long since I went abroad, we've of course lost our brattiness by now. Indeed, I no longer know where to start as we have become two unique grown-ups-to-be. But deep in my heart, I want to at least tell her bravely, "that I care about your life and just wanna be friends with you again." |
| 23rd, Saturday For the whole day ... I tried to decide, "How much less patience is expected of me when I haven't slept well the night before?" God says, "How much more patience can you give even when you don't feel like giving it?" |