我有一個可愛的妹妹，今年@@歲 (很小學生作文的感覺，對不對)。
在我生命的前半部，她是我最好的戰友。我們像兩隻長牙的小狗，搶玩具、鬥嘴、哭鬧吵架，甚至大打出手。可是在我被媽媽用掃把柄打得縮成一團時，她會淚眼汪汪地替我求情；而我在抱怨了一百零一次後，還是嘟著嘴替她把拿錯的書包送進教室。
我們長得截然不同：一黑一白，一胖一瘦 (以前啦)、一個健康野性，一個清秀文靜。任何人知道我們是姐妹後的第一句話都是：「哇，真的嗎？一點也不像！」可是，我們的語氣與聲音，連父母都常混淆，還有相似的筆跡、同樣對文學藝術的喜好，以及合拍到不行的默契和幽默感。
我們都唸了英文系，都在西北大學混了個M.A.，然後她到了紐約，而我成了她口中Midwest的純樸鄉下人。
在2010年的耶誕前夕，瑣事纏身的我，終於單獨到紐約，幫妹妹搬進她人生中的第一棟屋子。更棒的是，有機會和她在寒冬中走在屬於她城市的馬路上。一起講蠢話、看街景、論人生、吃日式燒烤、喝熱巧克力。
兩個人在一起，就是最單純的快樂。
可愛的妹妹，接下來的人生，我們還是要一起走下去喔！
好快，蜜雅八歲了！更棒的是，今年的生日有芝加哥的uncle和阿姨一起慶祝，順便熱鬧過新年，還把情人節也同時打包過了。
(來自芝加哥的愛心鮮奶油水果蛋糕)
(蜜雅的生日 party)
今年感覺特別有過年的味道：首先是為班上小朋友排演新年晚會的舞蹈，又到店裡採買平時少吃的零食，加上有好友來的熱鬧，冰箱也有各式燒雞燒鴨、蛋糕甜點，一種太平慶豐年的感覺。
更特別的是，除夕夜居然有好運財神爺派給大家紅包一枚！感覺好像又回到小時候除夕夜興奮驚喜的心情。
新的一年，希望大家都能平平安安、身體健康。
新年快樂，福虎生豐！
同場加映：蜜雅的三歲生日
爸爸最近身體不太好。
早上和媽通了電話，她說爸昨天複診，問了醫生自己現在的狀況。
醫生說：「末期的末期 。」(當醫生的黑色幽默？)
什麼是末期的末期？
像一本書就要翻到了最後幾頁？
像一支在陽光下逐漸融化的彩色冰棒？
再怎麼心愛的不捨的，
我都留不住。
一瞬間我掉進了時空的黑洞，
又變成了那個瘦瘦小小的，只有七、八歲的小孩，
蜷縮在床角，
躲在被窩和堆積如山的絨毛娃娃裡嚶嚶哭泣。
可惜再也沒有這樣的自由，
窗外的陽光正好，
要做的事情太多。
即使到了最後的最後，
我還沒準備好。
妳說: 人生難免苦痛掙扎
我同意
我們有時走著陰暗的路
只因為前方有著隱約的亮光
( 是哪個傢伙說有光就是好的~ )
是傻瓜 ，所以仍然有堅持
跌倒了媽辣兩聲
You get up, dust it off and keep walking, no matter how.
人生至樂在於
多年後， 妳再度遇到了曾經相識的那個人
她的話竟然仍然讓妳心有戚戚
( 誰說道不同不相為謀? )
雖然我是個乖寶早已不喝酒
看到海尼根綠綠的瓶子就想到妳
想到沛綠雅
想到 Don McLean 的 American Pie 和 Queen 的 Bicycle Race
想到妳在電影院等我
身上穿著洗白的牛仔短裙
揹著小小的 Louis Vuitton Danube
白色小短襪 ，有時穿著紅色的 Converse
空氣中有比翼雙飛， 或是 Nina Ricci 的甜香
哪天再見
再和妳大吃大喝一頓
Cheers to my best friend in college, dear Miss Jemmie.
(I know you know what these are...)
It's been a while since my last entry. All of a sudden, it's winter and it's 2009.
For the past month, I was in Taiwan. What had I been doing there?
1. The most important thing: visiting my parents, especially spending more time with dad.
He has been quite ill for a while. For the last two weeks I was in Taiwan, he was hospitalized for treatment (and is still there). When he was at home, he didn't have much energy to play with Maya and Nolan like last year.
But we talked more.
He used to be a great runner, so we talked about the funny stories when he entered the 6.8 km races at the high school he taught. He won the first place several times. I asked him: "Why did you want to race? Did you get a metal or special prizes?" He said: "No, the first ten winners all got a bath towl for prize, no trophies, but the race was kind of fun." I had to laugh at getting a bath towel as a prize and asked "Just a towel? They should at least include a soap or something." (a joke only some Taiwanese knows).
This picture was taken when I last visited him in the hospital before leaving for the States. He took us (my mom, aunt, uncle and Maya) to a nice coffee shop at the hospital for lunch. It was a happy lunch. We laughed and joked. He even had an ice cream cone with us.
It was raining and cold outside, but a beautiful day.
2. I started running.
If someone told me "you'll be able to run 5K" a few years ago, I'd laugh my head off.
However, running is the second most important thing for me during this trip. I don't know why. Is it because of my dad? Partly. Mostly it's for me.
I didn't start the training until the second week of my trip and was only able to fit in 8 times total. I tried to run every other day during the week to avoid injury (these legs aren't built for running). The first time I was only able to run 1200m, then 2000m, 2400m, 2400m, 3200m, 2500m, 3600m, and finally 5200m.
It was a chilly and cloudy day when I finally reached 5K and it rained during the last two loops. When I finally made it, there was no "Rocky" moment, no jumping up and down with excitement. Only a little voice said: this is it. Remember the rain drop on your skin, remember your breathing, remember the strength in your body, remember the scent of this morning.
Then I rode my bike home (quite an anticlimax).
It was the perfect timing, before I had to visit the hospital, before I had the flight back.
3. I found my books.
My other mission for this trip is to find books by my favorite author. Unfortunately, she's not popular in Taiwan anymore and couldn't be found anywhere. But a coincidence brought me to a used book store at a different city. There they were, more than 20 of them at the price so low that I had to pinch myself. So all of them, plus 20 more books by other authors came to the States with me. 47 in total. A rare treat I haven't had since moving here in 1994. Well, in fact, this is the first time I allowed myself to get so many books at once.
So here I am, happy new year my friends! It's 2009!
It was so nice to have old friends over. Maya was especially excited, because uncle Michael and auntie Stephanie always bring her surprises. Days before their visit, Maya couldn't stop talking about them. One thing that's most special to her: uncle M is now the only one who can lift her high up in the air and has the back strong enough to carry her around.
Nolan seemed to discover the advantage too and wouldn't let go.
We spent a great long weekend together, with parties, great food, band practice and lots of catching ups. The kids were as excited as wild monkeys. It was like Christmas in September!
Speaking of September...
Happy Birthday, uncle Michael! Lots of happiness in Chicago!
PS: Sorry about the fuzzy picture. There seems to be something wrong with my camera.
PPS: Stephanie, how about celebrating yours by camping with us next year?
What makes December a beautiful month? Snow, and getting together with friends!
We haven't met with Michael and Stephanie for a long time. Maya misses them terribly. Finally, our long waited date was here, they were coming for a visit!
Other than good food and wine, singing made the winter night as lively as a summer fest.
What is uncle Michael good at (other than singing)? Swinging both kiddos high and fast.
We also celebrated Mike's birthday together. It's been 11 (or 12?) years since we've known each other.
Thank you for stopping by. We had a blast! Can't wait to see you again soon!
My beloved dog Roxy, who has been with us since I was 20, is struggling with recovery since her surgery a week ago. My mom told me that she isn't doing very well this morning. Her wound is getting infected and won't heal properly. I was very composed when talking to her, but bawled my eyes out when I talked to my sis afterwards (and now).
If you pray, please include her in your prayers. She is a very sweet dog who loves us with all her heart. She is very old, but I hope she can hang with us a little longer.
Thank you!
(Roxy, relaxing on the little rug I got her when I went to Taiwan last year)
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