Pine Cones and Acorns
Angela T, do you want to walk with Mama and Papa? I asked Cici this last evening before she settled in to study. Her eyes lit up and she smiled as she jumped up to join us for a walk through the neighborhood. It was a leisurely walk that took the best part of an hour. We talked about the trees and plants and flowers again so the girls could practice using their new found knowledge.
We stopped and picked up a pine cone, and talked about how it releases its seeds to go flying through the air on a single wing. We picked up a large acorn that still had the cap on it, and Ping talked about how they would roast the acorns on coals in China before eating them. Cici picked a white flower that she thought was beautiful, and put it in her hair. The girls talked about the different kinds of architecture on the houses, and chose the ones that they like best.
We talked about Cici's trip to Chicago. Do you think I should go to Chicago, Papa? Yes, I think it will be a good experience for you. Will it really be cold? Yes, and it might even snow. Yes! I would love that, she told us. It would be like the times that we went to Shandong Province to visit our home town, Ping said. Cici always loved the snow.
Then we had a long discussion about college and career choices for Cici. She talked about her dreams of law school and one day working in our law firm. She and Ping talked about how much they admire my son and how successful he has been in school. She talked again about the horrible dream, as she called it, that she had last week about us moving to another house. I will not get married until I am 80 years old, she told us jokingly. That way I can always live with you in our home.
Our conversation left me wondering about how many 16 year old girls enjoy walking and talking with her parents the way Cici does with us. I noticed that last night she spent almost the entire hour walking with me in the middle, and the girls spoke exclusively in English. They have let me join them in their little world, and we have found yet another way to bond.
We stopped and picked up a pine cone, and talked about how it releases its seeds to go flying through the air on a single wing. We picked up a large acorn that still had the cap on it, and Ping talked about how they would roast the acorns on coals in China before eating them. Cici picked a white flower that she thought was beautiful, and put it in her hair. The girls talked about the different kinds of architecture on the houses, and chose the ones that they like best.
We talked about Cici's trip to Chicago. Do you think I should go to Chicago, Papa? Yes, I think it will be a good experience for you. Will it really be cold? Yes, and it might even snow. Yes! I would love that, she told us. It would be like the times that we went to Shandong Province to visit our home town, Ping said. Cici always loved the snow.
Then we had a long discussion about college and career choices for Cici. She talked about her dreams of law school and one day working in our law firm. She and Ping talked about how much they admire my son and how successful he has been in school. She talked again about the horrible dream, as she called it, that she had last week about us moving to another house. I will not get married until I am 80 years old, she told us jokingly. That way I can always live with you in our home.
Our conversation left me wondering about how many 16 year old girls enjoy walking and talking with her parents the way Cici does with us. I noticed that last night she spent almost the entire hour walking with me in the middle, and the girls spoke exclusively in English. They have let me join them in their little world, and we have found yet another way to bond.
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