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Wow, Niu bao, Ping said yesterday when she was using my cell phone to check for an address that Cici had sent to me by text message. You have so many text messages from Cici. I don't have any text messages from you, she said. Well, you have to send them to receive them, I replied. You and I always call each other, but Cici and I usually communicate with text messages. You know, because she and I are members of the younger generation. 
Dream, Ping said with a laugh.
Yesterday Cici went to visit five Chinese friends and they made some hot pot to eat. Cici sent text messages to me periodically to tell me how much fun she was having. When she got home last night she said they ate hot pot for lunch and then kept eating it for the rest of the day. How about the cake that Mama and you prepared and you took with you, I asked. Oh, we ate all of the cake too, except one piece.
Aha, I said. This is how you will gain the famous freshman 15 pounds when you start to college. She laughed. I think I put on the senior (high school) 5 pounds today, she confessed. But I had so much fun! This is the first time she has ventured out on her own like this since coming to America, so I was glad to see her so happy.
Dream, Ping said with a laugh.
Yesterday Cici went to visit five Chinese friends and they made some hot pot to eat. Cici sent text messages to me periodically to tell me how much fun she was having. When she got home last night she said they ate hot pot for lunch and then kept eating it for the rest of the day. How about the cake that Mama and you prepared and you took with you, I asked. Oh, we ate all of the cake too, except one piece.
Aha, I said. This is how you will gain the famous freshman 15 pounds when you start to college. She laughed. I think I put on the senior (high school) 5 pounds today, she confessed. But I had so much fun! This is the first time she has ventured out on her own like this since coming to America, so I was glad to see her so happy.
Soup for One
Ping noticed early on that my younger son loves hot and sour soup, but he eats none of the vegetables or other ingredients in the soup, so now she makes soup for one when he is in town. It is hot and sour soup with nothing but the soup and he loves it. He can take more time to eat a bowl of soup than anyone I know, as he carefully savors each bite.
He flew in from New York on Saturday and flew back to New York last night. It is all part of the price you pay to be an investment banker with one of the big firms in New York. But he seems to be thriving on the lifestyle. The girls admire what he has accomplished, and really cater to him when he comes to visit us. They made a cheesecake for him because they know that is another of his favorites, and they served up a huge piece of it for him to eat while he watched a basketball game on TV.
My son is a Dragon and next year is the Year of the Dragon, so the girls cautioned him to wear red every day during the year. It is dangerous if you don't wear red, they told him. You could even wear a red bracelet, Cici advised him. Or wear red underwear, Ping suggested.
That lead to a discussion about the animals in the zodiac, and Cici explained why the cat is not one of the animals. It is because the rat tricked the cat by telling it that the meeting would not be until the next day, so the cat was taking a nap when the meeting happened. And this is why cats hate mice, Cici explained.
You can get a lot done over a bowl of soup for one when you have a slow eater.
He flew in from New York on Saturday and flew back to New York last night. It is all part of the price you pay to be an investment banker with one of the big firms in New York. But he seems to be thriving on the lifestyle. The girls admire what he has accomplished, and really cater to him when he comes to visit us. They made a cheesecake for him because they know that is another of his favorites, and they served up a huge piece of it for him to eat while he watched a basketball game on TV.
My son is a Dragon and next year is the Year of the Dragon, so the girls cautioned him to wear red every day during the year. It is dangerous if you don't wear red, they told him. You could even wear a red bracelet, Cici advised him. Or wear red underwear, Ping suggested.
That lead to a discussion about the animals in the zodiac, and Cici explained why the cat is not one of the animals. It is because the rat tricked the cat by telling it that the meeting would not be until the next day, so the cat was taking a nap when the meeting happened. And this is why cats hate mice, Cici explained.
You can get a lot done over a bowl of soup for one when you have a slow eater.
Add One
I just filled out a voter registration application for Cici and asked her to sign it. She signed it, but asked why she needed to vote.
Because you are in a free country now and you should appreciate the fact that you have the right to vote. Have you been watching the people demonstrating in the streets in countries around the world, with thousands of them being killed? They are willing to die fighting for the right to be free, the right to vote, the right to elect who will lead their country. Okay, I got it, Papa, she said while patting me on the shoulder. I understand.
I also checked the rules for voting in Texas. I will be allowed to accompany her when she casts her first ballot as a U.S. citizen, because English is not her native language and she may need help, especially with propositions that will be on the ballot.
The right to vote in a free country. Now that is a pretty good Christmas gift for anyone.
Because you are in a free country now and you should appreciate the fact that you have the right to vote. Have you been watching the people demonstrating in the streets in countries around the world, with thousands of them being killed? They are willing to die fighting for the right to be free, the right to vote, the right to elect who will lead their country. Okay, I got it, Papa, she said while patting me on the shoulder. I understand.
I also checked the rules for voting in Texas. I will be allowed to accompany her when she casts her first ballot as a U.S. citizen, because English is not her native language and she may need help, especially with propositions that will be on the ballot.
The right to vote in a free country. Now that is a pretty good Christmas gift for anyone.
iShop
Guess where we are, Papa, Cici's text message said about mid-day yesterday. Eating without me again? I asked. No, we are at the outlet mall again, she replied. Have fun, I said.
Then about 7:00 last night I sent another text because the girls were not at home and neither of them answered their cell phone. A short time later Cici responded with a text. So busy shopping, she said. We are shopping at the Coach store for people in China. Poor Papa, I replied. Home alone. I think we will come home before you go to sleep, she responded.
So I read and finished a book I had been working on this week. And I waited. Finally, about 9:00 I heard the garage door opening. The girls came in with their hands full of shopping bags. The girls felt bad, or guilty, or something, because they had left me alone all evening. I will cook something for you to eat, Ping said, and went to work chopping vegetables immediately. Poor Papa, Cici said as she began to work on my shoulders with her hands and fists.
I love my new iPhone so much, Cici said as she worked on my shoulders. I am glad you like it, I said. It was a big surprise Christmas gift for her because we had talked about getting one for her as a graduation gift. I gave the iPhone to her after I bought it on Wednesday because Verizon moved her phone number from her Droid to the iPhone. She was shocked into silence when she took it out of her stocking. I thought it was perfume or something like that, she told me later. I never dreamed that the box held an iPhone.
Let me tell you how I used the iPhone while we shopped, Cici said. It made shopping for people in China so much easier. Mama would find purses and wallets in the Coach store that she thought someone in China might like. I took pictures of them with my iPhone and immediately sent them to China using QQ. The person in China, family member or friend, would look at their options and tell us which item to buy for them. We bought so many things this way, and it was a great time to do it. The prices were 50% off, plus an additional 30 percent off, plus an additional 10% off. It was amazing.
I bet Coach had no idea, and probably still has no idea, how the iPhone helped boast their sales to people in other countries. I doubt that Apple envisioned that use of the iPhone, but it sure works well for that purpose.
So what about you? I asked Cici. Did you find anything for you? Yes, she said excitedly, let me show you. She ran to get a red sweater and held it up for me to see. Do you like it? It was $60 but I bought it for $12, she said. Next she showed me a full length black dress that she loved. That is perfect for holiday parties or graduation or evening events, I told her. I know, Papa, and look at this. I also found a red one. It was a different style, but also a full length dress, and again I told her it was perfect. They look really good when I put them on, she said. Yes, Ping added, and she can wear the same shoes and purse with them.
Then we sat down to eat, but the girls were still excited about shopping. You are such an expensive girl, I teased Cici. She smiled. There will be payback, Papa, she promised. I understood what she was saying but Ping missed it. You should take care of Papa in the future because of everything he does for you, Ping told Cici. I will, Cici replied, and I already told him I will do that. You should also give Papa a hug, Ping said. I will do that, Cici said. She got up and put her arms around my neck and hugged me tight. Thank you Papa, she said.
It was worth waiting a few hours for the girls to get home.
Then about 7:00 last night I sent another text because the girls were not at home and neither of them answered their cell phone. A short time later Cici responded with a text. So busy shopping, she said. We are shopping at the Coach store for people in China. Poor Papa, I replied. Home alone. I think we will come home before you go to sleep, she responded.
So I read and finished a book I had been working on this week. And I waited. Finally, about 9:00 I heard the garage door opening. The girls came in with their hands full of shopping bags. The girls felt bad, or guilty, or something, because they had left me alone all evening. I will cook something for you to eat, Ping said, and went to work chopping vegetables immediately. Poor Papa, Cici said as she began to work on my shoulders with her hands and fists.
I love my new iPhone so much, Cici said as she worked on my shoulders. I am glad you like it, I said. It was a big surprise Christmas gift for her because we had talked about getting one for her as a graduation gift. I gave the iPhone to her after I bought it on Wednesday because Verizon moved her phone number from her Droid to the iPhone. She was shocked into silence when she took it out of her stocking. I thought it was perfume or something like that, she told me later. I never dreamed that the box held an iPhone.
Let me tell you how I used the iPhone while we shopped, Cici said. It made shopping for people in China so much easier. Mama would find purses and wallets in the Coach store that she thought someone in China might like. I took pictures of them with my iPhone and immediately sent them to China using QQ. The person in China, family member or friend, would look at their options and tell us which item to buy for them. We bought so many things this way, and it was a great time to do it. The prices were 50% off, plus an additional 30 percent off, plus an additional 10% off. It was amazing.
I bet Coach had no idea, and probably still has no idea, how the iPhone helped boast their sales to people in other countries. I doubt that Apple envisioned that use of the iPhone, but it sure works well for that purpose.
So what about you? I asked Cici. Did you find anything for you? Yes, she said excitedly, let me show you. She ran to get a red sweater and held it up for me to see. Do you like it? It was $60 but I bought it for $12, she said. Next she showed me a full length black dress that she loved. That is perfect for holiday parties or graduation or evening events, I told her. I know, Papa, and look at this. I also found a red one. It was a different style, but also a full length dress, and again I told her it was perfect. They look really good when I put them on, she said. Yes, Ping added, and she can wear the same shoes and purse with them.
Then we sat down to eat, but the girls were still excited about shopping. You are such an expensive girl, I teased Cici. She smiled. There will be payback, Papa, she promised. I understood what she was saying but Ping missed it. You should take care of Papa in the future because of everything he does for you, Ping told Cici. I will, Cici replied, and I already told him I will do that. You should also give Papa a hug, Ping said. I will do that, Cici said. She got up and put her arms around my neck and hugged me tight. Thank you Papa, she said.
It was worth waiting a few hours for the girls to get home.
And the Beast goes on ...
When I dropped Cici off at school yesterday morning, the only thing on her schedule was to take the final exam in Spanish. As she walked away from the car she turned and mouthed the words "I am a beast" to me - emphasizing with a laugh that she was going to do well on the exam.
So about mid-morning when I knew she would be finished with the exam I sent her a text message, which resulted in the following exchange:
Were you a beast this morning?
I am always a beast.
LOL. And always modest.
U know me so well.
And so begins her semester break, leaving us with only one more semester of high school. I am so ready for college, she told me last week. I know that is true, but things will change so much when she goes off to college. Ping says she is looking forward to it because she won't have to pick Cici up after school every day, but I bet she will miss having Cici at home just as much as I will.
But we already have Cici prepped to talk with us in video chats when she gets to college. She is also very good about sending text messages, and she will be close enough that we will be able to see her often, so I guess we will survive.
So about mid-morning when I knew she would be finished with the exam I sent her a text message, which resulted in the following exchange:
Were you a beast this morning?
I am always a beast.
LOL. And always modest.
U know me so well.
And so begins her semester break, leaving us with only one more semester of high school. I am so ready for college, she told me last week. I know that is true, but things will change so much when she goes off to college. Ping says she is looking forward to it because she won't have to pick Cici up after school every day, but I bet she will miss having Cici at home just as much as I will.
But we already have Cici prepped to talk with us in video chats when she gets to college. She is also very good about sending text messages, and she will be close enough that we will be able to see her often, so I guess we will survive.
Valley Girl?
omg. i did so good. i am a beast for english.
This is the text message I received from Cici after her final exam in English yesterday morning. Later when I teased her about the message she said that she thinks she made a 100 on the exam, and added that she is a beast in calculus and Spanish as well. And so modest, just like me, I replied, and we shared a laugh.
Ping learned the word "brag" in her ESL classes so now she uses it against Cici and me when we are bragging about something. You are just like Papa, she told Cici. You are bragging. Well, when you learn a new word it helps to use it a lot so you can remember it, so I guess Cici and I are doing Ping a favor with all our bragging.
Cici settled in for a long night of studying last night, with finals in AP physics and AP calculus today. When I said good night to her she called me back to her room. Papa, she said, I forgot to tell you that you look amazing in your new glasses.
I was taken by surprise because when I bought the new glasses, I went for comfort and not looks. In fact, I tried on frames until I found a pair that was comfortable and told the lady helping me that I would purchase them. What? She said. You haven't even looked in the mirror! I'll take a chance on them anyway, I replied to her disbelief. I guess that worked out just fine.
This is the text message I received from Cici after her final exam in English yesterday morning. Later when I teased her about the message she said that she thinks she made a 100 on the exam, and added that she is a beast in calculus and Spanish as well. And so modest, just like me, I replied, and we shared a laugh.
Ping learned the word "brag" in her ESL classes so now she uses it against Cici and me when we are bragging about something. You are just like Papa, she told Cici. You are bragging. Well, when you learn a new word it helps to use it a lot so you can remember it, so I guess Cici and I are doing Ping a favor with all our bragging.
Cici settled in for a long night of studying last night, with finals in AP physics and AP calculus today. When I said good night to her she called me back to her room. Papa, she said, I forgot to tell you that you look amazing in your new glasses.
I was taken by surprise because when I bought the new glasses, I went for comfort and not looks. In fact, I tried on frames until I found a pair that was comfortable and told the lady helping me that I would purchase them. What? She said. You haven't even looked in the mirror! I'll take a chance on them anyway, I replied to her disbelief. I guess that worked out just fine.
The Fix it Girls
The girls often work on a project together. This week they undertook a job that surprised me. When the carpet was installed in the two closets that parallel the entrance to the master bathroom from the bedroom, the installers removed the accordion style doors. When they replaced them, one of the four doors wasn't positioned properly and it was constantly jumping out of the upper track when it was opened and closed.
The door that wasn't working properly was on one of my closets so instead of fixing it immediately, I just opened it more carefully and guided it along the upper track. But the girls had to open that door to hang my clothes and it always jumped out of the track. Instead of waiting for me to fix it, or asking me to fix it, Ping got some tools and worked with Cici to remove, adjust, and reinstall the door. Now it works the way it was supposed to work.
The girls were rather proud of their work. Lazy Papa, Cici said with a laugh. Mama and I fixed the door for you. Good job, I said. Now I have another list of jobs for you and Mama since you are so good at fixing things. Dream! Cici replied. I am so busy I don't have time to fix anything else. Yes, I said, picking up on our running joke. You have so many jobs that I am surprised you haven't run away from home.
The door that wasn't working properly was on one of my closets so instead of fixing it immediately, I just opened it more carefully and guided it along the upper track. But the girls had to open that door to hang my clothes and it always jumped out of the track. Instead of waiting for me to fix it, or asking me to fix it, Ping got some tools and worked with Cici to remove, adjust, and reinstall the door. Now it works the way it was supposed to work.
The girls were rather proud of their work. Lazy Papa, Cici said with a laugh. Mama and I fixed the door for you. Good job, I said. Now I have another list of jobs for you and Mama since you are so good at fixing things. Dream! Cici replied. I am so busy I don't have time to fix anything else. Yes, I said, picking up on our running joke. You have so many jobs that I am surprised you haven't run away from home.
Lights Up
Oh how the times have changed. I still remember the girls asking me what all the strings of lights in the garage were for. Those are lights that can be used on the trees and shrubs beside and in front of our home at Christmas time, I told them. They were also puzzled by the big box with the picture of a Christmas tree on its side.
That first Christmas I assembled the tree and put the decorations on it. The girls showed little interest, as they had never had a Christmas tree. They became more interested when gifts began appearing under the tree. Then Ping asked me about those lights in the garage. I don't think I will use them this year, I told her. But a few days later she took them out of the garage, figured out how to put the strings together, and lit up our house with Christmas lights.
Ping liked the lights so much that she has put them around the outside of our home each year, and she just put them up a couple of days ago for this coming Christmas. Now her question as we walk through the neighborhood at night is why more of our neighbors don't put up Christmas lights. She and Cici have also taken on the role of putting up the Christmas tree each year. It didn't take long before putting up the tree became a tradition for them.
The girls have also learned which houses and which neighborhoods have the best Christmas lights each year and they enjoy driving through those neighborhoods at night. There is one house about a mile from our home that is famous for its fantastic Christmas decorations. I have never seen a more impressive display of lights. The girls are itching for us to go check it out tonight to see if the lights are up. I am betting they are. If you are going to put up a display that takes weeks to finish, I think you want to have it up for the entire holiday season.
In the meantime, our lights are up. Oh yes, and the stockings? Ping keeps them hanging over the fireplace all year because she likes them so much.
That first Christmas I assembled the tree and put the decorations on it. The girls showed little interest, as they had never had a Christmas tree. They became more interested when gifts began appearing under the tree. Then Ping asked me about those lights in the garage. I don't think I will use them this year, I told her. But a few days later she took them out of the garage, figured out how to put the strings together, and lit up our house with Christmas lights.
Ping liked the lights so much that she has put them around the outside of our home each year, and she just put them up a couple of days ago for this coming Christmas. Now her question as we walk through the neighborhood at night is why more of our neighbors don't put up Christmas lights. She and Cici have also taken on the role of putting up the Christmas tree each year. It didn't take long before putting up the tree became a tradition for them.
The girls have also learned which houses and which neighborhoods have the best Christmas lights each year and they enjoy driving through those neighborhoods at night. There is one house about a mile from our home that is famous for its fantastic Christmas decorations. I have never seen a more impressive display of lights. The girls are itching for us to go check it out tonight to see if the lights are up. I am betting they are. If you are going to put up a display that takes weeks to finish, I think you want to have it up for the entire holiday season.
In the meantime, our lights are up. Oh yes, and the stockings? Ping keeps them hanging over the fireplace all year because she likes them so much.
Walkin in my Shoes
I have a pair of house slippers that look like they should be very comfortable, with adjustable straps across the top of the top of the foot, and some kind of soft material, but looks can be deceiving.
Why don't you wear these shoes, Papa, Cici asked me last week. Because they aren't comfortable, I replied. But they look very comfortable, she said. Yes, but there is a hard rim around the part of the shoe where I walk, and it is not comfortable for me. I showed her the part of the shoe that was causing the problem.
Let me try them, Cici said, slipping them on her feet. These feel great, she said with a smile as she walked across the room. That is because they are too big for you, and your feet don't touch the hard rim that causes problems for my feet, I pointed out.
Since this incident, the slippers have become Cici's favorites to wear in our home. They are always parked at the entrance of whatever room she is in at the time, waiting to comfort her feet as she moves through the house. She looks like a child who is walking in her parent's shoes, but that doesn't bother her. She also wears my Burberry scarf around her neck on cold days and keeps it with her clothes when she is not wearing it. I think ownership of the shoes and scarf have passed to Cici. I wouldn't be surprised if they go off to college with her.
Why don't you wear these shoes, Papa, Cici asked me last week. Because they aren't comfortable, I replied. But they look very comfortable, she said. Yes, but there is a hard rim around the part of the shoe where I walk, and it is not comfortable for me. I showed her the part of the shoe that was causing the problem.
Let me try them, Cici said, slipping them on her feet. These feel great, she said with a smile as she walked across the room. That is because they are too big for you, and your feet don't touch the hard rim that causes problems for my feet, I pointed out.
Since this incident, the slippers have become Cici's favorites to wear in our home. They are always parked at the entrance of whatever room she is in at the time, waiting to comfort her feet as she moves through the house. She looks like a child who is walking in her parent's shoes, but that doesn't bother her. She also wears my Burberry scarf around her neck on cold days and keeps it with her clothes when she is not wearing it. I think ownership of the shoes and scarf have passed to Cici. I wouldn't be surprised if they go off to college with her.
Family Meeting
Not long after the girls arrived we bought two chickens that look like they are made of Lenox china. They are a solid ivory color and are maybe 4 inches tall with fat bodies. Their necks are stretched forward and they look like they are having a conversation when they are placed facing each other.
Recently I found something on my desk with a note from Ping attached. Dear Duck, your two chickens are very happy. Your ji baos finally found Niu Bao. Welcome home! The girls had found an ox that was the exact same design and color and material as the two chickens. They placed the ox facing the chickens so there is now the appearance of a three way conversation among them.
These are our Chinese zodiac figures and they stand within the watchful eye of Ping's father's photo, next to which she keeps food available for him. In fact, she served one of the turkey wing tips to him on Thanksgiving, and lit some incense sticks that she stands in a bowl of uncooked rice while they burn. Fresh apples and nuts are always available nearby, as is a glass of wine. This is a Chinese traditional way of honoring deceased ancestors.
Recently I found something on my desk with a note from Ping attached. Dear Duck, your two chickens are very happy. Your ji baos finally found Niu Bao. Welcome home! The girls had found an ox that was the exact same design and color and material as the two chickens. They placed the ox facing the chickens so there is now the appearance of a three way conversation among them.
These are our Chinese zodiac figures and they stand within the watchful eye of Ping's father's photo, next to which she keeps food available for him. In fact, she served one of the turkey wing tips to him on Thanksgiving, and lit some incense sticks that she stands in a bowl of uncooked rice while they burn. Fresh apples and nuts are always available nearby, as is a glass of wine. This is a Chinese traditional way of honoring deceased ancestors.
