Surprise! New proud parents. J/k That's NOT ours, people.  

One of my favorites - Spawn 

Gong-wing, Mui, and Wei - 12/25/05. Gosh, I remember them as small children. What a difference 8 years makes. 

Me and my nieces. 12/25/05 

View from Mike and Gah's front door.  

Mike, OPEN YOUR EYES! 

Mike, do I have to say it? Please open your eyes for ONE picture, please! 

The new family Christmas tradition....FIFA Soccer on X-box. 

One of the few pictures Julie would allow me to take of her (actually, I snuck this one in). 12/25/05  

Goh and Q -12/25/05 

Wei and Mui 12/25/05 

Wei and Stevie - 12/25/05 

Me, Wei, and Goh 

Christmas lights in Oak Park. 12/22/05 

A wild fox running around downtown Chicago. He was running towards Lake Shore Drive, but turned back. Thank God. Hope he survived the cold. Poor little guy. 

More Signature Room 

View from Signature Room 12/22/05 

Dinner at the Signature Room 12/22/05. 

Chicago - Literally the Crappiest Neighborhood

I've lived in Chicago for the past 4 years. Before then, I was in northern New Jersey for 18 months, and before then I was in Biddeford, Maine for 2 years, and before that I was in Davis, California for 6 years, and before that, I was in San Francisco for 15 years. And throughout all of my travels, I have never seen a city as crappy as Chicago.

Don't get me wrong, downtown Chicago is a beautiful area. Right now, I live in Lakeview, about 1 mile north of that. This area is populated by a lot of young single people...with pets. Now don't get me wrong, I love dogs. I just hate their freakin' owners. Why? Because a lot of them let their dogs crap all over the sidewalk and don't clean it up! Isn't that illegal? Yes, but they just leave it there, anyway. During the winter, they let their dogs crap in the snow and the owners just cover it up with more snow (I actually witnessed this). Then in the springtime, when the snow melts, there's ALLLLL this dog crap all over the bloody sidewalk, well preserved from the icey cold. I wish I could shove every careless owner's face in to one of these piles.
Even walking just 2 blocks without stepping in something poses a challenge. 2 freakin' blocks! So gross and at the same time, so pathetic.

Even living right across the street from the ghetto in Oak Park was better than this. At least the people there didn't crap all over the street and leave it there.

Go Climb a Mountain

Hahng Sahn, in Cantonese is literally translated to meaning "climb a mountain". But we all know it really means when we have to pack up incense, roast duck or pork, wine, 3 sets of chopsticks, 3 small wine glasses, 3 soup spoons, fake paper money, a metal pail, and matches, and drive to the side of a rather steep hill (where one wrong move and you're history) where we set up all the food and utensils, bow before a grave of our ancestors 3 to 9 times, and burn the fake paper money. Kind of a weird tradition, but this is what we do to honour our ancestors. That is, when we have the time.

Recently, I was talking to Dad on the phone and I was chastised for not performing my worshipping duties. Nevermind the fact that I'm about 2,000 miles away and only have been home 2-3 times in the past 4 years. But he's right. I should make more of an effort to go with him to honour and worship my ancestors when I'm home. I promised to go the next time I return.

But why all the fuss? Basically, because I haven't gone in about 4 years, the last time I was home for an extended period of time. But I think there's more to it than just paying respects. See, Dad recently had a really big scare; he had a colon polyp that was discovered and for a long while he was afraid he might have colon cancer (the sensible person would decide to quit smoking at this point). To our huge relief, we discovered that the polyp was benign. I believe this experience put Dad more in touch with his mortality.

Let's face it, Dad has fewer days ahead than he does behind him; he's around 70. When he goes, he doesn't want to be forgotten; he wants to be remembered, honoured, and respected just as his father was after he died. And that's fine because that's something we all want; nobody wants to be forgotten. However, seeing his children (I'm guilty as well) being "too busy" to pay their respects to their grandparents is very hurtful to Dad. Because not only are we being derilict in our duties, but in his mind, if his children don't have time for their deceased grandparents, they won't have time for their parents, either. And they certainly won't make the time for the grandchildren to pay their respects.

In essence, he will be forgotten. And that is the worst fate that can come to pass to the deceased.

So the next time I'm home, I'll definitely go with Dad and climb a mountain. We'll burn incense, and pay our respects and eat good food. Even as a busy overworked and underpaid medical resident, taking 2 or 3 hours out of the last 4 years is definitely not a problem.

It shouldn't be for anyone.