R.I.P. my dear friend...

Today, officially, all the US Toys R Us stores closed their doors.

Toys R Us - growing up as a poor kid in San Francisco, Toys R Us was just as big as Disneyland or Great America.

When we grew up... we only had 1 Toys R Us in our vicinity, and that was Serramonte.  But Serramonte wasn't a place you can walk to or ride the MUNI to.  You had to take a special bus - which looking back, is SamTrans. Bus 7F.  It was... a very long ways away...

I hated taking that bus.  We had to take the city bus all the way down to the terminal by downtown.  And the bus terminal was dirty and stinky.  Lots of bums.  Very creepy.

Then there was the bus schedule.  I was a small chinese kid that can't read.  And I relied on mom to know when we can take the bus.  Looking back, I wonder if she really knew what she was reading.  This scared the be-jezuz out of me... because I was always afraid we'll miss the last bus coming home.  And if we miss it... we're stranded in Serramonte. A very long ways away.....

So we'd go to Toys R Us.  Maybe once a year, because it was so hard to get to.  But each time, it was special.  Each time... we'd be able to buy ONE toy.  And it was the best toy.  It was the best toy because I can get one in a store that's nothing BUT toys.  It's unlike the Walgreens or Woolworth, where they also have toys.  But only in 1 aisle of the entire store.

I have a lot of memories of Toys R Us.

That memory of dad buying us the ET Speak and Spell.... only to realize when we got home... it was just the cartridge to go into the real thing.

Or the memory when 佩碧姨 took us there, the day mom and dad had to cram for the citizenship test.  And big bro ended up getting Magneto for Secret Wars and I got Prince Adam from He-Man.

Or the time dad went there to get us our first Nintendo... and two games... one each.  Double Dragon and Contra.

So many tiny bits and pieces.... but out of all the special memories of Toys R Us, there's one that stands out among the rest.

I must've been in 1st or 2nd grade.  And this one time, for whatever reason, big bro and I found a shopping cart and we took turns riding in it while the other person pushed it and raced it down the aisle.  Where was mom??  Who knows.  Nowdays... you would never, ever catch kids running around in a giant store by themselves.  Times were different.

Up and down the aisle.  Two reckless kids were having the time of their lives.  We got faster...and faster.  And now, it was my turn to push.  I wanted this to be the fastest of all the runs.  So I pushed harder than ever.  Ran faster than ever.  Made noises louder than ever.  After about 5 steps, 10 steps, 20 steps... we were blazing down the aisle.  Then it happened.... I lost control of the cart.  We started drifting.  We started fish tailing.  I couldn't stop!!  And then.... BANG!!!!  We crashed!!!

We crashed into the glass windows that held all the game consoles.  I crashed so hard... I couldn't stop my momentum and my mouth bashed right onto the handle bar.

BOOM!!!!  It was loud.  The world stood still.  For some reason... everybody who needed to be there, was there.

A security said, "Hey, where's your mom?!"

I turned, and amazing, there was mom, standing there shopping.  She was shopping for a Care Bear clock, which for some odd reason, 30 years later, we still have.  I got scared.  I simply said, "媽" and I started running away from the crime scene.

It was a blur.  I ditched my big bro who was supposedly still in the shopping cart.  I walked up and down the aisle - wiggling the tooth that got bashed into.  (lost that tooth that very night).  The way I remember it, we didn't break anything.  But I once heard big bro said we broke the glass case.

I never got into trouble for that act... nor do I remember ever talking about it since the night it occurred.

Funny how some things just sticks with you...for the rest of your life.

"I don't wanna grow up. I'm a Toys R Us kid...."  the 80's commericial jingle still rings in my ears, as I solemnly cast my flower into the grave and bid my good friend... adieu.  May you Rest in Peace.

怎去猜想這夢會變真? - The Reflection

To the day... it's been exactly 6 weeks since the musical.

The days after the musical... our little chat group had some wonderful, side splitting exchanges.  And some were also tear-jerking emotional.  To this day... I don't want to leave or delete that chat group.  A desperate desire to hang onto something in the past.

At church today... I saw the entire ensemble.  Glowing.  Serving.  Beautiful.  But no mentions of this musical.  To everyone, other than me, this is probably an afterthought.

A couple of weeks ago, I led CS Prayer Meeting, so I had a reason to go back to the pictures from our Gospel Sunday.  Of the hundreds and hundreds of pictures that were taken... I picked two.  One was from the STEAM class.  And the other one..... new believers raising their hands in response to PAL's calling.  That's the true essence of Gospel Sunday.  The true meaning behind 浪子回頭.  All the other things... a distraction.  Nothing brings me more gladness and joy... then when another one of God's children "returns home."

So what's next??  After Gospel Sunday... I haven't done much for CS.  I owed Joyce a little "break."  But you can only hide me for so long.  You can take the hero out of the action, but you can't take the action out of the hero. (HA!!)

Coincidentally... this morning, I started singing 別人的歌:

My new dream... a self produced, self directed, original soundtrack musical....

劇終

怎去猜想這夢會變真? - The Redemption

In retrospect, the build up from week 1 was exactly what we needed.  Had we been too perfect for week 1.... there would be no where to go for week 2. Sure...there were mic issues.  some lighting and AV problems.  But man....did we hit a Home Run on week 2.

Our props were perfect.  From the park bench... to the BBQ Pork Rice.
The comic relief was on the spot.  Angel pulled off his lines flawlessly.
The music...the singing... the movement was seamless.

The one flaw...I guess... was at the end of 滾, we totally expected the audience to roar with applause.  But they were so shocked.... it was pure silence.  We had them.  We had the audience.  They were at the mercy of whatever we wanted to do next.

And then the ending.... so satisfying, from everyone's perspective.

The wireless mic was turned out.... and the audience knew it.... so everyone was hush-silent to hear him speak.  We couldn't have planned that better.  Angus delivered his line perfectly, "小姐， 賞唔賞面食個lunch."  The audience erupted.... it was exactly what they wanted to see.  And then.... to put the icing on the cake.... Elise delivered her purest, most heart warming performance, but standing up and covering her mouth.

Lights out.

Redemption.

"つづく"

Here's a first...

Went to get a haircut today.  And as the lady was trimming my sideburns... she surreptitiously and slyly trims my ear-hair. 

I've noticed hair growing from my ear recently... but I really don't know how to trim it.  It's not like nose hair or eyebrows, where it's in front of you!! 

She did it very quickly... almost like... "No one has to know.  This is between you and me.  And hey... I don't even have to know." 

No...she didn't get more tip. 

怎去猜想這夢會變真? - The Comeback

(Shucks... took a 3 week hiatus to write this one.  The memory is fading fast)

When the world seems to have fallen apart... heroes will rise.  And rarely, do heroes stand alone.
The team really banded together.  Everyone wanted to be sure what happened in week 1 didn't happen again.

I got requests for week 1's video.  Cuz word got out that it was an epic musical (I didn't think so)
I got emails / calls telling me to get with Dung to ensure A/V is ready.
I was told that we'll have professional video recording. (Honestly... I really DON'T want recording)
I was asked if we can rehearse... as opposed to if we needed to rehearse.

The whole world wanted us to succeed.  They were begging for a successful part 2.

On Friday night... we didn't just rehearse, we squeezed every drop of our creative juice to make our mark.

On Saturday morning... we were suppose to rehearse in the Sanctuary.  But was inadvertently double-booked.  But the team made the best of the situation and made lemonade out of lemons.  Part of the team went overtime... and wanted to further rehearse on their own, just to ensure they had things pat.

The A/V and Lighting team was so enthralled in getting every last detail correct.  It was maddening.

On Saturday night... close to midnight... the script was still evolving.  And it dawned on me that we need to end the skit on a high note.  So last minute... I added a TWIST that had everyone applauding on Whatsapp.

And dear Sam (of course it's the Tsangs) ends the night by saying, "Bless everyone a good night sleep and Holy Spirit filled tomorrow!"

That's how it should start...and that's how it should end - with God.  We were ready....

"つづく"

Costco surprises me again

Costco never ceases to amaze me.

Today... Nui-nui picked up a box of 6 double chocolate muffins.  I was initially reluctant to buy it.. but it's summer, and I'm sure I can eat 1 or 2 for breakfast.

Upon getting to the register, the cashier said "This is 2 for the price of 1.  Do you want a second one?"

I think about it for a sec.... hmm.... same price, 12 muffins. What a deal!!!! But I can't eat all that.  It's unhealthy!  "Nah... I don't want to waste food.  I'll just take one box."

She rings me up.... and she gives the box of muffins to her colleague to re-stock.

"Wait...wait... wait.... I can't buy one?!?"

"Sorry sir.... You need to buy two."

"But what if I pay for two, but I only want one."

"I can't let you walk out with one box.  Sorry sir."

I couldn't help but laugh.  This is senseless and mindless.  Only in America.

Family Time

In San Diego this week for a short vacation.  And we end up staying with the Tat's in their San Diego home.  It's always a little anxious staying overnight with someone.  Will they get in your way? Will you get in their way? What if you end up being "that family" that the host wants to get rid of? So many things to think about and worry about.

Back to back nights.. I ended up sitting in the living room to watching TVB with them.  Mindless chit-chat for about an hour.  Such precious family time. 

I asked Hody if they that's what they do at home.  She said... "Yes, and No."  Yes... they watch the news together and have an hour of mindless chit-chat.  No...instead of a 70" TV....the entire family is hovered in front of an iPad.

Wow.... so eye opening to see other families interact this way. 

Irrational Boldness

Received a Short Term Mission support letter today.  In it... "I want to preach the gospel to others because I feel like I can do it, so I will do it.... Another reason I am going is because I feel like God is telling me to go."

That's from a 10 year old.  Dannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnng.  You will never see that from an adult.  Love the boldness from this kid. What happened to our faith????  I want to be like this little guy!!!

One of the happiest days of my life

Today was one of the happiest days of my life.  I went fishing with my son.  We didn't catch anything.  But man... it was rough... I don't fish so I was struggling while trying to keep a kid entertained.  I can't wait to do it again..... 

Wally Pipp'ed

Wally Pipp'ed.... a verb coined for the famous Yankees player Wally Pipp who, accordingly to legend, had a headache one day and was replaced by Lou Gehrig at Shortstop.  Lou Gehrigh went on to playing that same position for the next 17 seasons.... (2130 games). 

Today... I think I got Wally Pipp'ed.  And all for the better.

The past 3 years... I've been at the core of almost all the big CS events.  Carnivals...CNY... Gospel Sundays, etc....  it was time to give someone else a chance.  And this team took the torch and set it ablazin'!!!!  So proud of this team.....

Sometimes.... people just need a chance, a gig, a start.  Like when Larry gave me my opportunity several years ago.  And here I am today.  So prayerfully... we have a new era of leaders, managers, organizers to take CS and SJCAC to a new level!!!! 

By the way....God doesn't need us.  He can do anything he wants with anyone. 

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