Over whiskey and scotch...

Had the rare opportunity to hang out with Anderson.  I don't know the last time we did it... but it's too long to remember.  We got together... shared things we were thankful for... commiserated a little on life... and gave Anderson the chance to pour his heart out over the passing of his father.

昌伯伯 was well into his late seventies if not early eighties.  In recent years, he had a stroke and hasn't been his normal self.  The final year of his life... he was bed ridden and completely depended on loved ones to care for him.  His quality of life... was not that high quality.  Thankfully.. he was surrounded by his son... his daughter-in-law... 3 beautiful grandchildren, including little Nathaniel.  And of course, the love of his life for 50 years. 

"I miss him.  I didn't get a chance to say good bye."  Forget regrets... but sometimes, life passes by so fast that all you get to do is regret.  

I didn't know the man well... but he seemed to have lived life to the fullest.  He provided for his family.  Was a loving son. An honorable father.  And to wrap up this post... the love of HER life for 50 years.

Rest in peace 昌伯伯.  Till we meet again... 

False advertisement?

Do people really believe what they print or post? Or is it just me. 

Legend of the 5 Kernels - 2024

Year's past... I would actually spend time to think, research, and craft on 5 things.  Gonna keep it simple and more natural this year... minimal thinking.

In 2024... I'm thankful for...

1) Vine Youth and SW answering the Altar Call during Mission Conference

2) Finding a new home

3) Finding wonderful tenants

4) Surviving three car accidents

5) Nancy, Sandy, Tony, and Sylvia 

A moment of selfishness

Flying home to SFO from MSY and it was a packed flight.  A petite Asian teenager finally walked up and politely asked to step in.  As I stood up... she asked if I can swap with her mom (coming up behind her) who was sitting one seat behind me.  Who am I to separate a mom and her child? 

I did a courtesy turn of the head and saw who I was going to be sitting next to.  SCREEEEEEEEECH!!!! Hit the brakes!!! Hold up!!! Waaaaaaait a minute. 

I paused long enough for the mom to come up now and ask the same question... if I can swap with her.  I turned again to look at my potential neighbor.  Turned back to face the mom.  Turned back to check out the dude.  Turned back to face the mom.  

Then I hesitantly, in a loud whisper told the mom.  "That guy is very wide.  This is a 5 hour flight.  I can't sit next to him."  

I already have limited leg room.  That guy was big, wide, and muscular.  I've sat next to big people in the past and to no fault of their own, they intrude into your personal space.  And there's literally NOTHING you can do about it.  Either you rub up against them.. or you try and bend your body away.  But for 5 hours.....??? I can't.  I can't!!!!!

I felt so bad... in that moment of selfishness.  But I'm not wrong... am I??? 

Cotton Candy

 My my…. What a meal. And for dessert…? Das riiiight… cotton candy on a mannequin’s head. 

Power Drain

At SFO… readying for a trip to NOLA and I’m charging up my devices for the 4 hour trip. Remember the days when 5-600 people would fight for two wall outlets? And one of them were so loose you can’t kee your plug in?

Nowadays… there are so many charging outlets… you gotta wonder how much power is being used at any given airport. 

 

Matter of Convenience

Sometimes... people simply have a craving for sushi.

 

Happiest Place on Earth

This weekend while shopping at the Happiest Place on Earth (HPOE), I see one of those sights that's worth a thousand words... two elderly couple on a date.

 

Gollum-ing

Is that a term? If not... can I coin it?  The act of when... you good side is arguing with your evil side. 

Typical ESL Tuesday... but I was running late... so I actually joined the teachers for dinner.  Dinner which selfless brothers and sisters make (from scratch) and bring (through traffic).  I got there late and there was enough for maybe 1-2 people.  I gladly ate half a portion... in case someone was running later than me.

Then one of the student helpers (not a teacher), saw that I was done.  He picked up a tray and scooped up the rest of the noodles... maybe his 2nd plate... but this time, piling it 2-3x higher than my measly little plate.  Immediately, I felt a surge of emotion rush up, thinking, "Dude... you're not even a teacher!"  And I wanted to tell the person in charge... to remind the students they can come eat... but let teachers get first dibs.  

I didn't say anything... went back to minding my own business when a teacher walked in late.  He took a look at what was left in the tray... and scraped off about half the size of my small portion.  Leaving just a tiny bit.... when yet... another teacher walks in even later.  Takes a look and realizes there's a few pieces of veggies left.

The kind family who made and brought the food was watching and observing... and they reacted the way I did.  But spoke to me in Mandarin... saying, "Teachers haven't even eaten yet.  He got seconds and got so much!!"  

In a 180... I tried to calm them down and diffuse the situation saying, "He's a student helper.  We're one big family."  And "You're cooking is just too good to resist!"  We were speaking in Chinese... but the Hispanic Pastor can probably read the room and body language.  He stepped over to the dude... and said a few words in Spanish.  Everybody saw what happened.  

Here I am... in an out of body experience... lecturing that kind family or in this case, lecturing myself... or as I would call it, gollum-ing. 

At any moment

Was always taught... be ready and viligent... cuz at any moment, you'll have a chance to share God's Word.  As was today... breakfast at McDonald's.

I was sitting off to the side, minding my own business when an Asian man sat down and started blaring his mobile device while watching some program in his native language.  I gave him the stink eye and dirty look.  "Have some common courtesy, sir!! No one needs to hear what you're hearing!!"  But I kept to myself and minded my own business.  After eternity and a day... he finally got him to leave.  "Thank goodness.  Took him long enough!" But then... he decided to sit down NEXT to me.  "Good gobbily goop...what did I do to deserve this?!?!?"

Then out of the blue... he started to engage in conversation.  He first asked if I was Chinese, Filipino, Thai...? I said Chinese.  Then he asked if I speak Mandarin or Cantonese.  I said both.

Then he went off..... like a collie in an open field after a weekend of being stuck at home in the rain.

He first asked what I did for a living... Obviously I wasn't going to engage... so I simply said "supply chain."  He didn't care what I said, he just wanted to say, "Are you the boss?" I said no.... and he asked, "Do you know how to write 工?"  I gave him a weird look... "工字冇出頭." 

Chinese culture, is the best culture.  And he challenged me... asking if I knew what 五個火組成的字。  I said no... never saw it.  Is it even used commonly... he said, "有！ 寫符！"  I started noticing the tattoos swimming up and down his arms... a mixture of cultish, taoist designs.  It was time to leave... I didn't want to deal with him or collide with him.  Then I thought... I've got 30 minutes.  I can entertain myself.   So I played along and said, "中華文化博大精深!"  But you've gotta use it.. otherwise it's not practical.  五個火 - it's not used on TV.  Not in newspaper.  What's the use of it... if it's not used.   He wasn't going to win that conversation... so he changed the subject.

He started lecturing me on the different spiritual levels and how blind I am.  Ants... he said... are level 2.  They're in their own world and they're oblivious to anything else beyond them.  They don't know humans exist.  Humans... are on level 3!!!  We're also oblivious to the 4th and 5th level... we don't see demons and ghosts.  He asked if I believe in them... and in honest truth... I said yes.  Then he said I'm not powerful enough... because I can't see them.  He, on the other hand, has his eyes opened.  So he sees things all the time.  

My turn to push back... seeing, isn't believing.  You don't have to see... but it exists.  I asked him... "Have you seen love??"  "Have you seen the wind or air?"  He answered... "I can see wind..." and I said, "No you can't.  You see the air pressure carrying leaves and sand.  You see the effects of wind."  I wish I had memorized Hebrews 11:1 for this moment. 

(I'm having fun!)

He was losing that conversation... so he changed subjects on me and asked me what I did.  And talked about giving me protection.  And that's when I found my opening.... 我信耶穌 and wanted to start sharing my faith.  The bible is so true and fascinating... "You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder." James 2:19.  The man started to lecture ME about Christianity.  And how he's drank the blood of Jesus.  How a lot of priests and pastors have asked for his help.  I don't doubt him... I'm sure he's studied the bible.  He might even know it better than a lot of self-proclaimed Christians. 

(I was really enjoying this now)

Then he started asking... what's the value in believing in Jesus? Can He cure cancer? Can he make you rich? 

I found my other way in... I told him, "Believing in Jesus isn't a means of prosperity."  

He shot back asking, "What's the point? If you can't make money... why believe in him?"

Perfect opening.... "We're all sinners. Since the fall of man... sin has entered the world and seperated us from God and we're doomed to eternal damnation.  This is eternal, not now, not tomorrow, but forever.  If forever, you don't want to be damned... then accept the fact you've sinned... and Jesus came to die for you and me... so our sins can be forgiven.  And we can now have eternity with our loving Father." 

He asked, "Why would a person die for you and me?"

I answered, "I honestly don't know why... but He loves us.  And He chose to do it.  You don't have to fully understand why... you just have to believe."  

What happened after that....?? (To be continued) 

Dinner with Dad

NN had a sweet 16 party in the city...and I had about 5 hours to kill.  So I went to look for dad for dinner.  He said instead of going out... he'd cook.   He made his favorite 蒸魚， 苦瓜田雞， 海參， 清寶涼.  He even went out of his way to slice and dice watermelon for us and chilled it.

"好耐冇食過老逗煮嘅飯。"  And he was right... I honestly don't remember the last time he cooked for me.  It may have been during those initial post-graduation days when I'd head out to SF on Wednesday nights for dinner. 

We talked a lot... me more than him.  I had to up the gain of my voice... and he probably only caught every other word cuz of his hearing.  When he went out for a smoke... I noisied around.  Man... the man is organized.  His drawers.  His books.  His clothes.  His shelves and cabinets and pantries.  I should do this more often. 

Bathroom Jabbers - Lost in the City

Bathroom Jabbers are BACK!! This time... I found myself in desperate need of taking a leak in the city of San Francisco.  My bad for downing an energy drink... without having a clear plan of an establishment in which I can relieve myself.

So I found myself in the streets of the Sunset District in San Francisco.  I parked... bought my pineapple buns... returned to the car and had a moment of decision.  Do I drive to find a public bathroom? Or do I roam the streets in hopes of finding a restaurant, Starbucks, teashop, to do my thang.  I opted for the latter.  

As I traversed the Irving Street... there was nothing available for me to drop-in.  Went about 5 blocks one way... then had to turn back.  There was a sports bar that was kinda rowdy... but didn't want to get dirty looks.  There was a restaurant that explicitly says, "No Public Restroom.  Don't Even Ask."  In finally made it back to where I started and found a chinese bakery.  The cashier was busy with a customer so I danced around the corner to where the bathroom is... only to see a sign "Out of Service."  Darn!!!  

Was out of options... I had to drive to a local church or a gas station... or maybe google "Restroom" and see what comes up.  Lo and behold... 2 blocks away was a park with a restroom.  Of course!! Public parks!!  So I ran tot he car... busted a U-wee... scadaddled through traffic.... almost ran over a little boy on his bike... and voila... here I was.  

This time... I made sure the entrance said "Men." 

This time... I made sure there were... uh... urinals.  

This time... I took my time and let it splash and flow.  Ahhhhhhhh..... relief never felt sweeter.