怎去猜想這夢會變真? - The Dream

Ever since 學友 came out with 雪狼湖 in the late 90's.... I've always imagined myself being on stage and singing one verse and one verse only: 怎去猜想這夢會變真?  I sing it over and over again... to a point where my kids know that one line far too well...  And on April 8th... PAL made my dream come true.

A few days prior, PAL uncharacteristically requests for a play. That afternoon, while stuck in traffic, with the one line "怎去猜想這夢會變真?"  anchoring the story, the rest of the story grew around the core.  That night, I whipped a synopsis together, half-jokingly actually and said this needs to be a musical.  I never intended on following through with this.  But that Sunday, April 8th, at our first meeting, they made me director of a two part musical - 兩個浪子的故事.  Whether they actually liked my idea...or they didn't want to make me feel bad... 

I didn't have a script, didn't have songs, didn't have the right music and lyrics, didn't have an ensemble.  All I had was that one line of one song.... and my dream.

And now the journey begins...

"つづく"

First World Problem

Haven't been traveling much the past year...and I lost my United Silver Premier access, something you have to renew annually via flying 25,000+ miles.   It's the lowest of all the Premier levels, but hey.... it gets me Pre-Boarding; it gets me free Economy Plus seating (6 inches of leg room!); it gives me Premier Access through the security lines.  Although... with TSA Pre-Check and CLEAR these days, the Premier isn't as special anymore. 

On this east coast trip... I was stressing left and right.  Will I make it through the security lines on time? I'm now in boarding group 4!!! Will there be enough luggage space?!?  Without the 6" of leg room... will the person in front of me lean back?!?? (Of course he did).

Sigh.... first world problems. 

Happy Mother's Day

I love my wife....  the mother of my children.  My best friend.  The love of my life.

She's beautiful.  She's gentle, yet she's strong.  She's gifted, yet she's humble.  She's beautiful, yet.... she's VERY beautiful.

So much has changed over the years. 

Who'd have thought... my wife will be teaching a Children Sunday School?  Her passion for the next generation is next to none.

Who'd have thought... my wife would have co-lead a CNY children's performance?  I never once asked her to do anything.

Who'd have thought... my wife was not part of 1.... not part of 2.... but part of 3 CNY performances?!? Not me..... but my wife.

Who'd have thought... my wife will be part of Amy C-mo's Soul Care sister group?

Who'd have thought... my wife would be communicating and caring for other sisters in our fellowship? Going to lunch with them. Texting them. Loving them.......

How I long for her to return to Worship Team.

世有伯樂，然後有千里馬；千里馬常有，而伯樂不常有.  

千里馬， 奔跑吧！

5 Languages of Love - Part 2

This is actually part 2 of my post on "5 Languages of Love".

"Hi.... my name is Henry."
("Hi, Henry.")
"And I'm a churchaholic."

One of things I told Joyce when we discussed the 5 languages was.... all the things I've done for church, how come you haven't once praised me? encouraged me? or even as little as acknowledged me?

Her answer...."You do too much.  You're always on the phone.  On your laptop.  In meetings."

Then it struck me.... despite working in the Silicon Valley, I can probably proclaim that I'm not a workaholic.  But what I've done is... I've replaced work, with church.  And subconsciously, I'm so smart, I won't let my wife or kids complain, because I'm doing "God's work."  Or as I tell my kids, "爸B去做牧羊人."  How dare they complain?! Right?!

Work... sexual immorality... alcohol... drugs... gambling... all these vices have broken families apart. But who would think church can become a vice??  That church can ironically drive a wedge into the very relationship that it forms.

Joyce wasn't accusatory in her words.  She spoke from a place of pain.

Praise God for this wake up call.

I wish....

Been working on a musical with some b&s at church.. and some of them have so much musical talent.  They can listen to a song and play it on the piano by ear.  And they can transition...or adjust on the spot.  One sister is even able to know which sound/key that goes with each word.  "D, R, M, F, S, L, T, D"  How do you do that??!?!?!?

So jealous....yet.... so impressed to be in the company of these people.  I wish I had half their talent.... I wish.

In memory of...

Attended another funeral today.... "Memorial Service", some call it.  Or better yet... "Celebration of Life."

This time, I had the honor of being a pallbearer.  I did not know the deceased well.  And as far as male grandchildren, they only had four, and needed 2 more.  I guess when it comes down to spiritual children, I am one of the eldest in the Louie family. 

Man....that casket is actually pretty heavy!!!  Carrying it while wearing a glove... I was afraid it'll slip.  No no no.... can't let that happen.

Attending a funeral really makes one think.  About my parents, who will eventually have their funerals.  Who will be their pall bearers. About my own funeral.  Who will be my pallbearers? And the fact that I will request people not only wear black, but Orange and Black (Giants) or Red and Gold (Niners).

Rest In Piece, 冰姐.  Your legacy will live on forever.  Until we meet again.....

That indescribable feeling...

Every now and then... you somehow find yourself in a group of people.. a team, where it just clicks.  The people there work at your speed...and (hopefully) you work at theirs.  Everyone has the same goal.  Everyone has the same passion.  And when it works out.... Man.... that's a great feeling!!

Looking back @ "ARROWS - Let's Proclaim" - Part 2

A few people have come up to me complimenting me on a job well done with the gentleboys.  But this one is a pleasant surprise.

A brother told me that he was late for service that day, missed the introduction of me being the instructor and arrived just in time to see the boys give their speeches.  While listening to the boys, he thought, "This is probably what Henry was like when he was this age."

Later on... he found out that I was the one who taught them on how to make a speech..  How about that.........

Kids say the darndest thing...

(In commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King's assassination.  He may be gone but his spirit lives on forever....)

小華: 媽媽! 要多謝 MLK! 如果無佢你同爸B就結唔到婚。
媽媽: 點解啊?
小華: 爸B黑囉!

16PF

I recently found out...that "16PF" or "16 Personality Factors" is the only personality test that is recognized by the Court of Law.  So what do I do??? I go and take that test.  What else do I do? I asked my 3 best friends to rate me.My rating is in orange.  They're in blue.

Conclusions:

• They don't know me very well - Obviously!!
• I'm a right handed / right minded kinda guy? Maybe?
• My best (girl) friend says - "You have a warped sense of yourself" - Hmmmm....
• Some of these were really debatable...and could change when put into a different context

The best part about this test... I asked Joyce to take it.  But I dare not share the results on the internet. No no no..... that would be suicide. 

Gawd I'm cheap......

Back to back days.... I circled for an additional half hour to find street parking.  Or parking where I didn't have to pay for meters.  Both times... Joyce wasn't in the car.  She would've made me paid.  One time... I ended up making the kids walk two long city blocks in the San Francisco wind!!

But hey!!! I saved $7 one time.  And I probably saved $2 the second time.  That's hard earned money!