Back on the DL

COVID19 - School Closure - Day 157  School Reopens - Day 41

NN is taking a dance class this semester... and she was showing me the Charleston (no, not the Carlton, the Charleston). And boy was she butchering it. So I started to show her how it SHOULD be done.  Ohhhhh to dance again.  I was Michael Jackson... mixed with Fred Astaire... coupled with Aaron Kwok.  I was stylin'....and profilin'......

Now I'm paying for it.  Didn't realize the extent of injury on my poor toe and not only have I reinjured it... I've made it worse.  Tiger Balm - twice a day now.  Ohhhhhhhhhh...... I really am starting to smell like the old man that I am. 

中秋團圓夜

COVID19 - School Closure - Day 157  School Reopens - Day 40

This year's 中秋團圓夜又告一段落.  

In place of the annual CNY... we were able to pull off an MAF.  So many things went right... went well.  Dad joined.  Big bro joined (for a bit). Mom, while quarantining in Hong Kong, tried to join. And one of the quotes from the evening coming from a new friend... 

It was “amazing non stop 2 hours fun”

We couldn't have pulled this off without the relentless pursuit of excellence from the planning committee.  A special shoutout to C奶二人組, 兩位金牌司議 who went back to church to host the event, the four Team Captains, our 幕後工作人員.  

But out of everything that happened leading up to the event and the event itself....the one scene that stands out among everything else.... was seeing Miranda sitting next to Anna.  

Anna sadly lost her husband earlier this year.  Who knows what she's been going through and what her thoughts are.  When the whole world has moved on and forgotten about the days of recent past... 大家姐 had the wherewithal to spend the evening with her friend... her sister. 

I am a 完美主意者.  So many things went wrong tonight.  So many things we could've done better.  But to cap off the evening... above all else... was how 穌太 ended the evening... giving all glory and honor to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Thank you Abba Father, for everything!!! 

 

家家有本難念的經

COVID19 - School Closure - Day 157  School Reopens - Day 39

舅父瘦得好犀利好犀利。瘦到變晒樣。他説：他好有福，五個孩子都在。連我這親妹，都回來！講到這裏。舅父忍不住流淚，哭了。數拾年內，笫二次見到他😭哭！第一次因為婆媳關係，母親和妹妹要搬出！

Mom safely arrived in HK and this was one of her first text.... literally brought tears to my eyes. There's just so much baggage in our family.  So many buried memories.  So many years of hurt... damage... scars. 

大舅父 was recently diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer.  And we decided it was time for mom to go back to Hong Kong. You can never time these things.  And thus....the whirlwind began.  Plane tickets.  Hotel. Quarantine  72 hour COVID tests!!!!  

Big bro did all the heavy lifting.  I only made a couple of phone calls and did some internet research.  After all was said and done... mom finally arrived in Hong Kong..... only to be trapped at the airport for 10 hours.... and she's now quarantining for 14 days. 

Big bro coined it best, "This HK trip is last year's bed bug episode."  And in the end... it's all worth it. 

妹

COVID19 - School Closure - Day 157  School Reopens - Day 38

Got a text from Cherie today and I melted.    "哥哥"     😭  我太鍾意喇!!!!!!

You're not on mute!!!

COVID19 - School Closure - Day 157  School Reopens - Day 37

Zoom Class was about to start. SW waved hi to his teacher and said good morning. Then his classmate... uh... Miss K walks by. She waves at the SW via Zoom. And I said... "SW... say Hi to Miss K!"  Cuz y'know.. it's manners.  He darts a soul piercing stare at me and mutters... "Bah B... you're not on mute!!!" 

Did that just happen???  Did I embarrass my son in front of a girl?? Does Siu Wah............. have a crush?!?!??!?!?!  😍😍😍

Big Head Shrimp

COVID19 - School Closure - Day 157  School Reopens - Day 36

Nearly burned the house down last night. Was making porridge... and I turned it down to a simmer. Then I forgot about it and went to sleep. At around 3AM, NN comes in and says she smells smoke... thankfully she woke up. 

What is happening??!! Too much on my mind these days... 

I've met my match...

COVID19 - School Closure - Day 157  School Reopens - Day 35

I'm known to be a perfectionist... wanting to drive for excellency... to a point where people get annoyed and try (but don't) say "Let it go."

I've been learning to lower my expectations throughout the years.  People are busy.  They have things to do.  It's good enough.  B+ is the new A.  Get over it.

And then... 中秋團圓夜 happens... and I've met my match.  These people strive for a higher standard and will walk the extra mile (or two) to deliver a quality product.  I'm blown away at their industrious spirt or in Christian jargon, their servant hearts.

"Can we meet again?"

"Whatever you say... we'll be there."

"你叫到點敢唔到."

And the loads and loads of positive criticism and over the top ideas.  This is so refreshing.  Unlike the usual teeth-pulling, lone-ranging, beg-borrow-stealing that I'm use to.  No wonder our church family is so strong after all these years.  These Hidden Figures that keep our church running with no fanfare, no recognition and frankly... no desire to be known... except they have a passion to serve our Lord Jesus in our full capacity.  

I salute and I'm proud to march beside y'all. 

浪奔浪流

COVID19 - School Closure - Day 157  School Reopens - Day 34

The weather was in the high 80's today... so after Sunday Service, we made an impromptu trip to the beach.  SW loves the beach... he isn't afraid to get wet or get dirty.  NN on the other hand is more reserved.  But when she saw that we were having so much fun... so couldn't resist coming out and wade with us.  And that's when the tsunami hit.

It was towering so high... the wave collapsed over me, let alone the kids, sending all three of us flying backwards.  I turned a little too slow and my foot ended up kicking SW's leg really hard... bending two of my toes in the downward position.  I could've sworn I hyper-extended something if not breaking some bones.  I was more worried about SW.  With that force... I could've really hurt him!!  Thankfully... he was just a little stunned.  I got back up and the two of them were still there... the wave didn't curl them away.  

The adult standing behind us saw us... picked up our hat... and cautiously handed it back to us while trying to keep social distance.  NN got up... and she looked different.  Something was missing.  

Her glasses. The waves washed away her glasses. 

I spent the next 45 minute to an hour walking around the beach trying to find it in the murky, rocky waters.  Was praying and hoping for a miracle that never came.  

And here I am, applying Tiger Balm to my foot to hopefully heal faster. Gosh it stinks!!! I smell like an old man... hahaha

Mentoring

COVID19 - School Closure - Day 157  School Reopens - Day 28

Had a mentoring session today... and the kid asks two questions.  

1. Question about his Masters - (Easy peesy answer)
2. “What advice you tell your 25 year old self” - (Dang!!!!)

Answer to the 1st question... get it over with, quick.  Don't dwell. 

Answer to the 2nd question... 

• Reiterated answer 1,  get it over with and move on with life.
• Invest - not just maxing out ur 401k. Some deep, wide investments.
• Sharing my faith - do it while you’re young before life catches up.
• And lastly.... I would tell myself.... get married earlier. Especially if you've found her already.  

Forget regrets... 

Where are these kids coming from these questions!?!?!?

梁瀚舜

COVID19 - School Closure - Day 157  School Reopens - Day 27

今晚用咗好一段時間去教啲細路讀我個名，原來我個名咁難讀：

梁項順

梁看擤

梁行純

講極都講唔啱。

Cathartic

COVID-19 - School Closure - Day 157  School Reopens - Day 25

6 months of sheltering in place allowed us to do a lot (A LOT) of cleaning. And finally, today... we took a minivan full of stuff to our local Goodwill.  It was such a release... like being constipated and finally getting that release.  Ahhhhhhhhh......