The Decluttering

Speaking of the "rough-but-happy life back then" per email below, I am in the process of going through all my diaries from the past 35 years, and summer of 1989 did stand out!!

 

Please know, I am not out of my mind.  Simply trying to keep the most important chapters in life and throw away everything else.  This innocent and simple act has proven to be VERY difficult -- as much as we all claim our abilities of "letting go," boy, we really can't.  Many of my close friends have kindly and firmly advised me NOT to be crazy!!  I don't know.  Maybe some day, the answer will be very clear and the decision will be very easy.  Until then, be organized and fully prepared.

Wish I only had these two journals.  But sadly, I have much more to go through...    

----- Forwarded Message -----

From: Pei Tang <tang_pei@yahoo.com>

To: "tang_pei@yahoo.com" <tang_pei@yahoo.com>

Sent: Friday, August 21, 2009, 6:38:21 PM CDT

Subject: August 23, 1989

Do you remember where you were and what you did 20 years ago on August 23, 1989? 

Well, I was featured in Chicago Tribune under the "Chicago Style" section for working on a job that paid lower than the minimum wage. 

Michelle started working at age 16 and, on average, she got paid at $12 per hour as a high school student.  Me?  I was pursuing my 2nd Masters degree while being paid at $8.5 per hour in the summer of 1989 -- ouch!!  Don't tell me about the inflation, please!

Regardless, I am glad that I kept a copy of the paper from 20 years ago and I can still reflect on the rough-but-happy life back then.  Those were awfully long days with 10+ hours per day staring at people flooding through downtown Chicago...