My Journey: June 2022

Sunday, June 26, 2022

Happy Birthday!!

Dear Chelle-chelle,

Happy 32!!

I used to write to you on your birthdays. Not sure why I stopped doing it for the past few years... But I want to send you the attached card today along with the translations in blue below. I bought this card for your 3 years old birthday in 1993. You were in China back then. So, I mailed the card to you, and I am sure Grandma read it to you on your birthday.

I initially planned to send this card to you next year, 30 years after 1993. But I don't want to wait for another year -- sending it now. Hope you find it special.

Again, Chelle-chelle, I am very proud of you, and I cherish the roads we've traveled together. It's been an incredible journey. Back in 1993, I couldn't even imagine how you'd turn out 30 years later. But I knew one thing very clearly -- I loved you very much, always have and always will!!

Happy Birthday!!

1993.6.26. (Left Section)

Dear Chelle-chelle,

How are you? Mama has not written a letter to you for a while, are you okay?

Today is your 3 years old birthday. I bought this special card for you, wishing you a Happy Birthday! I hope you have fun today, and get to eat some delicious foods.

Time flies; you are 3 years old now. I still remember watching the video of your 2^nd birthday. Back then, you just learned how to talk. Do you remember? If not, you can ask Grandpa to play the video for you again. That way, you’d remember how you were like last year.

Chelle, do you know why a little girl celebrates her birthday? It’s because her Grandma, Grandpa, Mommy and Daddy love her very much. They all want her to be happy on this special day. In the meantime, they also hope she realizes that she has grown again for one full year. From this day onward, she will need to learn new things, understand new concepts, listen to Grandma and Grandpa, and be a good little girl. Do you agree?

Okay, that’s all I’ll write today. I wish you happiness and health on this day and for this year!

Love,

Mommy

1993.6.26. (Right Section)

Dear Chelle-chelle,

The little girl on the card just turned three. Her Mommy bought an ice cream for her. She dropped the ice cream on the floor, but still wondering where her ice cream was… Do you know the name of this cute little girl? Her name is Michelle.

Love,

Mommy and Daddy

Monday, June 20, 2022

A Special Day: 1993.10.10

I must say that 1993-10-10 was a traumatic day for Michelle.

After spending about two years in China with Grandma and Grandpa, Michelle flew back to Chicago at age 3. The blue section below is part of a school project Michelle wrote in 2002, almost 10 years after the horrifying flight. The red section is a diary entry I made on 10/20/1993, ten days after Michelle got back from China. The original entry was in Chinese. I translated it into English for Michelle to read some years later.

The photos were taken at Beijing International Airport on 1993-10-10, right before Michelle's flight back. Grandpa took them and recorded all the details on the back of the photos.

The rest of the story will forever be kept in my heart!

1993-10-10

My first memory of my grandma was when I was about three. I went to live in China for a year or so because my mom and dad both had to work hard and Grandma was the only person that could really take care of me well. So I was happy in China and went to many exciting places like the Great Wall of China. Then, on Wednesday, October 10th, 1993, I came back here to America. Grandma didn't come with me. My Grandma and Grandpa from my dad's side came with me instead. I remember crying my eyes out and screaming that I didn't want to go back; that I wanted to stay with Grandma forever... But after all, I was forced to go on that plane that would take me away from all the family I knew. I remember Grandma waving good-bye to me and me crying again and again on the flight back...

1993-10-20

给慢慢洗好澡，关大灯，开小灯。慢慢静静地躺在自己的小床上，眼睛亮亮的。我给她唱《半边楼》的插曲，她就眯眯笑，闪着眼睛对我说：“在我们家呀，有阿婆，阿公和阿姨。我就给他们唱这个歌…” 而后，又闪着透亮的眼睛对我说：“阿婆说我脑子里只有一个人，就是白娘子…”

她那样说着，眼睛并没有看着我，但却让我觉得慢慢小小的心灵和脑海中充满着幸福；充满着在中国经历、体验到的一切；充满着许许多多纯洁美好的记忆；充满着那三个给过她无限温暖和爱的人：阿婆，阿公和阿姨…

After taking a bath for Michelle, I brought her to her bedroom. Turned off the lights, only left the small night light on. Michelle laid on her bed quietly, eyes bright. I sang a song for her from a Chinese TV show. She smiled, so sweetly, and said: "In my family in China, there were Grandma, Grandpa and Ayi. I always sang this song for them..." Then, she widened her bright eyes and said: "Grandma said that there was only one person in my head -- that's 白娘子…" (bai niang zi).

She did not really look at me while talking, as if she was in her own beautiful imaginary world. I felt clearly that her little heart was filled with love and happiness; filled with her warm experience in China; filled with all sweet and pure memories of China; filled with the three people who gave her so much unconditional love: Grandma, Grandpa and Ayi...