This past week Sabrina, Annie, and I traveled to L.A. to visit our family there. (Joel couldn't come :( because he had to work.) It was Annie's first flight! She is a good traveler. We arrived at night and my dad had prepared our traditional "hot pot" for the welcoming meal. Mmmmm...so good. So much good food there. (We went to this one Brazilian restaurant where the servers continually came to your table offering various mouth-watering meat cuts on kabobs just off the grill. If Joel had come, I would have felt soooo bad for him because of his strict chicken and carrots diet.)
We had a wonderful time with Baba, Ergu, and Kathleen. It warms my heart to see Annie giving them the same joy she gives me. We went to the aquarium, visited Disneytown, and the Crystal Cathedral, and went to the Huntington Library gardens (which were spectacular). It was such a short stay, (but I still missed Joel). I already miss my family though. When I watch Baba and Annie, I think of myself there, on the chair just like Annie, twenty-two years ago. I know he would crawl up to me just the same as he crawls up to Annie to playfully scare her. I'm sure I squealed with delight too. I wish I could really remember those times. I am glad Annie gets to know her grandparents like I knew mine when I was young. I wish we lived closer though. Life is pretty quiet here during the day with just Annie and I most days.
Not long after we got home, Annie went to get her tape player and asked me for "A-da and gugu." She wanted to hear Baba singing the Chinese songs he recorded for her last summer.
It is wonderful to know that you are loved by a parent and not have to earn it or try to keep it. Baba said something this time to me that made me ponder this. I asked his forgiveness for something and he said, "A father forgives by default." As a mother, I can understand completely how this is true, yet I am still stunned by the grace of it. Even if I had done something against him to hurt him and not even asked for forgiveness, I can know just by looking at him he would have still forgiven me entirely.
Well, here are some pics. If it seems like a lot, you can thank Kathleen, who thinks of our needs before we think of them ourselves! She got us a 1 gb memory card that stores over 500 pictures. (We were just able to store 20 pictures on the camera before.) So now you get LOTS of pictures!
Waiting in the airport...
Annie in wonder at Disney town. (below)
Annie deep in thought at the aquarium.
Ships at Long beach.
Opening presents! Kathleen gave Annie an adorable backpack with wheels.
Baba showed Annie his dove and his rabbit that he uses in his professional magic shows. You can
click here to see his website and the delight he brings his audiences.
The Huntington Library Gardens. (and Sabrina)
Keeping up with Annie....
My aunt Samantha with her favorite bamboo plants.
Me as a peacock.
Kathleen and the Asian gardens.
I was so happy to see my Ergu (second aunt) again. I hadn't seen her since Joel's and my wedding day. I told her she is the eternal youth because she hasn't aged a day. In fact, she looks more beautiful to me. She hadn't seen Annie yet and I knew that she would simply
adore Annie like she adored Sabrina and I when we were young. Of course, I was right. ;) I told her, you love Annie almost as much as I do! To which she replied, "I love her more!" But if this is true then she would have changed all the diapers and spanked away the tantrums! haha. :)
Family pic.
Crazy cacti.
Crazy cacti-girl.
Crazy bonsai.
Annie spots a friend.
Cutie.
Tired Cutie.
A-da reads to Annie, Blue Baby, and Piggie.
Brina and Annie on the 4.5 hour plane trip home. Annie didn't sleep at all! I am always glad to spend time with my sister, in a box on a plane, with a fox or in the rain!
My friend Denise picked us up from the airport and kindly let us stay with her that night in her condo, which is very near Dulles. My other friend from college, Ling, also came to visit that night. I hadn't seen either of them in a long time, so it was good to be together again. The next morning, Joel's dad came to pick us up and drive us home, and at 8pm that night I
finally got to see Joel again!
Back at home again doing chores!
