DEEP THOUGHTS (WHAT ON EARTH AM I HERE FOR?)

I saw the above sign, "40 Days of Purpose" with the question, "What on earth am I here for?", while walking around Cayman Islands. I was there in March 2006 and the question was posted as a call to real conversion and spiritual renewal during Lenten Season at Elmslie Memorial United Church (Presbyterian/ Congregational/Disciples), Established 1846. I found that it was ironic to see this sign here in Cayman Islands, a place well-known for offshore accounts, money laundering, tax havens for individuals who don't believe in paying taxes. I wonder how many people, mostly tourists who walked around the Islands seeking pleasure and sinful gratifications, would even notice the sign. Those who saw the sign, myself included, would anyone even take the time to reflect on the answer to such question? Days after days, we get up in the morning, going thru the routines to get ready getting to our workplaces. Do you look around at the people you work with and what's on your desk/computer, and ask "Is there something more?"? At the end of the day, when you leave the office, after wasted 8+ hours of your life, is there peace in your heart or a sense of fulfillment that your work has created some good? Is there a higher good or a calling to serve others? So many times when I sat in meetings, listening to the discussions, I wanted to ask the questions, "Is that all you people care about, making more money, how to get what you want and the hell with everyone else? How do you justify the company paying a few hundred dollars on a round of golf for a few directors and then taking away someone wages, who really needed the money to feed his family, just to save a few dollars? YOU LIED! Sure, you talk about CEOs who received big bonus and called them greedy, you yourself are as greedy when you gave yourself year-end bonus and then slashed the employee's salary by 25%. YOU LIED! Is the only way you feel better about yourself by degrading others and constantly making demeaning comments?"

I have been asking myself these questions, "Do you do work that is meaningful, work that has a purpose, work that bring comfort and care to others, work that bring greater good to society? Do you worry about your investment more than losing your soul to the devils? How big are your suitcases to pack all your earthly possessions when the time come?" I actually know the answers but I don't want to admit that I knew what I should do. Just like the rich man who heard what Jesus says, "If you want to be perfect, then go and sell your possessions and give the money to the poor. If you do this, you will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me.", but the rich man could not give up his wealth. "Amen, I say to you that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God" Matthew 19:21-23.

Would you like to share your answers to the question, "What on earth am I here for?"?

WARM THOUGHTS (NOT ANOTHER POST OF WINTER PHOTOS)

PS: During the bus tour, the guide mentioned that one of the houses (above photo) belonged to Mick Jagger. I could not explain to others why I was laughing. I thought it would be funny if Mick saw me from his front porch and said, "Did I just see you in St. Louis and then at the Superbowl? And now three weeks later, here you are following me to Jamaica. What do you want from me?". After all, it is a small world.
I just remember that I should post sunny, warm photos from my trip to the Caribbean instead of the snow blanket covering my backyard. The readers must be tired of seeing the snow and the cold weather, who wants to see more winter photos on the blogs when we've already seen enough just looking out the window? Looking at the photo below, image the cool water (in Ocho Rios, Jamaica) rushing gently thru your toes and the sun shined warmly on your face while you put on a second pair of socks, hopefully the thoughts would keep your feet toasty warm while you walked in the snow!

FAT TUESDAY

We did not go to Soulard last Saturday for the Mardi Gras parade, so I post these photos from my trip to the Caribbean in 2006 instead. In my young and foolish days, I was among these dancers dressed up in colorful outfits, wild and crazy, dancing and drinking all nights. (Ya right, everyone knows I am a stuffed-shirt and stiff like a hockey stick!) Happy Fat Tuesday everyone. Reminder - just because tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, don't eat too many punski (or paczki) ** heh heh **

We were embarked at Puerta Maya because the ship could not get into Cazumel due to major damage from a recent storm. My sister and I did not care to take the bus into town (we still remembered the incident at Atlantic City back in 1983 - I will tell that story in future post), so we just stayed around Puerta Maya. There were a lot of shops and of course, entertainment such as the parade and street performances.

PS: Instead of the regular delicious salad, since it is Fat Tuesday, we "fell off the wagon" and had grilled chicken for dinner and cheese cake for dessert.

HELL, THE DEVILS AND DEVILS ELBOW

These photos were taken in February 2006 when my sister and I went on a "Sistas Time" on a Caribbean Cruise. I am so proud of myself for being so clever and witty (ya, I am so full of it!) by posting photos from Hell, Cayman Islands, the New Jersey Devils and Devils Elbow, Missouri.

Not the real devils, only the New Jersey Devils hockey team - haa haa.

The original route into Devil's Elbow is now Teardrop Road. The name Devil's Elbow was given by the lumberjacks floating logs past a sharp bend in the Big Piney River. They cursed it as "a devil of an elbow".

The steel truss bridge was built in 1923 (photo below). The bridge still stands today allowing traffic to cross over the Big Piney River.

Photo below shows Benjamin at Hooker Cut (I assured him that I would not drop him again. And besides there was not even one vehicle passing by the entire time we were there. The road looked almost abandoned as it was featured in a twilight zone movie.) When it was opened in 1926, the 90-foot deep Hooker Cut was the largest rock cut in the United States. This section is now County Route Z.

WARM THOUGHTS

The last few days the bitter cold temperature and cut through the bone wind chill prompted me to post these photos taken last August on a sunny, warm summer day in Grand Haven, Michigan. We walked along the pier and watched the people fishing while a few young men jumping off the pier into the cool water. Like many of the towns along the lakes, Grand Haven has its famous red lighthouse and well known as one of the summer destinations. There are campgrounds nearby that provide affordable vacation for families on limited budget. Plenty of summer cottages and luxury condos are also available to tourists with deep pockets. After a swim in the lake or a walk on the beach, a light lunch at Pronto Pups, then a banana boat ice cream would make a perfect summer day.

The menu, a Pronto Pup and a small soda, is the same as in 1947 when Mr. Chuck Nelson started the business. The 7 by 9 foot stand was an inspiration from a similar hot dog stand Mr. Nelson saw in Florida. The hot dog on a stick in deep-fried dough was only 15 cents in 1947 and a small drink was 5 cents. As shown in the above photo, in 2007 it is $1.50 for the corn dog and 50 cents or a dollar for the drink. The stand is open for business during the summer, usually from Memorial Day to Labor Day weekends. Our typical order would be two pups for each of us, mine with a little of ketchup on both sides while my husband loves heavy mustard on his.

My husband mentioned that as a child he had a toy of exact model as the above boat. We saw the boat while walking along the boardwalk. We did not realize that the owner was on the boat until we got a little too close to look inside. We apologized and complimented how nice his boat was. The owner smiled and began a lengthy conversation with my husband about the boat while I stood by, pretended to listen but could not understand any of the technical terms in their conversation.

My husband and I have another tradition that whenever we visited Grand Haven, we would listen to the Phantom of Opera music while driving along Lakeshore Drive (photo below) to Holland, Michigan. (Holland is famous for its Tulip Time Festival.) Matured trees line the roads, providing romantic atmosphere during the fall when the leaves change to bright bursting orange and red colors. The homes are on wooded lot and there are many summer cottages, some with rustic looks tucking in between McMansions owned by wealthy corporate executives from Chicago.

My sister, CH and I dipped our toes in the inviting cool water after a walk around the Dunn's River Park in Jamaica. It was one of the ports on our 7-day Western Caribbean cruise in 2006. We connected in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, after CH's flight from NYC and mine from St. Louis. Thank God for the technology of cell phones, otherwise we would have a hard time finding each other as our flights arriving at two different terminals. The next day, we sailed to Key West, Cozumel, then to Grand Cayman, Ocho Rios, Jamaica and back to Ft. Lauderdale. We are planning our Annual Just the Sisters trip. Not sure where it would be, just to get away and spend quality time between the sisters. The photo below was me in Grand Cayman showing my snow white arms and legs.

HERE, THERE AND EVERYWHERE

I don't know who started the so-call "Holiday letters" or "Braggin' letters" stuffed in with holiday cards.

Friends and families who send us their letters usually brag about how well the children do in school, good grades, honor classes their gifted sons and daughters are in. Others wrote about their vacations, with photos to prove that they were there. (With photoshop and all the hi-tech gadgets, I am not sure if the people really visited the Pyramid or just cut and paste themselves onto a postcard!)

So here is our braggin' holiday letter. 2006 has been a good year for us. There are so many blessings that we are thankful for, our family, good health, decent employment and peaceful living condition.

I celebrated my 45th birthday in February with a trip to the Superbowl XL in Detroit. The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Seattle Seahawks to capture the Championship. My husband and I were so excited to attend our first game (and probablly the only Superbowl tickets we could afford to purchase). For any serious football fans, the Superbowl is the ultimate dream. I would love to be able to attend the game in 2002 when Tom Brady and Company led the New England Patriots to a shocking win over the St. Louis Rams. Again in 2004, the Patriots captured their second Championships over the Carolina Panthers and the third time defeating the Philadelphia Eagles.

The following month (March) I went on a week-long cruise to the Western Caribbean with my sister V. We had a great time and it was a wonderful opportunity for me to learn more about my sister and how she has grown to be an independent woman with strength and convictions.

In July, my husband and I took a week-long driving trip to Colorado in the T-bird. I helped drive the 7-hour straight road through the State of Kansas on Interstate 70, going West, into Colorado. We saw a lot of cows, corn fields and flat farm lands as far as the eyes could see. Once we were in Colorado, C did all the driving, especially the twist and turn going up to Pike's Peak, all the way to the summit at 14,000 feet. At 9,000 feet the snow and rain started. At each turn, the signs, "Falling Rocks" and the stiff cliff next to my window, reminded me of the horrid journey by boat from Viet Nam. Except now I do have more to live for, a retirement fund, investments in stocks and many earthly possessions.

We also drove the T-bird on the Royal Gorge Bridge, the highest suspension bridge in the world, hanging at 1,053 feet above the railroad tracks and the raging Arkansas River. There was a sign the middle of the bridge, "No Fishing". The park rangers must have a good sense of humor.

In October, we attended Game 3, the first World Series game in the new Busch Stadium between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Detroit Tigers. The Cardinals captured the World Series championship and the City of St. Louis rejoiced.

That is the summary of our 2006 activities, here, there and everywhere. We hope 2007 will be another good year. Perhaps in next letter, I could write about the Detroit Lions winning the Superbowl or the St. Louis Blues winning the Stanley Cup!

Here is good wishes to people everywhere and peace to all nations.

THE INVISIBLE WOMAN

It happened again last Friday evening as I was waiting in line at the bank. I stood by the sign, "Please wait here for the next teller" while Linda, the bank teller, finished helping a drive-through customer. I have been going to this bank the last five years and Linda knows me well. Over the years, I noticed Linda always wore different pins with angels on her blouses or jackets. Last week I gave Linda a pin with an angel I found at a local art and craft show. Linda was appreciative.

A customer walked through the door, passed by where I stood and proceed to Linda's window, as if I was just standing around for no purpose. Linda gentle told the customer that I was next. I told Linda, loud enough for the rude customer to hear, "I guess I am invisible." The rude woman stepped away from the window without apologizing.

This is not the first time that someone treated me as if I was invisible. I don't want to play the race card but the only conclusion I could draw from these incidences is because I am a short Asian woman. Somehow that would give others the assumption that I would not speak up or object to their rudeness. After all, Asians are supposed to be nice and not confrontational.

Last March my sister and I was on a Western Caribbean cruise. It was an Italian cruise line. The passengers on the ship were mostly Europeans (Italians), Canadians and Caucasians (Americans). We noticed that the cruise personnel provided better services to the Italians and ignored the rest of us. A few times when my sister and I spoke up and pointed out the low level of service, the crew as well as the passengers acted surprised at our demands. Perhaps they did not expect the two Asian women to be outspoken.

One instance when I tried to take photos of the display of ice sculptures, a tall East Indian man walked over, stood in front of me as if I was not there. I firmly told him that he was very rude and that he should move. He gave me an angry look but decided to move when I made known that I would not be intimidated.

Perhaps not because I am a short Asian woman that people treated me as if I was invisible. It seems that people don't have the common courtesy or just being ignorant when it comes to minding their manners in public. I remind myself not to let others' behaviors bother me. I understand I have to choose which battle to fight and hope that the next asteroids that hit the earth will eliminate only the people without manners. In the meantime, I should sign up for a talent show under the name "The Invisible Woman".