Farewell 2015

They say water brings good luck

A flood is a sure sign of blessings

We smiled and waited

And dispelled our doubts

When The Beautiful Angel appeared

I was a witness

Of her wondrous coming

Surrounded by love

Touched by tender hands

She is a good luck

Sent to us this year

As we closed the chapter

Of two-thousand-fifteen

We welcome the new year

With anticipations

We ask for blessings

To continually flow

May two-thousand-sixteen

Peace and Love prevail

Collage 26

There is a legend of a land

Where little dragons dance

And beautiful angels smile

That world touched ours

In a magical way

For this season of Thanksgiving

Of Wonders and Blessings

We have you

To hold dear and to cherish

Little ones

Dance with your dreams

And let them fly

Don’t hold back your smiles

Let your hearts sing

Let your hopes rise

Wherever you’ll go

Love will follow

Till the end of time

Happy 73rd Birthday

Officially you are seventy three

But in your heart

You’re not older than fifty three

And in my eyes

The right age you always will be

Old enough to dispense wisdom

And not too old to be the best traveling pal to me

I love your wild freedom

Your gentle compassionate heart

Your sense of justice

Your youthful laughter

Your generosity

And most of all your nonconventional ways

You have been and ever will be

The love of my life

Happy birthday

To the most beautiful

Seventy-three-year-old lady

In my life

A Fall Day in Great Falls

The sun is hiding

The rain drops are tiny like dust

Keeping the path moist

The breeze blows softly

The dry leaves depart their branches

One by one

They slowly fall

In the autumn air

Adding depth to the soil

In the serenity of time

With yellow leaves underfoot

The deer walk side by side

Across the path

Into the thickness of trees

Along the river bank

A splendid landscape

Is painted here

Great Falls is the place

Where water drops from high

Forming waterfalls

On rocky terrain

River-wide

I will come again

When the weather changes

The water doesn’t cease

The river keeps flowing

No matter what clothing

Nature wraps around it

It is a beauty

Not to be forgotten

Happy Thanksgiving

The red and yellow leaves are almost gone

The nights turn chilly

The heat is on

The season is about to change guards

The angels keep watch

At all times

No matter where time has marched

When bushes are green and lush

When colors of blossoms are displayed

When leaves are scattered on the paths

Or when bare branches are white with snow

Blessings rain down

Blessings to catch and to spread around

I want to say thank you

For entertaining angels without knowing it

For giving glimmers of hope in dark despairs

For the compassionate hearts you share

For the tears of sorrow and the laughter of joy

Humanity

Is a gift

I want to say a prayer of gratitude

For life’s abundance and goodness

Happy Thanksgiving

To all

Free Gifts

So the cynics in you say there is no such thing as a free lunch. I beg to differ. My sweetheart and I enjoyed something free yesterday. And in the spirit of Thanksgiving, I want to express my gratitude to the gifts that are free to all of us.

As I called the box office of a theater in Winchester, situated at least one hour away from home, for tickets to a matinee event, the lady asked if I’d like to have some free activities thrown in as a promotion for the weekend before Thanksgiving. As one who never wants to turn down anything free, for I am my mother’s daughter, I said yes. All we had to do was to leave earlier than planned to get to the event on time, and take a detour. So we left early and took the detour. Yes, the detour cost us some time and gas money, but once we were at our destination, everything was free. It’s not like taking a cruise when you want to book an excursion, you’ll pay extra. It’s not like flying on an airplane when you want to have a meal, you’ll pay extra. It’s not like ordering a hibachi meal when you want fried rice, you’ll pay extra. It’s like enjoying God-given treasures in their pure forms, no alterations or additions needed. Although where we were, trails were cleared, bridges were built, and signs were erected to help us appreciate things more.

We were in the Elizabeth Furnace area of the Shenandoah Valley in the George Washington National Forest. We walked across the bridge to the Historic Cabin area. We took a trail that went alongside the Passage Creek and found fishermen deep in the water to their waist. We walked the Pig Iron Trail for a short while. I marveled at the things that are truly free for us to enjoy. The changes of seasons. The seasons. The cool air. The blue sky. The clear creek water. The dry leaves on the ground. The red leaves on the branches. The rocks on the path. The view. The experience.

At the end of the day, after a satisfying lunch and a good performance, as we drove home, the sky opened up to the beautiful orange color of sunset. My sweetheart drove. I closed my eyes and dozed. It was a blessing. When I woke, I silently gave thanks to the free gifts in life.

Collage #25

This is the first collage of Nhỏ Con Rồng and Thiên Thần Tuyệt Đẹp, aka Drakeson and Millicent. I want to share with you why I have such long “nicknames” for you, if I can call them nicknames.

Nhỏ Con Rồng: Before you were born, your father researched the Vietnamese words for “little dragon” because you’d be born in the year of the dragon. He found “con rồng” for “dragon” and “nhỏ” for “little.” He put the two together as “nhỏ con rồng.” But he did it the backward way, the way Americans link their adjectives and nouns, as it should be “con rồng nhỏ.” But I liked it and I liked the fact that he wanted to learn the culture and language of my native country, so “Nhỏ Con Rồng” is what I call you.

Thiên Thần Tuyệt Đẹp: Moments after you were born, cậu Thal asked for your name and your father texted back “TBD” because your parents had not decided on your name. Later, I forgot that it was “TBD” he wrote for To Be Determined, I thought it was “TBA” for To Be Announced. I don’t even know if TBA is commonly used or if I had made it up. But it doesn’t matter now. When I thought he said “TBA,” I decided it should be The Beautiful Angel which means “Thiên Thần Tuyệt Đẹp” in Vietnamese.

I came to see you the second half of October. It was a very busy time for you all. Lots of happenings and lots of out-of-town visitors. It was an exciting time, for you and for me. You had a party with a piano recital. Nhỏ Con Rồng, you met many of your maternal relatives for the first time. Thiên Thần Tuyệt Dep, you made your appearance 17 days after the piano recital and brought joy to many and so, you share the same birth month with Ông. You all celebrated Halloween together in the Castle Grayskull before the month came to a close.

It is with pleasure that I present you with Collage #25. It should be combined with Collage #24 to tell the full October story, for the recital was then. But Collage #25 is the climax of the year and I am so glad I was part of it. Although I was not at the recital, I contributed to the Baby Book your mama made for you, Thiên Thần Tuyệt Đẹp. I hope someday you’ll read it with pleasure and know you’re loved beyond imagination. And Nhỏ Con Rồng, you are still the cutest boy of the 21^st century. You’re also loved ∞ + 1.

The Beautiful Angel (TBA)

Over a week I have waited

For the moment that comes not too soon

Excitement is in the air

When the news of your coming is near

Emotions erupt

When the first cry you make reaches my ears

Happiness ensues

When you open your pretty eyes without tears

You mark a new chapter of my life

With love woven into its stories

You are The Beautiful Angel in my book

Enriching it in such wondrous ways

You add to the illustrations

Of many colors, shapes, and sights

You will be adored and cherished

In your journey growing strong and wise

In victories as in setbacks

You will not be alone for I will be there

Angela Merkel, Angel of Humankind

History will write down on glorious pages

Humanity will never forget the night of

September twelfth of two thousand fifteen

Over six thousand souls from the depth of hell

Suffering poverty, war, hatred, tyranny, terrorism

Having marched through an arduous journey

Came to Munich of Bavaria of Germany

Where the angel Angela Merkel awaited

“Germany will accept all without limits,

Germany can afford to help the refugees.”

Oh Embodiment of Bodhisattva and Virgin Mary

Oh Marvelous Lady of the twenty-first century

Angela Merkel, the beautiful face

In the bowels of Munich, Germany

Angela Merkel shines in the hearts

Of refugees of today and tomorrow

Angela Merkel forever and ever will reign

The ships, the train stations, the cities, the country

Their spaces are lovingly opened wide

Hauptbahnhof, Dortmund, Frankfurt

The names that will stay in your minds

Shoes for kids

Shoes for people from distant places

Like merchandise in open sale markets

Spread across roads, parks, and schools

The shoes are the hearts that sing

The shoes are the trust given

The shoes are the words to say

Welcome Refugees

Thank you Angela Merkel

Let me stand beside you and kiss your hair

Let me kneel down and kiss your hands

Let me bend to the ground and kiss your feet  

I am a Vietnamese poet

Please, let me love you

With the greatest love

As you’re a great woman, a great leader.

I love you,

I love Germany. 

This is translated from Angela Merkel - Thiên Thần Cứu Khổ, a poem by Lê Mai Lĩnh:

Angela Merkel, Thiên Thần Cứu Khổ

Lịch sử sẽ ghi những trang chói lọi

Nhân loại sẽ nhớ mãi mãi, đời đời

Đêm 12 tháng 9 năm 2015

Hơn 6.000 sinh linh từ những vùng tận đáy địa ngục

Đói nghèo, chiến tranh, hận thù, độc tài, khủng bố

Đã hoàn thành cuộc hành trình gian khổ, khốc liệt

Vào MUNICH, thủ đô bang Bavaria nước ĐỨC

Nơi có THIÊN THẦN CỨU KHỔ, ANGELA MERKEL

“Nước ĐỨC chấp nhận người tị nạn không giới hạn

Nước ĐỨC đủ tiền cứu người tỵ nạn, năm nay dân ĐỨC không cần đóng thuế thêm . . .“

Ôi người đàn bà hiện thân QUAN THẾ ÂM, MẸ MARIA.

Ôi người đàn bà VĨ ĐẠI của thế kỷ 21.

Tượng đài ANGELA MERKEL rực rỡ nhan sắc ANGELA MERKEL

Giữa lòng nước ĐỨC, MUNICH

Tượng đài ANGELA MERKEL chói lọi trong trái tim

Người tỵ nạn hôm nay và những đời sau.

ANGELA MERKEL MUÔN NĂM , VẠN TUẾ.

 

Những con tàu, những sân ga mở rộng vòng tay đón người bất hạnh

Những thành phố, những vùng quê, những khung trời nhân ái

HAUPTBAHNHOF, DORTMUND, FRANKFURT

Sẽ mãi mãi trong trí nhớ mọi người.

Shoes for kids

Shoes for families

Như những bãi bán hàng on sale

Chiếm những khu đất công viên, xa lộ, công trường

Đôi giày là tấm lòng biết nói

Đôi giày là niềm tin gởi trao

Đôi giày là những lời chào mời thân thiện

REFUGEES WELCOME.

Cảm ơn ANGELA MERKEL

Hãy cho tôi đứng, hôn lên mái tóc của bà

Hãy cho tôi quì,  hôn lên đôi bàn tay của bà

Hãy cho tôi cúi xuống, hôn lên đôi bàn chân của bà.

 

I am a Vietnamese poet

Please, let me love you

With the greatest love

As you’re a great woman, a great leader.

I love you,

I love Germany. 

Collage 24

My twenty fourth collage

The last one before I am no longer

An only child

Bittersweet it will be for me

Having to share affection

No more getting my parents’ total attention

No more being the center of the universe

The universe of three

In the Castle Grayskull

On a Marcae Street

The unknown is a bit scary

A brother or a sister will it be?

Will Mama be so worn out

She no longer kisses me

A thousand  kisses a day?

Will Dada want to make more money

Working day and night

So he can buy more for more than three?

Will bà Ngoại still think

I’m the cutest boy she’s ever seen

In the twenty first century?

Will ông Ngoại still want

To move to the Lone Star State

Just to be with me?

Will my brother if he will be

A nice brother who shares

His toys and story books with me?

Will my sister if she will be

A sweet sister who loves me

And prefers me to other boys she sees?

But maybe I should not worry

About anything that may not be

Right now I’m still the only Prince

Heir of the King and Queen

In the Castle Grayskull of Three

My Ông and Bà come now and then

Loving me since the day I have been

I am having lots of fun

Enjoying all the rewards

Life is bestowing on me

Brother or Sister will certainly add

To the joy of a tightknit family

I will be with you

I will be the winds and clouds

Gently flowing across the world you’re in

I will be the birds singing

From the woodland you can hear the music

I will be the butterfly wings

Small and delicate on the flowers you look at

I will be the innocent deer

Stepping on the grass in the green meadow yonder

I will be the water stream

Meandering about the mountain under the tree shades

I will be the white snow on the hill

Under the yellow moon when wintertime comes

I will be the twinkling star

Casting light on your sweet lips and bright eyes

I will be the warmth of the sun

Melting away the chills in your heart

I will be with you in your dreams

When softly you speak my name

I will be with you in your hopes

When in prayers you seek blessings

I will be with you in your joys

When laughter breaks free and your cheeks are rose

I will be with you and next to you

As the mild breeze dances along you on your journey

Ghostly Magic of the Night

Ha feels sorry for herself. Her short-sleeved top does not protect her from the cold wind. She shudders and scrunches down next to the tree, hugging herself with her arms around her legs and putting her chin on her knees. The night brings strange sounds and sights to her ears and eyes. Things are very much alive and active. She hears noises and sees the moving shadows of dancing leaves, falling fruit, flying birds, and scurrying nocturnal creatures. She yearns to be in her cozy little house, but it is now locked each evening after Sixth Aunt lights the incense for Father. Ha stares at the tree shadows but cannot make out the shapes of the familiar fruit trees. She imagines the trees play a trick on her by switching places with each other in the dark. They remind her of ghost stories told by classmates during recess. Scared, tired, numb, and cold, Ha shuts her eyes and tries to reassure herself that what she sees and cannot make sense of are optical illusions, not ghostly figures. She regrets leaving Sixth Aunt’s house and starts with the realization that her toothache, the reason for her boldness in walking out, is gone. So even her toothache has been eradicated by the ghostly magic of the night! Ha inches herself backward to lean against the tree.

Ha opens her eyes in fright at a rumbling and is relieved to have Kiki next to her and feel his wet nose against her body. Kiki sniffles for a familiar odor and licks the tears falling down her face. The dog makes a whinnying sound and wags his tail. Ha reaches out and pulls his furry head into her bosom and breaks out in sobs. “Kiki dear, I’m so scared. I’m so scared.”

Kiki replies with meaningless grunts. Ha holds Kiki for dear life and refuses to relax her grip for a long time. Precious Kiki is her lifesaver in the ghostly garden of darkness and eeriness. Feeling a cold wind at the nape of her neck, she wraps her arms around Kiki and whispers in his ears. “I am very scared. Please stay with me, Kiki.”

Kiki settles down. His regular breathing lulls the lonely Ha to sleep. She sleeps soundly until Kiki jerks away from her embrace, barks loudly at something, and chases the shadow of that something all the way to the well. Ha wakes up, feeling empty without Kiki next to her, and is confused by the barking. She tsks softly. “Kiki, come back.”

Kiki’s object is a shadow of a wild cat at the barbed wire on the top of the garden wall. Kiki tries to appear most ferocious by baring his teeth at the cat. After some time barking and growling with no effect, Kiki lies down at the carambola tree, while continuing to keep watch with his ears erect. Ha walks over to sit next to Kiki, leaning her back against both the tree and the dog. She feels as though she is lost in the middle of a large forest of dark shadows. The toothache returns. A sharp pain from her upper right molar shoots up the nerve path to the very depth of Ha’s brain. She puts two fingers into her mouth to grasp the hurting molar. She squeezes her fingers to tighten the hold and tries to dislodge the affected tooth by shaking it back and forth, as she used to do with loose baby teeth. But the molar stubbornly stays put, safely tucked under the swollen gum of tender pus. The pus breaks and she can taste the saltiness of the thick mixture of blood and pus. She spits out continually in throbbing pain, puts her head down on her knees, and cries out for Mother in despair. Kiki turns his head toward the source of the noise and, after determining that nothing is out of the ordinary, resumes watch over the stray cat. Ha’s loyal friend stays quiet and does not mind the crying and the mosquito slapping that Ha executes on her arms and legs. As the night gets colder, Ha nudges closer to Kiki. She silently hopes that nothing will disturb them and Kiki does not run away from her again. Receiving the warmth from Kiki’s body and feeling safe with him next to her, Ha eventually falls back to sleep.

• This is an excerpt from Two Sisters, a novel by Cung Lan, translated by Diem-Tran Kratzke. The original Vietnamese excerpt:

Tựa mình ngồi dựa vào gốc cây mận, con chị im lặng nhìn những cành lá rung rinh theo gió. Những làn gió đêm làm cho nó thấy lạnh đến tận xương. Chiều nay khi đi tắm, nó chọn bộ đồ tay ngắn và bây giờ thật là không may mắn khi phải ngồi ngoài vườn chịu lạnh giữa những cơn gió đêm. Tiếng lá lao xao trong gió, tiếng trái rơi, tiếng chim hốt hoảng vụt bay, và những bóng cây chờn vờn di động trong đêm tối càng lúc càng làm cho nó sợ hãi. Những hình ảnh ma quái của những mẫu chuyện ma do bạn bè trong lớp xì xào trong giờ ra chơi hiện ra trong trí và cảm giác ớn lạnh đưa từ sống lưng lên đến óc khiến nó co ro với đôi cánh tay vòng chặt quanh đôi chân và cằm tựa lên đầu gối. Nhìn về phía căn nhà nhỏ, nước mắt của nó chảy ra không ngừng. Từ lúc nó làm cháy tay và cháy chiếu, bà nội và cô Sáu quyết định khóa cửa căn nhà nhỏ sau buổi chiều chạng vạng, lúc mà cô Sáu thắp hương cho ba nó xong, để buộc hai chị em nó ngủ tại nhà cô Sáu; nếu không, tối nay nó đã có thể vào ngủ trong căn nhà của nó. Chán nản, nó đưa mắt nhìn xung quanh vườn. Trong bóng đen, hình như tất cả những cây ăn trái trong vườn đang bị thay đổi vị trí. Đầu cứng đờ, mình đầy gai ốc, và tay chân lạnh ngắt, nỗi sợ hãi của nó càng lúc càng dâng cao. Xoa vội vã hai cánh tay đầy da gà, nó nhắm ghiền đôi mắt để tự trấn an là mọi cái vừa thấy chỉ là ảo tưởng. Trong lo sợ, nó hối hận đã dám gan liều đi ra ngoài vườn đêm một mình. Khi nhớ lại cơn đau răng là nguyên nhân của sự liều lĩnh, nó ôm mặt thảng thốt. Hình như cơn đau răng của nó cũng đang bị hủy diệt bởi bàn tay ma quái của thần đêm. Kinh hoàng, nó dựa lưng sát vào gốc cây mận hơn và nhắm chặt đôi mắt lại để không phải thấy những hình ảnh ma quái chờn vờn trước mặt.

Đột nhiên, tiếng khịt khịt bên tai làm con chị giật bắn người và mở mắt ra. Con chó Kiki đang hịt mũi hửi nó. Thè lưỡi liếm những giọt nưóc mắt trên khuôn mặt của con chị, con chó bẹc giê lai ta rít lên vài tiếng nho nhỏ, rồi quấn người xung quanh con nhỏ, vẫy đuôi không ngừng. Ôm siết cái đầu bồm xồm của con chó vào người, con chị khóc nức nở:
- Kiki ơi! Chị sợ quá Kiki ơi! Chị sợ quá!
Con chó Kiki lại rít lên những tiếng vô nghiã trả lời nó rồi đứng yên, thè lưỡi thở hổn hển. Con chị ôm chặt con vật cứu tinh lâu lắm mà không chịu thả. Sự hiện diện của con chó Kiki là bám víu quý báu duy nhất mà con chị có được giữa vườn đêm dày đặt bóng đen ma quái và vô số luồng không khí lạnh gáy. Nó không ngớt than thở:
- Chị sợ quá! Đừng bỏ chị nghe Ki Ki!
Con vật bốn chân đáng thương bị ghì chặt rất lâu mà vẫn không được buông lơi. Nó đứng yên thè lưỡi thở đều đều như muốn vỗ về giấc ngủ cho cô con gái nhỏ bị đơn độc trong đêm vắng. Thình lình nó vùng ra khỏi vòng tay của con nhỏ chị, sủa ong ỏng và chạy theo sau cái bóng vụt nhanh đến tận góc giếng. Con nhỏ chị choàng tỉnh, ngơ ngác với cái hụt hẫng và tiếng sủa om sòm. Chao đảo đứng lên, nó chặc lưỡi đi tìm con vật bốn chân.
- Kiki! Lại đây! Lại đây Kiki!
Con chó Kiki không quay lại. Nó hầm hừ đe dọa con mèo hoang đang chênh vênh trên bức thành kẽm gai tìm cách nhảy sang những căn nhà phía bên kia thành. Sủa chán chê mà con chó Kiki vẫn không từ bỏ ý định chặn đứng sự xâm nhập của con vật lạ trong khuôn viên nhà của chủ; nó đến gốc khế ngọt nằm dài vểnh tai nhìn chằm chằm lên bức thành có dây kẽm gai cạnh góc sân giếng. Con chị lần đến bên con Kiki, bệt xuống ngồi cạnh. Nó vừa tựa người vào gốc cây khế vừa dựa người sát vào lưng của con chó. Nhìn bốn bề xung quanh toàn là cây lá đen thẫm, nó cảm tưởng như đang lạc trong cánh rừng già vào lúc giữa đêm khuya. Cơn đau răng đã trở lại. Chiếc răng cấm, cạnh chiếc tận cùng của hàm phải trên, có cái lỗ sâu rít từng cơn buốt đến tận óc. Nó thọt hai ngón tay cái và trỏ ngoáy vào cái răng cấm sâu, nơi lợi sưng phồng bởi mủ bọc xung quanh, bóp thật mạnh rồi lắc qua lại như những lần tự nhổ những răng cửa lung lay. Là răng cấm, và là răng cấm của hàm trên, chiếc răng đau không giống như những chiếc răng cửa lung lay của đợt thay răng mà nó tự nhổ bằng chỉ may hay hai ngón tay khi mỗi lần bị đau nhức. Chiếc răng đau ngoan cố, cứng lì và chắc nịch trong khi lớp mủ bọc quanh vỡ ra kèm theo máu. Vị nhờn nhợn và mằn mặn từ từ thấm vào lưỡi nó khiến nó khó chịu phải phun nước miếng ra ngoài đất nhiều lần trong khi chịu đựng cảm giác nhức buốt đến tận đỉnh đầu. Tuyệt vọng vì cơn đau nhức hoành hành, nó gục đầu trên đầu gối khóc nức nở gọi mẹ. Con chó Kiki ngoảnh đầu, nghe ngóng tiếng khóc của nó một lúc rồi tiếp tục nhiệm vụ giữ nhà. Con vật trung thành nằm yên lặng, vừa canh gác, vừa chịu đựng nghe những tiếng kêu la than khóc, cho đến khi những tiếng sầu não này ngơi hẳn đi và thay bằng tiếng đập muỗi đôm đốp. Màn đêm buông xuống mỗi lúc một dày đặc và con chị càng lúc càng ngồi sít gần con chó Kiki hơn. Nó ngấm ngầm van xin con chó Kiki đừng bỏ đi nữa. Bám vào hơi ấm từ lông của con vật trung thành, và yên tâm với sự hiện diện của nó bên cạnh, con chị đã vượt qua một đêm dài trong bóng tối âm u.

Collage 23

Boyhood summer sure is fun

Gotta hang out under the sun

Cuddle inside reading books

Make fashion statements and flaunt good looks

It helps to be Mama’s son

Her energetic zeal I inherited

Even my dada was infected

Action lovers need not be disappointed

She let me handle plastic bugs

Touch her big belly and give her hugs

Go to exotic places near and far

Drive Dada in a cool swift race car

She braided my long curly hair

Applied a dragon tattoo for the flair

Pulled sunglasses over my eyes

Took a photo of us flashing her winning smile

She loves to throw me into a pool

Let me immerse in the water blue and cool

She doesn’t mind when I slow

To look at a turtle or watch a show

We called my bà ngoại from far away

To join us in the fun of Magic Kingdom days

We enjoyed all minutes of our stays

Memories made to keep in our hearts always

I am a lucky boy I know

To have good things around me so

From friends to cousins to teachers to family

I wish you many summers that make you happy 

100-word snippet of 1982

August. Hot. Friday the thirteenth. Unemployed. Homeless. The phone was cut off. My water broke at dawn. Daunting. She was a mere 4-pound-12-ounce baby at 17.5 inches long, making her presence known before noon, six weeks before scheduled. Her father embarked solo on a cross-country drive we meant to take together. She and I remained. The hospital kept her longer under lights. Her grandparents took us to their home and cared for us until we were ready to rejoin her father. We flew to Chicago. Her uncle exclaimed, “She’s so tiny.” Hush, I thought. She was, in my eyes, perfect. 

Disney Fourth Day

We spent the fourth day with my cousins and their parents. We met uncle Warren and his family early in the morning and together we walked to Hollywood Studios. It was peaceful in the morning. We saw ducks on grass fields. Bà’s camera got foggy in the cool air.

The park was open an hour early for people who stayed at Disney resorts. We got here early with the idea to ride the Toy Story Midway Mania, but it was closed at that time. Dada and Bà went up Bà’s favorite ride, the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. They rode it twice, the first time with aunt Christy, Andrew, and Aiden, the second time with uncle Warren and Andrew. Aiden bowed out after his first ride. I don’t blame him. Andrew didn’t really want to go either, but he put on a brave face and finally agreed to go again with his dad. The four of them got the whole elevator of the Tower of Terror to themselves! They said they held hands and screamed their hearts out. 

Mama took me to Honey I Shrunk the Kids. I played around with the cousins until Dada and Bà got back from their Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. Dada and Bà thought the ride would be outdoors, so Bà left her sunglasses on. Bà’s sunglasses slid down her nose and rested on her lips and she couldn’t adjust them because she held tight to the bar while experiencing unexpected twists and turns and loops. We then went to Muppet Vision 3D with uncle Warren’s family before splitting until the evening show.

Dada and I waited while Mama and Bà rode the Star Tours. When they got back, they watched the Jedi Training Academy with me while it was Dada’s turn to ride the Star Tours. The Jedi training with the lightsabers was fascinating, I had to crane my neck to watch because the Disney photographer kept blocking my view. I wish I were one of the Jedi knights but I’m not old enough yet. Uncle Warren must have known my wish because later he got me a lightsaber of my own.

Afterwards, we went to the Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show and I was somewhat bored because there was too much talking and not enough action. All I wanted to do was run up and down the bleachers and slide down the railings, but Bà kept an eye on me and swooped me up as soon as she thought I was in danger. I tried to appease her by sitting on her lap for a bit, but it was extremely hard to keep still. Bà got excited sometimes and pointed and took pictures, but I don’t really understand what the fuss was all about.

Oh, did you say something about an explosion? I’d rather see Mickey Mouse any time.

It was nice to watch beautiful dancing and hear beautiful songs from Beauty and the Beast and Voyage of the Little Mermaid. It was also nice to catch a break from the heat to watch Walt Disney One Man’s Dream. I rode with Dada on the Toy Story Midway Mania! while Mama and Bà rode together. Bà was no match to Mama, but Mama wasn’t too happy to hear that Dada got a much higher score than she did.

Before dinner at Hollywood & Vine, we rode The Great Movie Ride which was relaxing. There’s talk that my ancestors were in the banking business.

We met up and hung out with uncle Warren and his family after dinner. Aiden pushed me around in my stroller. Dada posed with Warren. Christy posed with Aiden and Andrew. Bà tried to help me apply what I learned from watching the Jedi knights with the lightsaber. Mama posed with Hadley.

We ended the evening with two fantastic shows: Fantasmic and Frozen Fireworks Spectacular. What more can a fellow ask for?

It would be too soon the next morning when I had to kiss Bà goodbye. As Ông says, you should leave while you’re having a good time. And we did, with just a touch of regret and tons of fond memories.

Disney Third Day

We went to Epcot on the third day. We actually slept in today and had Dada with us the entire time. We started out with Spaceship Earth which chronicles the history of human communications. I rode with Bà and we planned our future vacation together. With the help with the spaceship computer, we designed a postcard to send home to our loved ones.

Then we followed the three caballeros in their Gran Fiesta Tour in Mexico, twice because I wanted to and there was no line. Dada didn’t enjoy the tour that much, but the murals are very impressive. We rode The Seas with Nemo & Friends and spent some time at the Caribbean Coral Reef Aquarium.

We rode Living with the Land twice through farmed fish tanks and innovative green houses where scientists research techniques to grow fruits and flowers in the most efficient ways. On my second ride, Bà took me with her to the unassigned bench in front of our assigned one. I sat on her right until the thunderstorm in the dark forest scared me. I scooted to her left as far away from the storm as possible, which means at the edge of the very long bench. Bà slid over to pick me up and put me on her lap and that was nice. We saw many exotic fruits as well as familiar ones. Some flowers are supposed to be edible. Dada thinks perhaps we can copy the techniques to grow our own garden. Among the exotic fruits we saw are Nigerian drum gourds, fluted pumpkins, and dragon fruits.

We learned about conservation through the film Circle of Life and took the Journey Into Imagination With Figment.

In the evening, we watched Impressions de France before dining at Biergarten. Bà was excited to see a musician play the alpine horn in the all-you-can-eat German restaurant. The only other time she saw the alpine horn was earlier this year when Ông took her to Enzian Inn in Leavenworth, WA to celebrate their anniversary. The food was good, the music was great, the ambience was charming. Dada and Bà each ordered a beer flight. Mama helped Bà drink it all.

After dinner, we watched the IllumiNations Reflections of Earth. It was a great show with a glowing globe gliding across the water and bursting into a blazing lotus at the end.

As we walked back to our hotel, thinking that Epcot was closing, Bà noticed that people were still entering The American Adventure. It turned out that there was an extra magic hour that night and that allowed us to delay our bedtime by sitting through a film that explored the past and future of this great country where creativity and innovation are allowed and encouraged to flourish to the benefits of us all. I fell asleep on Mama’s arms. It was a great way to end the day.