Disney Second Day

Back to Magic Kingdom we went the second day. We were sad that Pirates of the Caribbean was closed for renovation. It was our favorite last year. We did the other must-do rides like It’s the Small World, Under the Sea, Peter Pan, Winnie the Pooh, and Mad Tea Cup. Bà said she always liked carrousels, so we also went on the Prince Charming Regal Carrousel, though no prince charmings showed up. Bà tried to take a picture of Mama and me when we were both looking in her direction during It’s a Small World but it didn’t work out too well for her. Maybe she should invest in a faster camera, but at her age, changes are hard and she’s happy with the camera she got. It’s also kinda special because Ông gave it to her.

Mama thought I’d love riding a roller coaster, so she took me on the Barnstormer. I was scared, but I tried to be brave. I told her it was fun, but it gave her the idea that I wanted to ride again, even though I said I didn’t want to. I went with Bà the second time, but not after a break of calmer rides and getting wet at Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak Station.  

Bà held me the whole time on the Barnstormer, but she didn’t know I was crying until she watched Mama’s video later. In fact, no one knew I was crying until then. At least that put an end to more roller coaster rides for me. I hope I’ll grow big and strong next year and will enjoy the rough rides more. For now, when I don’t need to exert my independence, I just want to be cuddled or carried, especially on Dada’s shoulders.

We repeated some rides and went to shows with Dada after he was done with his conference. We attended Country Bear Jamboree, Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor, and Mickey’s PhilharMagic shows. This year I am old enough to enjoy the 3D shows with their special effects. I kept my 3D glasses on instead of breaking them as I did last year. Mama remembered that my uncle cậu Thal stood up and waved to Mickey Mouse at the end of PhilharMagic when they watched it in 1995. I bet he was almost as cute as I am.

I sat with Bà at Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin. Bà juggled shooting lasers at her own targets, helping me shoot, and spinning us around so Mama could take pictures of us. As far as I could tell, she didn’t do too well and Mama’s pictures didn’t turn out. But I had fun in the frenzy of lights and sounds and laughter. As last year, I drove the Tomorrowland Speedway with Dada on the passenger’s seat. Mama took pictures but I am too short to be seen. If you look closely, though, you can make out my Mickey ears (and Dada’s silly grin.)

At the end of the second day, we had dinner at Narcoossee’s where we could watch both the Epcot and Magic Kingdom fireworks through the windows from our table. We decided to go out to the balcony for the Magic Kingdom fireworks, however, leaving our untouched plates behind. As a measure of good service, the servers covered our plates to keep the food warm. The grown-ups passed their plates around while I made sure I didn’t miss anything they had, except for the beer and wine.

Disney First Day

We met my bà ngoại in Disney World. Is there a better place to meet her when we live far apart? I don’t think so. At least not when I’m two-and-a-half years old. It was three months ago that my parents planned the event. Who knows how long it took them. Bà didn’t have to plan because she was happy to do whatever we wanted. All she had to do was to arrange her vacation and book her plane ticket. We took care of the rest. By we, I mean G&L, my handsome, ambitious, and adoring parents.

We spent the first four days with Bà and visited all four Disney parks: Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Hollywood Studios – in that order. I made sure I was in my best charming self. It worked most of the time, at least that’s what Bà thinks. She likes to snap pictures of me.

She also snaps pictures of Mama sometimes. She likes this picture because Mama’s dress matches colors with the dinosaur and the sun in Dinoland.

There I rode the TriceraTop Spin with Mama while Bà went by herself on the Primeval Whirl which has a height requirement I didn’t meet. She claimed that it was not as fun as she remembered riding it with Mama last year. She did enjoy the Expedition Everest, however, but she had a lot more fun when she went with Dada than when she went by herself. She said there was no point of screaming when she was alone. I empathize. 

We walked the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail, twice in fact, once without Dada and once with Dada, where we saw gorillas, hippos, zebras, okapis, muskrats, monkeys, turtles, lizards, toads, and fish. I love fishies, if you must know.

The Wildlife Express Train took us to the petting yard at the Affection Section where I brushed goats and sheep.

The Kilimanjaro Safari ride was really cool.

We learned that the bald eagles are no longer endangered and watched exotic birds fly, sing, and play tricks at the Flights of Wonder bird show. A flock of white birds flew out of nowhere in unison and created a rush of air overhead. The exciting thing for Dada was that he got to be on stage with another volunteer. They didn’t have to do anything but sit there prettily and watch an owl fly to a spot right above their heads. I could have done that even better.

Not to let Dada have all the glory to himself, I got on stage myself at the Festival of the Lion King show. It was an experience to parade in front of hundreds of adoring fans; you should try it if you have a chance. I relished every moment of fame, although I acted shy at first so Mama didn’t think I was eager to leave her. Dada videotaped me so I can watch it again and again and tell my grandchildren about it.

Other shows we watched included Finding Nemo and It’s Tough to be a Bug. My ambitious parents wanted me to go on the Kali River Rapids raft ride so badly that they padded my heels so I could qualify. We “traveled through the turbulent rivers of a jungle landscape.” I think it was totally worth it.

We ate dinner at Jiko, Mama’s favorite restaurant of all the ones we’ve eaten at. Bà had a St. George beer in honor of Dada and we all enjoyed the grilled wild boar tenderloin and smoked salmon appertizers. The parade and fireworks at Magic Kingdom were pretty magic, but that was not our last thing. We rode the Haunted Mansion before retiring for the first day.

I Don't Mind

I don’t mind the warm July air

When I’m with you in the summer time in Disney

I don’t mind the wait at the gate

When a magic ride will be the reward

I don’t mind late nights past bedtime

When music and colors explode in the sky

I don’t mind not eating for a while

When sumptuous dinners will satisfy

I don’t mind keeping the fast pace

When we will have gone to more places

I don’t mind napping once a day

When the heat is strong and the body wishes rest

I don’t mind the early start each day

When my head wants a pillow but my heart leaps with joy

I don’t mind being among the lucky

To sit up front for the Festival of The Lion King

When you get to be part of the show

To walk around the stage and shake the beads in a can

I don’t mind listening to It’s a Small World twice

When I see you are mesmerized by it all

I don’t mind having you choose me

To journey with you on many rides

As when we plan our vacation of the future

Or  shoot lasers as we spin our seats round and round

I don’t mind putting my arms around you

To let you know you have me when you’re scared

As when the thunder roars and the lightning strikes

Or when the rough roller coaster makes you cry

I don’t mind taking time off my busy schedule

When in the long run you matter much more

One day when you say, “Do you remember when…”

I’ll say yes, dear, as I treasure these July days always

Collage 22

I drink from a big thermos while Daddy drinks from my tiny cup

  I am a big boy now

I share food and fun with my newfound Taiwanese friends

  I am groomed to be a world traveler

I use bold colors to decorate my books

  It’s so therapeutic, I’ll say

I help Mommy choose the right wines at shopping

  It’s important to give Bà Ngoại the best when she visits

I vacuum our floor with the powerful Dyson machine

  You just have to think of chores as games

To hone my intellectual skills I play with beads

  And of course I read to my dragon and baby

I love learning new things at museums

  And aquariums of all shapes and sizes

I practice what I’ve learned every day

  Like tying my shoelaces or watering holes

I take a break from getting smart now and then

  To cavort with uncles lest they are lonely

Being my mother’s son it is hard to sit still

  But there are times a fellow has to slow down

So once in a while you may just catch

  Me quietly watching the airplanes come and go

And at the end of the hard working day

  In deep slumber you’ll find me resting

You Were My Anchor

Lovely you looked in the white wedding dress

You’d touched my heart the first moment we met

I am the lucky guy who caught your eyes

That sparkled with a passion I don’t possess

You came to be my partner in life

Walking by my side you were a devoted wife

You were the torch that shined the path

Which you were to share with me, the lucky chap

I rode on the wind that you had swirled

With the spirit that never did die

I rode on the wings that you had spread       

Far and wide whether they were heavy or light

You were the anchor that kept me upright

I followed you and thought you followed me instead

You were my center I did not realize

Until you were gone and forever closed your eyes

You were the gentle soul who brought happiness

To those around you, strangers and friends alike

You calmed a storm that fueled inside me

And slowed my steps to enjoy the simple pleasures in life

Now God has deemed your tasks were done

And has called you home where home you’ll be

Without you to hold me I’m a wretched soul

I weep in sorrow and watch for your shadow the dark nights 

Box of Letters

My husband and I had a three-year long-distance relationship before we were married. The letters we wrote each other were put into a box and stashed away somewhere in the basement and largely forgotten as children grew and life proceeded. Once in a while we reminisce about our old letters to each other. I’d go down to the basement in search for the letters and come back empty-handed. Perhaps they had been inadvertently thrown away during one of the many moves.

I went down to the basement the other day to clear out the Girl Scout camping equipment that someone said she wanted to have. While at it, I thought I also had a box of Girl Scout pencils on a bookshelf and wanted to give them away as well. I didn’t find the pencils, but I found the elusive box of letters. I didn’t dwell much on the reason I missed this box in previous searches, nor did I care to know where the pencils were, I took the box upstairs.

A flood of memories and emotions engulfed me as the box did not just contain letters my husband and I wrote to each other, but letters I’ve received from friends and family members as well as my own diaries scribbled on pieces of paper. It was a bittersweet experience as I pored over writings of four decades ago. Sometimes it seemed as if I was reading about a young girl who is removed from myself. I felt for her. She held dark thoughts I have long forgotten. Things forgotten are now available in ink. Some of them brought tears to my eyes.

I marveled at the special relationship each letter conveyed. Someone cared enough to write me, put a stamp on an envelope and mailed me a letter. Did I forget I was indeed loved by many as I forgot the depth of the turmoil within me? Did I actually say this country will never be my second country for I only had one and lost it? Did I try to forget my old friends for I never thought I’d ever see them again? Did I think I didn’t deserve even self-love?

I told a friend about the box. He exclaimed that he felt emotional as he was listening to me. He was the first to whom I confided that it was a lie when I wrote recently that I loved this country “since the day I stepped on its soil.” It didn’t agree with what was on a piece of paper forty years ago. He didn’t judge. He understood. He thinks I have a story to tell – at least to my children. I think I will.

Rainy Days

Rainy days bring back memories

Of my old land when I whisper her name

I’ve gone far away in sorrow and tears

Not knowing what have become of dear friends

I’ve gone far away taking flight

Leaving youth behind for a brand new life

I’ve brought with me a wistful longing

In a world full of dreams to be realized

I’ve closed out the chapters of days gone by

And carefully folded away the white dress of old times

It’s been many years and I still yearn for

The days of freedom for my native land

As surely as the rain will be here again

A bright day will arrive when oppression must give way

I’ll come home to wipe away the parting tears

Joyfully welcoming the rainbow for us appears