So this is home

I have been home for three days now.

Somehow, I do not understand why this is so, yet I feel somewhat blue.

It is surprising to me that such feelings surface. Divine spirits.......I wonder what is in store for this while.

Anyhow, lets get down to some concrete details. The plane touched down around 9 pm on 12/12/03, and Andrew came to pick me up at the airport. We went straight to grandma's house in Hsin-Dien, and ran into our aunts right outside the apartment. It was a great feast right away, and I teared up when I went into grandma's room. Grandma's sleeping, and as I hugged her gently while she was asleep, since she was tired waiting up for me......she turned and said, with her eyes still closed, "M?"

Certainly I teared up. My grandma's voice was so fragile, and from one whisper I heard such longing and love.

The next day, since Andrew and Peggy slept over, we went to Keelung, where our temple is, and visited my other grandma and uncle. The primary goal was to pay tribute to mom and our ancestors, since it was the fifteenth aniversay of mom's crossing over. Andrew and I stood in front of the shrine, and I spoke words that were at first difficult to utter but I had been longing to speak. I teared up again, and I heard Andrew sniffing as well. I was not sure if he was touched or was just reacting to his allergy......I love my brother very much, the only person in this world that I share mom and dad's blood with.

We had a very nice dinner at the nearby seaport. Great ambiance.....a simple yet complete happiness. It was uncle, both grandmas, two aunts, Andrew, Peggy, David and I.

I went to the comic bookstore afterwards and rented some. The next day Lily took me to visit my other aunt that I haven't seen in years. Apparently, one of my cousins has been having some emotional difficulties, and I was concerned. It was hard to offer any substantial help, yet I hope there would be an opening during my stay in TW. No one should suffer in silence......I will write more about this. (Too exhausted right now to write anything heavy.) At night, it was another great feast with aunts and cousins.

Today I came to see Monica, and it was absolutely wonderful to see her pregnant. Andrew came and we all had dinner together (Mon already took me to have afternoon tea.......this eating is insane. Everyone wishes to feed me. I consider this heaven.) Wonderful food again, and then Andrew took met to Odie's office. She was so shocked to see me, since I lied to all of my friends and told them that I would be here at a later date. Now I am tying on her work computer while she is away, working hard.

So this is home.

I do not know what to say.