14 February 2010 Sunday
CNY especially
Chinese New Year has always been important in my family.
While even illness was seldom an acceptable excuse for missing school, my mother always kept us home on the day of CNY.
It’s like an all-in-one of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s day, plus a heavy dose of Asian culture and tradition. There’s emphasis on abundance, family, respect and gratitude; there are gifts exchanged, drinks consumed, good wishes cheered, and hopes refreshed for the brand new year.
Between the red envelopes, the tea pouring, and the over-consumption of delicious food, Chinese New Year is about friends and — especially — family. While it’s a huge public event, Chinese New Year is, more importantly, a very private, personal holiday that we share with those we love and trust and wish good things between.
We Skyped my family in Malaysia today before breakfast. It was already past midnight for them when we called, so most had gone to bed, but, unsurprisingly, a group of them were still up and took turns crowding around the webcam to laugh and smile with us. That was really nice. I miss them, and hope to get back to see them soon..
People, family; chances, choices, paths.
Chinese New Year this year happens to fall on Valentine’s Day. In a way I feel some sort of conspiracy must be behind this; it must have been orchestrated this year for some purpose. Either it has some sort of effect, or it has some sort of symbolism. Perhaps it has me specifically in mind and has occurred especially for me. Or, since I think it does or should, I can probably find that I have some subliminal meanings associated with the melding of the two.
I know it isn’t just me. For those who see the correlation, I wish you, especially, the best possible tiger year and, if fortune or determination will, I hope we share our year and paths where we can.
Gong Xi Fa Cai to everyone.
Today’s important, and will not happen again.
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