Family time and love wins

Tom invited me to join his family for Dim Sum yesterday. The food was good, and the company was great. The four young cousins really enjoyed each other, the Grands enjoyed watching them, and the four parents have to remind the kids from time to time, "not so loud!" "Don't sit on the floor!" "Be careful!" .......... So the parents enjoyed, yet carried a burden of "tough love". Me, the lucky Grand Yau Yau, just enjoyed the experience from head to toe. A walk from the restaurant, after the meal, to the book store was very delightful too.

A walk by the Elkon Lake once again

Yesterday I took a walk around the Elkon Lake like I used to do when I lived in the Dockside home. The sense of "all were in the past now" left me feeling a bit strange, but not sad. I have had some fond memories living in this environment, and still remember that "enchanted" feeling I had when I first set eyes on this neighborhood.

I saw Joshua turning over by himself for the first time

I hope Joshua can start to recognize me now. It's a nice Saturday afternoon to visit Dan, Elizabeth and Joshua. Just look at this happy young family:

Then I learned all the new tricks Joshua can do now. He knows how to turn over his stomack by himself, he likes to do the peek-a-boo by pulling the cloth off his face himself, he loves riding horses on Daddy and Mommy, he is learning how to sit and stand by himself, with just a little bit assistance from Daddy. And Grand Yau Yau taught him to do a high-five for the first time!!

Final Farewell Luncheon from CQA

My co-workers from the Corporate QA group gave me a farewell luncheon last Tuesday. We gathered at the Bluestone restaurant for the occasion.  Only Kaster and Shraddha were unable to make it due to their meetings I think everyone had a pretty good time. Roger said a couple more nice things about me. Bill said a few words, Lyny asked me to wait for her on the Marjong game.  Anita surprised me with the bottles of black pepper with my picture and name as the label. How thoughtful of her.  She later told me that she just want to do some thing special for me because I am such a nice person.  I am truly moved by her extra efforts.  I hope that I finally learned that it's always worth it to be nice to others. It is worth it because you have an opportunity to touch someone else's heart, even though there always exists a risk of your feeling could be hurt at times.

Mommy, Won't You Take Me to Russia with You

I now am at home a lot more than before ever since April, which of course made Bowtie very happy.  He is quite attached to me and comes to relaxed on my lap at times.  Then he saw me started packing for my Russia trip.  He is CONCERNED.  He sat on my half packed suitcase and looked up to me with his pair of pleading eyes.  Ai, this little furry friend.  What am I going to do with him?!

My Retirement Tea

My retirement tea came and went.  I made a record of having most family member to join the tea of this kind.  tom, Janice, Margaret, Meghan, Alexander, Elizabeth, and Joshua were all there!  Amy, the HR lady, introduce them as "special guests".  Amy, Roger, and Anita from McCormick each talked a bit about me.  Tom, on behalf of the Huang family thanks the participants for coming, and talked a bit about his little sister.  I thanked McCormick and everyone.  I know Bill decided not to make a speech as I mentioned to him that I will be "protected" by minors.  I hope all McCormick attendees had a good time.  I think me and my family certainly had a wonderful time.

The kitchen was so nice to have baked three egg less pies for Meghan, and one sugarless cake for Tom and me.  Anita also baked a dozen egg less cupcakes.  The booklet assembled by Anita was just great. 

Eveything was nice.  I have to admit that I was nervous when Roger was speaking.  Anyway, it is not important anymore.  Dan came to me and said that what he wrote in the booklet was "from his heart".  That was nice of him.  Over the weekend, I thanked him via an e-mail. At the end of the day, it is the goodwill between one person and another matters.

An ordinary Chinese family in Shanghai

When I have been organizing the Asia Pacific QA Manager's Meeting to be held annually in Shanghai for the past several years, I developed a friendly relationship with this small business owner Mr. Zhao Qiang and his wife.  They print and bind the meeting booklets to be handed out to meeting attendees.  Their shop is right across from the hotel I stay every time when I am on business in Shanghai (Hongqiao Marriott), and that was how I first found them the first time.  They are simple and hard working people.  The wife is quiet but very helpful.  The husband sometimes grumbles about the government, and how hard it is to sustain a small business.  They had a son last year, a boy born in the year of Tiger.  So this March when I was in Shanghai to host the APZ QA Conference for the last time before retirement, I met their son.  I gave him a red envelop of 100 RMB.  Mr Zhao and his wife's faces brightened up and smiled widely.  The parents are so happy, not because of the money but rather because of the friendship I have shown to them.  It proves once again how precious it is to be connected with other human beings even in some very small ways.

I love the hair cut of the little boy!