Author: Tony Tam

  • don’t get too comfortable

    My parents and I were hanging out in Monterey and they were joking that I walk faster than they do even when I’m on my crutches. I told them the human mind often figures out a way to make the best of something. Even though I’ll be on crutches for another 3 months, it doesn’t…

  • talking to the dead

    Last week was the annual event for all Chinese to visit the graves. Usually bus loads of Chinese people are transported over to Colma, Daly City for this busy weekend. We visit the graves, line up for a coupon for a pound of free roasted pork and then go to a relative’s house for some…

  • Happy 6th birthday my Kate

    Kate turned 6 today. Happy birthday my little girl. It’s so wonderful to have you in my life. Having a child has taught me to look at life with a fresh pair of eyes. To look at life in a positive angle. She shows her feelings and her love without reservation and this is still…

  • Prayer Of Love

    Recently I started asking Kate if she would like to say a nightly prayer of love. I told her it’s when we just say thanks for our health and our good fortune and then we pray for health and happiness for everyone we love. This way it will magically keep the people we love healthy…

  • Kate: “I want to be rich”

    (photo is Kate’s. Happy Chinese New Years on the right bubble, “Dad” 爸 on the left red envelope, “Maternal grandfather” 公 on the right red envelope, the rest of the yellow I think are currencies?) I can’t recall how the conversation started, but I asked what Kate wants to be when she grew up. She…

  • Chinese Dumpling Sunday

    I had a craving for fresh Chinese dumplings on Friday and got my parents to pick up the ingredients from Chinatown. Friday my gf and I made a small batch enough to satisfy ourselves. Then this Sunday Kate and I finished up the entire batch. It really did hit the spot. Here is a recipe…

  • baggage of tradition

    I used to know someone who didn’t like to be bounded by the traditions of her culture. She felt that tradition limited her in how she could behave or act. I loved this person a lot and I was influenced by her thoughts quite a bit. I’ve changed my mind in recent years. At the…

  • Close to the heart

    In Chinese we have a term 貼心 which literally translates to “close to the heart” and it’s usually used to describe daughters who are very close to their parents and especially their mothers. Ever since my foot injury, Kate has needed to make huge adjustments. Opening and holding doors for me, bringing her dinners to…

  • 新年快樂 : Happy New Year

    I’m very excited about this particular Chinese New Year. The first of day of the New Year is actually today, but last night was the most important day. When the immdiate family is suppose to gather around for dinner for 團圓飯. My sister went back to her inlaws for dinner, I was back with my…

  • Start From The Beginning

    Start From The Beginning

    People can often point to a number of stages of their lives. Childhood, high school, college, marriage, middle age. My life has been defined by these stages in my mind and they are marked by extraordinary (at least to me) changes 1-4 years : I was raised by a nanny in rural China because communist…