Do I Know You?

Occasionally, another Asian that I don't know will come up and either start talking to me or wave and say "hi", as if they know me.  It happened again yesterday at the gym as I was working out.  I was on the treadmill and as I was wiping the sweat from my forehead an Asian girl walked by waving and said "hi".  I didn't initially notice she was Asian until I moved the towel from my face and she was already half passed me by then.  And, although I said "hi" I realized I didn't know who she was or even recognize her from my daily workouts.  Did she think I was someone else?  Did she just say "hi" because I was Asian?  I never know!

There are actually a couple of other Asian ladies that work out regularly that I see daily at the gym, but I've never talked to them.  We all keep to ourselves.  Isn't that what Asians do?  Well, this one does...for the most part! 

I once had an Asian man come up to me in Target one day and ask me where something was in the store...but he asked me in Chinese or Korean or Japanese...your guess is as good as mine!  I told him I couldn't understand him and his view of me as being someone familiar or "the same" shifted to looking at me like I was an alien.  Oh geez!  What do you do?

Day of Worship

Some Sundays I'm up and about early enough to go to early service (9:30 am) and other Sundays I take my time and get to the late service (11 am).  I always sit in the same spot at church, like all creatures of habit, we have our "spot" or area of the church we all normally sit in.  So, when I attend early service, as I did today, I sit in the same pew with an older Korean couple.  They are probably in their early 70's, I would guess.  Always very quiet...with the exception of when the older gentlemen casually falls asleep and he snores a little.  The older woman comes just about every Sunday, but the gentlemen (I think depending on his health) comes every so often. 

I have briefly thought in the past what a coincidence it is that the few Asians, Koreans even, in this congregation are sitting next to each other.  It would make sense from other parishioners just casually observing that the Asians in the congregation would tend to stick with one another.  But, for many years I never spoke to the couple...just the customary "hello" every Sunday.  However, several months ago as the older woman was passing by me to sit down, she asked me if I was Korean.  I told her "yes."  Apparently, that was all she wanted to know of me.  She hasn't asked me any other questions since or looked to be very interested in getting to know me any more than that.  Does she sense something about me is different or is she truly not interested in getting to know me?  I have no idea.

But, today as I sat in the pew beside them I looked over a couple of times to view their features, how they've aged, and really wondered how they ended up in this primarily all white church.  There are many different ethnicities represented at my church, but the majority is white.  Again, that's "my normal" but since they are older I would assume more inclined to attend a Korean church...which there are many around...so I've been told.  And assuming that most older Koreans are very traditional about their culture...and religion...I wondered when/how they came upon this church as their own.  I pondered this question for most of the service today.  I'll probably never know, but it just dawned on me today...even though I've been sitting next to them for years.  These are the times when I wish I knew a "wise old" Korean individual that I could ask these questions to and get a satisfactory answer from...and maybe one day I will!  Until then, blessings to you today and everyday!

Authentic Asian Cuisine

"Can you recommend an authentic Asian restaurant around here?" a coworker asked me yesterday.  Who me?  Ummmm, sorry...that's really not my area of expertise.  Huh?  "I'm adopted.  I grew up eating meat and potatoes...and corn!" 

In the landscape of cubicles in my office, there's a little nook, if you will, away from all the chaos, rowdiness and loudness of everyone else where I sit with a few other regulars.  We have our quiet little area where we don't have to shout at each other and for the most part can hear ourselves think, which is rare in an open cube style set-up.  So, when my coworker asked for a recommendation on where to find the best Asian cuisine in the area I had to reveal why I couldn't...but at least I didn't have to shout it so she could hear me!  Plus, she probably would have found out next week anyways when I bring my oldest nephew to work for "Take your Kids to Work Day" seeing that he's blonde-haired, blue-eyed and pretty tall for his age.  Just the simple every day question that can trigger lots of questions and confusion. 

And by-the-way, we're both the fried rice kind of gals...traditional, easy and you know what's in it!  I have expanded my cuisine, though, through international travels and being willing to try anything once.  And, I've finally gotten more into sushi this year...after having someone who knows what they're ordering show me what's good!  Yum!

Lazy Daze of Summer....

As I look ahead at the month of July there's not much going on...just one hot summer day after another.  Summer days in Texas can be unbearable due to the heat and those long days of summer can put you into a heat daze that lasts usually until early October.  It's going to be hot, hot, hot...and I'm not looking forward to it!

However, I do have something to keep me busy and look forward to...my book!  I'm wrapping up my second proof this week and then onto the FINAL proof!  The last edit, the final one....oh my!  This is it!  There's still so much to do!  So, I need to slow my brain down and remember to keep taking it one step at a time!  Just enjoy each step of the way and take it all in. 

So although the heat of the summer may literally put me in a daze some days, I could be holding my first book by the end of the summer!  Now that's "hot" in a good way!  Stay cool out there!

Happy Independence Day!

Happy 4th of July...a day early!  Just like most holidays these days there's a lot of commercialization involved in our celebrations.  But, what's the day really about?  Our independence...our freedom!  And I can't help but think of those two words when I hear about all the conflict around the world...in Egypt, in Syria, etc.  There are so many people fighting for their freedoms, their civil liberties...which we have here, but I think many of us take it for granted.  Most of us were born in this country and our freedoms were just a given, but for others the same age as us (whatever that may be) they are fighting to have the same freedoms that most of us have had since we were born....driving a car, voting, etc.  So, as you sit down at your picnics/BBQs and get ready to watch the fireworks, think about the freedom this country provides us everyday and how lucky we truly are.  Forgot about all the politics and pundits and the latest government regulations that you feel restrict your life in same way, and think about those fighting just to have their voices heard in countries around the world.  Think about their struggles, their restrictions, and their government regulations or dictatorships.  We have an amazing country and we're blessed to live in the United States of America!

Another Step...

So, I'm finally sitting down today to edit the second proof of my book today.  It's flowing pretty easily now, so I think it's pretty close to being final.  That's the one thing I've learned through the process of being an author, though, you can always add more and more.  You have to know when to stop...when to edit yourself!  There will always be more stories to tell or more details to add, but you have to take a step back to remember the purpose, the essence of "this" book.  What was your original intent?  Have you met that? Are the things you want to add in-line with that purpose or do they tell another story with another intent?  This may seem easier said than done, especially when you're writing a memoir and all your stories and details are about your life.  The stories don't end...as long as you're still alive...but knowing how to collect and present those stories in one cohesive book (or story, if you will) is what you have to be diligent with.  Wow.  Did I just say I was an author?!  Again, I won't believe it until I see it and we're one step closer.  Thanks for sharing this journey with me!  Stay tuned!

Another Book Update!

I just received the second proof of my book yesterday...which was a really quick turnaround!  Things are picking up!  Which means I have a ton of decisions to make...soon!  Front of book cover.  Back cover.  Website.  All the little details that go into each of those things.  Marketing the book.  Book launch party!  More details to plan!  It's exciting and still a little unbelievable.  But, one step at a time...and with each step it becomes more and more real.  I think once I finally decide on the book cover it'll be a really big step in truly believing this is something I'll be able to hold in my hands and that it's going to be a reality.  So, prayers for a clear and confident mind to make the many decisions regarding my very first book become a reality.