80th BIRTHDAY
／Dorothy C. Yang
When I was younger I hated people to ask me about my age because I always looked much younger than my age. Probably I did not like people to think that I was that old. Now that I've grown older, I couldn't care less about my age. To me the best thing that I can do in growing old is to not think about my age. Otherwise I won't be able to do the things that old people are not supposed to do. Thank God that I am blessed of my father's longevity, energy and memory.
My daughter, Ruth, was born in this country. Yet she was brought up in both Chinese and American culture. Both my granddaughters love Chinese food and red packages. Ruth is aware of the Chinese tradition that the children should celebrate their parents' birthday. Therefore, she suggested that we have a family reunion to celebrate my 80th birthday. The best area would be the west coast so that all the families could travel approximately equal distances. Now it is almost impossible to celebrate on the actual day of one's birthday because of so many factors such as work, school, distance, business, etc. In order to get all the families together one has to celebrate on any day close to the actual day that the family can get together. Therefore Ruth picked the date in July and the place in Anaheim where all the children could visit Disneyland after the birthday party.
What did I think of this idea? I thought that it was a great idea because the family would all try their best to come to my birthday party instead of my funeral. Usually the family will only all get together for a funeral. I always like the family to get together for happy occasions. This way, the younger generation has a chance to get to know each other. Otherwise, before you know it, they are grown up. Even the adults have less and less happy memories of our adult time together.
Thank God for His arrangements. My daughter's family, Ruth, Raymond Liang, with granddaughters, Lauren and Elizabeth came from Wayne, New Jersey: My son's family, James, Pat with grandsons, Thomas, Jordan and Cory (twins) and granddaughter, Sara, came from Honolulu: My brothers, Danny and Joe with their wives, Lily and Wei Wei, came from Oakland Ca. My niece, Tina with her son and daughter, Patrick and Emma, adopted from China: My niece, Sandy with her 3 children, Elliot, Emily and Abigail, came from France: My nephew's family, Ellis and Ann and their daughter, Lillian, came from Cleveland, Ohio. God also sent good friends of many years: Paul and Chiu Ying Wu, Ching San and Joy Lin, Dee Beng and Nancy Lim, formerly of the Chinese Gospel Church: Hsiao Chu Li and Yih Jia chang, formerly of Philadelphia Chinese Bible Study Fellowship. Please forgive me for mentioning all the names. Everyone of them is very important and precious to me and it is also a record for my grand children.
At the banquet Ruth said her heartfelt grace, thanking God for her mother, our family and friends and for God's love to all of us and the love banquet. After the first course arrived my son Jim stood and toasted me and the reunion of family and friends. Then he suggested that after each course everyone was invited to give a toast. Ruth toasted to her father because without him we would not all be here. It was very moving since her father left her when she was only 3 years old. Tina thanked me for her precious gift of life, Emma, her adopted daughter who came with me from China. Sandy thanked me for being her mother and the grandmother to her children after both parents died. Ellis thanked me for channeling him to Christianity by sending him reading materials. My friends thanked me for my friendship in the Lord and for touching many lives in my life. Thanks to Jim's idea, I had such a meaningful birthday party.
Isn't it better than a funeral? Ruth agreed with me.
My grandsons, Jordan and Cory made up a song for me, NanaBobo (That's what they call me) NabaBobo means grandmother from father's side and mother's side.
Nana Bobo
Nana Bobo is eighty years old.
Nana Bobo is a good lady
Nana Bobo, stay alive
Nana Bobo, stay alive.
I have to say to my grandchildren that I cannot always stay alive. One day I have to leave them to go home to Jesus. God has said that he is a good of the living and not of the dead. Yes, I will stay alive in heaven, waiting to have my family reunion in heaven.
