“I won’t make any resolutions for the New Year!” my daughter declared, “because having a resolution could be defeating, discouraging and depressing!” “How dramatic!” I thought, but I did have to admit that she had a point. Come to think of it, I can’t recall a single resolution that I’ve successfully kept throughout a year. … More A New Year’s resolution
My eyes get tired fairly quickly when I read books. So, I watch TV programs more often these days. One of my favorite programs is NOVA. I love learning about nature, outer space and engineering feats. And I want to watch it with my kids. But when I suggest watching an episode of NOVA, they’ll … More Cultures at home
Looking at heart-shaped leaves amongst the grass on July Fourth, my husband and I stood silently sharing an enormous sense of defeat. We spent a few thousand dollars to deal with them the previous summer. I didn’t even know the weed’s name, although I’d dealt with it since 2002 in my flower beds. What I … More Wild violet and surrendering
One of my New Year’s resolutions was to clean my office. Six months later, files and books are still all over the place, sometimes lying on the floor. I miss seeing the surfaces of my cabinet and book shelves and desk. Even the top of the shredder is used as a place to hold documents. … More Books, chicken and eggs
Neil deGrasse Tyson, an American astrophysicist, is worried. The universe is expanding, and the rate of expansion is accelerating. So much so that he worries that the future generations of scientists can’t learn from what we see now, as many galaxies will be beyond their horizon. He also wonders if some previous chapters of the … More Dream to sleep
I can enjoy the same movies over and over like it were the first time to see them. My kids roll their eyes at this. Well, many unimaginable things happen as you become a certain age, and you tend to learn to accept those things graciously as gift. But I remember the movie “The Blind … More Sleep out at Covenant House
When I came to the U.S., I was befuddled by the word “great”. Everything seemed to be great in the U.S. A great weekend, great restaurants, great kids and dogs. I wondered if “great” meant that things were actually great? Or were people just saying “great” in order to gloss over their true feelings and … More Pride and love
Many Asians who are new to the U.S. say, “There are rows and rows of houses with beautiful lawns. Amazing! This country must be very rich.” For those who are not accustomed to the American suburb scenery, we may look rich. But I’m feeling poor. And this is not just because of my bank account. … More To feel rich
I don’t clean my kitchen until my kids come home from school. Obviously, I don’t aspire to be a good homemaker. But I have another reason for not being tidy. If the kitchen is clean and their snacks are ready, my kids will quickly eat it and disappear into their rooms. But if I’m busy … More Baby steps
If I were a millionaire, I would hire someone to shop for me. I don’t mean a personal shopper who buys fancy clothes for you. What I desperately want is a person who helps me with shopping, catering to my family’s mundane needs. Everything from groceries and light bulbs to shoes, cold medicine, and clothes. … More Shopping in the suburbs