The New Lunar Year and My Day of Hearts

It wasn't too long ago that my parents would take my brother and I to China Town during the lunar new year. We'd eat in a typical Chinese resto, walk the streets filled with curiosities, buy trinkets and little glass animals that we'd scatter across the house for good luck. I'd hold my dad's hand, or my mother's, and stuff preserved dates in my mouth with my free hand. My brother would take pictures.

The cycle broke when I ran off to live in Tokyo for a year. When I came home, I missed the trip which my mum and dad made because I was much too busy putting my life back together. Perhaps I was working, perhaps I was just too busy. Another year gone by.

This year, my mum is in Korea, fighting the good fight. My brother went off to wherever it is that he goes; he drops off the radar whenever he wants and he cares little for family traditions.

I asked Josh to take me, filled with nostalgia for lost traditions, and he agreed. We walked, hand in hand, under red paper lanterns. We ate at a traditional restaurant. We bought gifts for my dad. We laughed, watching the two-man lion dance walk from shop to shop. And, at the very end, he bought me a tiger balloon.

We left in the afternoon, stopping by my father's house to leave my gifts of preserves, tikoy, hopia, and of course, a little glass tiger. No, mom-- I didn't forget.

It's a new year. I'm a little older, a little wiser. I'm thankful for my family, scattered as they are. Thankful for my profession, which allows me to illustrate and pour my creativity out every single day. But mostly I'm thankful for Josh, my true partner, the love of my life. If I believed in souls, I would say he was my soul mate.

Thank you, baby, for helping me honor old traditions (however small), and making me want to come up with brand new ones with you.