Chinese New Year is tomorrow and as I sit here looking at the “ang pow” that came in the mail this morning for Chloe from family and friends, I cannot help but miss home.
When I was a kid, Chinese New Year was not only about wearing new clothes, stuffing our face with junk food and candies all day or receiving “ang pows” from our parents as well as aunts and uncles and neighbors and any elders, it’s about family gatherings. Chinese New Year was a tradition, everyone come home to celebrate whether you are far away or you are in Singapore. It’s about close family ties and bonding and meeting up with cousins that we don’t see often and exchanging stories and sharing the children’s achievements in school and of course, lots of gossiping about the family. It was a time of joy, a time where we show our appreciation for our parents and grandparents.
Chloe and I made our usual call to my mom and our uncles and aunties today and wished them “Gong Hei Fatt Choy” and as usual, they want to know when we are bringing Chloe home to meet them. They are so excited when they hear Chloe tell them that she will come visit soon and of course, my mom tells her how much she misses Chloe. Bitter sweet, every year and every year I just have this urge to pack and fly home immediately. *sigh* ! yes, bitter sweet, every year but we will be home soon.