We're Not Such Bad Kids

Well, I called my father yesterday and we actually talked for 5 minutes!

My father is not a big talker in person and even less so on the phone. Everytime, if he answers the phone, he will hand off the phone to my mom within 5 minutes.

Last night, at about 9:45, I called home. My dad answered. I told him happy father's day, what did you do yesterday to celebrate? Sorry we (the kids) didn't call yesterday. He said that they didn't do much, he and my mom just got some cupcakes (aww how cute) since none of us kids were there in person, so it's not such a big deal.

I asked if they were going to come visit at Thanksgiving, as mentioned earlier this year. He said, let me find your ma and ask her. He left me hanging on the phone and I could hear him calling for Ma, then she came on the line.

Ma and I chatted and they will just come at Chinese New Year next year when they have 3 weeks off, instead of coming in November when they can't get away for as long. Now that Brother Two is in NYC, Sister in DC, me in Atl, and Brother One's location TBD, they need more time to travel around to see all their kids.

Also, one reason they thought about coming at Thanksgiving is that Ba will turn 65 right around then and he wants to fill out the paper work regarding Social Security (ah, at least that's still there for them, unlike anyone coming after the baby boomers). However, many government workers will be on vacation around then too, I'm sure, and that would be a less efficient time to go get government paperwork done.

After some more chit chat, I asked Ma to put Ba back on the phone, since it is a Father's Day call. However, true to form, he ended the call soon after. I told him, that this was just the first call of the day, he's got three more coming.

Need to make sure he doesn't use up all his words right away :P

My Father has Bad Children

We all forgot Father's Day.

Today, August 8, is Father's Day in Taiwan, where our parents live. The word for "8" and for "dad" are homophones. That is, they sound the same: ba.

So today is August 8, which is 8/8, which is ba/ba, which is ba ba, which is father.

However, while it is 8/8 in the US right now, it is 8/9 in Taiwan because Taiwan is 12 hours ahead. If I called right now, it'd be 5:30am the day after Father's Day. Damn!

I just realized all this half an hour ago as I was taking a phone message, and wrote in today's date, 8/8. Light bulb went off and guilt kicked in.

Called Sister right away to ask if she called. She didn't. Crap! Ironic, because Sister's the only one who writes home regularly (she's the only one I know who still writes letters on stationary) and had just mailed off a letter two days ago. Plus, she's Daddy's Little Girl.

Called Brother One. He didn't call home either. On the other hand, he did send a Father's Day card in June, so someone remembered at some point this year. It helped that he works at a Hallmark store, surrounded by holiday reminders. I think one of us may have called home in June too. But I don't remember.

Sister called Brother Two, who said he didn't call either. He had an excuse. He had just moved to NYC this past weekend and started a new job.

So tonight, one day late, my father will get calls from all four of his kids, all of whom have forgetten Father's Day.

Shame on all of us.