Thanksgiving is soon here. I was driving the other day and the radio station started to play Christmas music. My heart was full of joy and warmth. I love Christmas Carol. But suddenly, the...

Season of graduation and prom. I dread, especially this year when Joey’s friends graduate high school. Each prom picture at news feed is the harsh reminder of the profound loss of future hopes and...

When Joey was a baby, everybody said he had beautiful eyes, bright, transparent and glittering. When he grew up, I saw curiosity, passion and possibilities in his eyes, gazing, watching, and wondering. When he...

For 7 years, I put Joey’s shoes at the door, no matter where we lived, east coast or west. These shoes of gator colors, his favorite. I pretended one day he would come back...

Mother’s Day is always tough for me, and Father’s Day is even tougher. Each year is a little different, but when there’s profound loss, it’s painful. Because not only I suffer, but I see...

Yesterday was a busy day. 5 years without him, or 60 months, over 260 weeks, 1826 days. My parents came to visit from China and they probably didn’t realize the date. It’s my culture,...

November is here and my heart becomes heavier each day. It will be 5 years by this Thanksgiving. 5 years, half of his life on earth. I can’t help shivering with the thought: I...

People say the best place to watch fireworks in this country is at San Diego Bay, so we went this year. The big bay boom attracted around 500,000 people with 2 tons of fireworks....

It rained on Thanksgiving. It never rained in San Diego, but it did this time, on a Thanksgiving night. I didn’t want to fall asleep, listening to the rain hitting on the roof, softly....

Last year when I found out I would teach 3rd grade, I panicked. Joey was diagnosed in 3rd grade. I panicked that these 3rd graders would remind me of the time Joey lost. I...