“How many roads must a man walk down before you call him a man?
How many seas must a white dove sail before she sleeps in the sand?
The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind; the answer is blowing in the wind.”
— Bob Dylan
In 2016, Bob Dylan was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. I was deeply moved by his song Blowing in the Wind during my youth, perhaps because of the challenging events I faced at that time. Many of the songs from that period provided comfort and warmth to my heart, and this one was no exception.
That same year, we celebrated Yong’s 69th birthday and 40 years of life together. I compiled our yearly Christmas letters into a keepsake album titled Our Life Story – You and Me. Over the years, God has faithfully guided us with His grace, and we are truly blessed.
This year, the word “empathy” resonated with me. Cher, who was 70 at the time, appeared on the Today Show and said, “I just don’t know how to accept my age. I don’t want to either.” Aging, like everything else, is a mixture of gains and losses, of love and sorrow, reflected in the changes in our appearance. Perhaps every stage of life is a form of miracle. Cher has certainly embraced her age and is not letting any self-esteem issues interfere with her musical career—she continues to perform in Las Vegas. She is a great role model to follow.
Our big family is doing well this year. May and Tom are busy with their three lovely daughters, managing a fully booked schedule, but they’re having lots of fun along the way. Mike and Chi adore their little princess, Le, and frequently post pictures of her on Facebook. As grandparents, we play with them, pray for them, and cherish every moment. Yong retired this year, and I may follow in his footsteps soon. We count our blessings every day.
Maya Lin once said, “Each one of us is a part of our awareness. We are interlinked with our dreams, imaginations, thoughts, writings, and so on. I hope that someday we can pass these communications to future generations—who we are and what we did.”
As immigrant parents, we face not only the challenges of generation gaps but also the complexities of cultural differences. This year, I’ve learned a great deal. “Love” without “wisdom” is in vain. Knowledge without execution is meaningless. Our goal should not be to seek success but to be of value. As we enter our golden years, we must learn how to truly manage our lives. Only when we are proud of who we are and what we’ve done can we pass those values on to future generations.
May the good times and treasures of the present become the golden memories of tomorrow. May peace, joy, hope, and happiness fill your holiday season and the New Year 2016.