stepphenwolf

Long Ho - an old village on the bank of Huong river - just a few miles from Hue, a lovely village with a peaceful life. When I was a little girl I came there often. Many years have passed, so many things have changed but the dream-like memory of that small village is still vividly in my heart and the warm atmosphere of the evening there seep into my mind each time I feel tired of the urban life in Saigon city. Every evening, when the sun had just set behind Ngu Binh hills, all around us we could see the farmers walking home from the fields, tired after a long day of hard work. Some dogs were running toward their owners, wagging their tails and barking happily. The buffalos which had pulled plows along with the farmers during the hot day passed us on the way to the stables. High a top of one buffalo a boy play a lazy song with his bamboo flute as the animal slowly plodded onward. Far away, some cows were chewing the fresh grass. Here and there, kids were flying kites... the river ...

Since the day I went to live in America, many times I saw the pictures of American families gathered around the dinner praying and thank for the good luck they are entitled.  At first, I thought that was their religious, then I realized that was beyond the religious belief and and became a cultural identity . An identity reminds people not to forget the source , not forget the difficult days of our ancestors and to sympathy with the less fortunate people, the immigrants who came to America to breathe free.  As the lofty words carved into the base of the Statue of  Liberty in New York City   "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!" The Statue of Liberty may be the most recognizable statue in the world and is an icon of freedom and opportunity for immigrants to the U.S.   Thanks G...

It was evening and the ordeal of my 12 hours flight from Taipei had ended with a bus ride from the airplane to a very large building that I later came to know as the Tom Bradley International terminal, Los Angeles. Inside the huge building I got line for immigration, and what a long line it was. And there were so many more just like the one I was lost in. After shuffeling for what seemed like forever, with strangers bumping me, being rude with cell phone, coughing germs all over the place and doing other things people do in line, I finally was front and center. It was my turn! The INS officer official in his demeanor and smile, asked me several questions.  I smiled at him and he continued as he smiled back...in his official way, big bright shinning badge, creased uniform and bald hair cut. "Mrs. Ton welcome back to America".   I was a bit stupefied and tongue-tied.  And his official smile....and that shining badge.  A warm feeling and I realized that...

The evening was Saigon hot and the humidity, although bearable, was just enough to pop-out the sweat. The restaurant, on a darken side street, was croded and cloudy with BBQ smoke from legions of charcoal pots being used at the tables of families, tourists, locals and lovers cooking their meat selection....be it  beef, pork, shrim, goat ... or even field rat, but the smell was sensational and alluring. There was no pretense of style or decor, this place was about eating and the menu reflected page upon page of every consumable one, or at least I, could think of to eat, and more. We passed on the roasted goat, pork, and of course the roasted chicken and ..., but we did go with a quarter of a young pig ... roasted over hot coals at the front wall of the eatery. There along the sidewall walk, young sweating men worked at the art of roasting the pink porkers and turning the days old piglets into a taste treat beyond caring about the death of such a young...

In general everybody love to be free. It's sometimes so wonderful that no one around ties us with responsibilities or bothers us by their presence. But why are people still tied together by marriage or just living together? That's because we need each each other so much. "It is rare to find people who actually like to be single and want to stay that way. What one finds more frequently are men and women who say they adore being single but who spend most of their nonworking time looking for some kind of sexual or romantic attachment"...(Suzanne Gordon - Lonely in America) A human being is not a rock or a piece of wood. All of us, each one has a brain, a heart and a soul. We all know how the feeling of happiness and sadness is, when sharing and being shared is .... We feel how loneliness is ... Especially when we are lonely, that's the time we really need someone maybe just for a hug or a touch. I sometimes really want to be alone. That is the time I...

A group of 57 children from Vinh Son orphanage, Kontum and adult supervisory attended the 3 day Beach Trip to Nha Trang this year. This trip was a special gilf from FoCH, Inc., a group of nice Americans who have a deep love for the unlucky Vietnamese orphans. This is to report that the children, the nuns, as well as my two daughters and I have all returned safely and tired after a beautiful trip. The 2007 Beach trip has ended. The bus departed from Kontum early in the morning down to Nha Trang.  The Saint Joseph Seminary there offered the children rooms and food during time they stayed in Nha Trang. The first day we visited Hon Chong beach of Nha Trang. The afternoon was most beautiful, blue sky and beautiful blue green water. The beach sand was very clean and bright and the shoreline was edged with many large and beautiful rocks and boulders. After the exciting day the children all had dinner at the seminary. The Fathers there helped us to order the food fo...

Gold fish because you are golden Chocolate to make you fat And then an exercise ball to make your stomach flat Brownie mix so that you can practice Your own peanut butter jar so you can dip your fingers in without me complaining. Pens of many color will give you a chance to be astute! The licorice and twik will be burnt away with a jump rope to use everyday A card to show you ...  I think you're cool dude And a gift card that you can buy anything you like as I know you think I'm a prude .... Cà Na 12 tuổi chưa biết diện, vẫn thích ăn vặt và đồ chơi Buổi tối vẫn mò vô ngủ chung với mẹ Mỗi lần tập đàn, dù mẹ đang nấu ăn, đọc sách, lướt webs ... vẫn lôi ghế và đàn tới trước mặt mẹ, tra tấn mẹ. Kể chuyện gì cho mẹ nghe thì thò sát cái đầu vô mặt mẹ. Nhưng rồi nhanh thôi những khoảnh khắc dịu ngọt đó sẽ chỉ còn là kỷ niệm. Con rồi sẽ lớn khôn, đầy đủ lông cánh ... bay đi Và mẹ với mọi khả năng có thể sẽ luôn nâng giữ cho đôi cánh của con sãi rộng, mạnh mẽ và tự tin...

You are 14th.  Looking at you growing up I realize just how fast time is going by. I still remember the day I felt there was a small angel in me. I and your dad were so happy but also very anxious. One day, two days then three days...you grew in me, bit by bit. Then I had to stay home to rest and to protect you from many kind of sickness I might get from work. Your grandparents asked me eat everything they believed that made you smart and pretty. They were right. I took Prenatal care everyday. You were still growing in me everyday and then came first day I could feel your movement. I saw your small hands touching me, you little feet kicking. And I know I love you so much. Sometimes I could catch your elbow. That was so wonderful....the biggest joy and happiness God gave me and all the women in the world. Then I came to know my angel was a baby girl. I was so anxious when the doctor moved the camera on my belly. But thanked God. I finally had a little duck in me. Ultrasound re...

That was Long Ho village, an old village on the bank of Huong river - just a few miles from Hue, a lovely village with a peaceful life. When I was a little girl I came there often. Many years have passed, so many things have changed but the dream-like memory of that small village is still vividly in my heart and the warm atmosphere of the evening there seep into my mind each time I feel tired of the urban life in Saigon city. Every evening, when the sun had just set behind Ngu Binh hills, all around us we could see the farmers walking home from the fields, tired after a long day of hard work. Some dogs were running toward their owners, wagging their tails and barking happily. The buffalos which had pulled plows along with the farmers during the hot day passed us on the way to the stables. High a top of one buffalo a boy play a lazy song with his bamboo flute as the animal slowly plodded onward. Far away, some cows were chewing the fresh grass. Here and there, kids were flying kites.....