mom
Today's Mom's birthday; and like every year, this day falls cunningly around Mother's Day. This lady grew up wearing her elder brother's hand-me-downs and was dragged to basketball games with him (though she never fancied tall hunks). She was honourably a '70s bayarea arts major--no drugs and free love I presume. During those student years, she would dress up sort of like a guy and go to late night movies alone. Besides all these tomboyishness, she was a fantastic cook. Actually, she loved to cook--famous dish would be the 'beer-duck'; no one has ever laid fingers on it and not say it's yum. She wrote elegant calligraphy, read vast amount of history and literature books, and enjoyed learning new languages. As a mainlander, she learned Taiwanese. Moreover, not wanting to waste her time at home while being pregnant, she took up Japanese. Liberal and leaning left, sometimes you find her retaining a plebeian taste, yet at times engaging in highbrow culture. She adored the weak and the underdogs; her aim was to help the not so bright students in class. For as far as I can remember, she never nags nor complains. Encouraged us to be creative and try out anything--but remember manners, always manners! Her mood comes and goes within an instant. Extremely optimistic and great problem solver. It was she who once said, "I can't wait for my kids to grow up so I can be as free as a bird". But even till now, she never missed any of our important events and we never had to go home staring at an empty fridge. Free, she always is.