09/12/06

The following are articles I have written throughout the years.  Per Dung's encouragement,
I saved these articles to commemorate our growing up together.  It is for Dung with all my heart.

Van came home one day and asked me to write a note for her teacher citing how she has grown up
and was about ready to go to college...

Van Le

For her Fourth Birthday, Young and I bought Van a battery-operated Jeep Safari.  The kind that she can drive her friends around, and can go up to five miles per hour.  She was the envy of the entire neighborhood, as  children of our neighbors lined up taking turn riding with Van. She was sharing proudly and happily. 

On her Fifth Birthday, we bought her a princess canopy bed completed with all the bedroom accessories fitting for a little princess. For a long time, this was her favorite retreat with her friends. That year, Young and I built a huge deck covering our entire backyard, so Van and her friends would never have to step into the mud when they played.  We even built a fish pond for her, so the little princess and her friends could feed the fish.  Van was sharing proudly and happily. 

Van had always shared her goodness with her friends and people around her. Either sharing a new ride or playing together in the backyard, Van would rather be with people than things.  She had always enjoyed the simple things that life offered. 

One day, I came across one of her homework assignments from Kindergarten:  The teacher asked her what is the one thing that she likes to do most in life?  Her answer was, “ I like to do coloring with my Dad.”  Simple answer from a five year-old girl, it brought the most fulfilling joy to a parent. 

And as years go on, Van was very fortunate.  She always had the latest and greatest that we can afford.  She was the very first in the neighborhood to have her own laptop, cell phone, and many more. And her social calendar continued to expand.  Our family’s weekend schedule started to build around her events and activities with her friends.  Involving with extra-curriculum activities from school, volunteer works for the community, or simply hanging out with her friends, Van seemed overly occupied with her dedication to others.  

As a second generation immigrant, Van exemplified our hopes and dreams of building a better future for our children.  Young and I work really hard to ensure her a better life than ours and our parents’.  We also taught her the values of friendship, community and civic responsibilities.  Van learned quickly and thoroughly. 

Soon, Van will go to college.  And when people ask her what is the one thing that she likes to do most in life?  She will look beyond all of her materialistic good fortune, answer faithfully to her heart, and bring happiness to other people around her. Young and I will be sharing her so proudly and happily.