I missed Sun Su so much during the two weeks I was away.

Sun Su and two of his girl friends from church.

THE F-WORD

MY MOM: “Sun Su ya, say 'fohk.'”

SUN SU: “….”

MY MOM: “Say ‘fohk’.”

SUN SU: “… Fok!”

MY MOM: “That’s right! You’re so smart. Fohk.”

SUN SU: “Fok! Fok! Fok!”

ME: “What the--? What are you teaching him?”

MY MOM: “I’m teaching him how to say ‘fohk.’”

ME: “Fork? You’re saying it wrong and now it sounds like he’s saying ‘f*ck.’”

SUN SU: “Fok! Fok! Fok!”

ME: “Quit teaching him that.”

MY MOM: “But he’s calling it a spoon.”

ME: “We’ll teach him later. We can’t have him going around saying ‘f*ck’ everywhere. Let him say spoon for now.”

MY MOM (picking up spoon): “Alright alright. Sun Su, what’s this?”

SUN SU: “…POON!”

ME: “Oh sweet baby Jesus.”

Later that evening. While watching a rental movie after someone says the word “f*ck.”

SUN SU: “Fok!”

AMY: “Did he just say f*ck?”

ME: “My mom taught him that. I swear.”

Puppy love. Or bribery with mochi. Like there's a difference. (I'm in the reflection.)

________________________________________

THE OTHER F-WORD

Sun Su saw his first fireworks last night. Amy was too tired to go out so we just watched glimpses of the pyrotechnics over the tree tops on our street.

At first Sun Su was scared by the loud noises outside, but then he was mesmerized by the unexpected colors. I had wished we had taken him out, but it was nearing the end of the show anyways and he was tired.

Normally I'm not excited by "colorful lights in the sky" but watching them with Sun Su and Amy by the window reminded me what they are all about again. A word that too often is used for the wrong reasons. A word that when leaders use it, sounds false. But when the people use it, rings true. A word that, by it's very definition, should be free of political agendas, nationality, or even patriotism. A word that perhaps means the most to those who do not have it.

Freedom.

Lil beggars fishing for pennies in the wishing fountain.

________________________________________

HOPELESS

Right after the big heroic train-stopping scene in Spider-Man 2.

AMY (unimpressed): "Why was that so hard for him? Didn't he get his powers back?"

ME: "Wha-? What! He's not Superman! He's not God! Can you do that?"

AMY: "But he's a superhero."

ME: "Arghgh. Sigh."

There is just no pleasing some people. And I'm married to one.

Hey! Hey! Watch it little girl! Don't get fresh! My boy hasn't gotten into college yet.