Happy Chinese New Year!

After not having written for so long here I am.  My Chinese friend Elizabeth Kwan and I called each other on Chinese new year's day wishing each other a happy and prosperous year.  I love it.  When comes April I will celebrate our Lunar New Year's Day in Myanmar also.  I love new years.  This brings me to my memory of eating rather feasting on Chinese New Year's Day at Elizabeth Kwan's house in Houston, TX.  There was so much food, so many varieties of them with each item having a significan meaning.  I remember eating Chicken dish for the prosperity, noodles dish for longevity, Shrimp for happiness and joy in life, sticky rice for binding our friendship and so on and so forth.  I don't remember why but eating dumplings, egg rolls, curry puff, curried ribs, beef dish, lotus roots, green vegetablesl, oranges and more.  We ate, we laugh, we talked, we ate more, talked more and laugh more.  What fun it was each year!  I met and ate with people I never met before.  They were all Chinese except for me and Will ( and once another white spouse of a Chinese friend).  I learned so much about the fun side of Chinese culture and enjoyed new friendships.  Elizabeth reminded me of my own mother in many ways - yes, mostly good and some not so good ways.  They are both connetors, entertainers, providers and hosts.  Many new friendships are born in their kitchen over their foods. I will always celebrate Chinese New Year's Day I decided. It's a happy decission!