Wishing You Well Mr Hung

We got an unusual phone call two days ago. The number was from our all around handyman. We haven’t heard from him for a while because we haven’t needed any work done. So when we answered the phone, the call was actually from his wife who left a message. She was hysterical and extremely upset. Her husband was admitted to the hospital with a heart attack. She wanted to call our son who is a cardiovascular surgeon but dialed us by mistake. So we called back and told her we would let him know. Mr. Hung and his wife are so very well known to all of us. They just about renovated every room in our son’s Capitol Hill rowhouse. And when we needed things done, they were more than happy to help - regardless of the size of the project. One of our bathrooms was gutted and renovated along with the entire floor in one of our tiny condos on Capitol Hill. Mr Hung was there for any emergencies and beyond. He did work on the entire block of Capitol Hill neighborhood by word of mouth. They would oftentimes bring Vietnamese treats and food and taught us how to use chop sticks. When we moved to northern Virginia they were here to hang pictures and mirrors as well as repair the kitchen sink and put in a new faucet and hang light fixtures. So we were very surprised and saddened with this news - especially because he was in what we thought was perfect health. Our son told us that he is badly damaged and on a heart king machine which doesn’t bode well. We know they have a lot of family here and there isn’t much that we can do. It’s time like these when you ponder your past and future and become thankful for whatever you have. We are thinking of you Mr Hung and wishing you the best. 

Vietnam War Memorial

Before the inauguration we took a ride to the tidal basin to get some photos for the 52frames photo challenge. We ended up walking from the FDR Memorial to the Martin Luther King Memorial to the Korean War Memorial to the Lincoln Memorial - and finally to the Vietnam Memorial. We hadn’t walked that way for a very long time. Most of our morning walks were around the Capitol at the other end of the mall. We lived on Capitol Hill for thirteen years and I worked at the Library of Congress for ten years. I’m glad we aren’t there now because it’s like the green zone with barbed wire fencing around the perimeter. If I was still working at the library I would need to pass by armed guards with long rifles. My workplace was two blocks away from the house. Anyway, when we were taking the “tour” we were about the only people in sight. It’s unusual to get photos of a significant landmark with no one else in it. I’ve known and worked with several people who served in the Vietnam war. Luckily, my family was not affected. There are a lot of war memorials in DC. It’s a shame there are so many. 

The Art of Using Chopsticks

I have often admired people who have mastered using chopsticks. I never learned how to, and am rather anxious to eat my food, so fiddling with things I can't use just won't do. Since we had our tiny condo renovated, we have come to know our Vietnamese friends quite well. They are actually Chinese, and moved to Vietnam many years ago, and have been in the US more years than that. They will oftentimes bring food varieties from their native country to our house so we can try them out. Most recently, we had a dish made from papaya, basil, beef jerky, and some sort of hot sauce. With this, they brought along chopsticks. So both my husband and I got an individual lesson on the art of using them. My husband picked it up right away. I, on the other hand, just couldn't get the knack of it. It didn't matter if I used the skinny ones of the thicker ones. Maybe it was because I had an audience? I reverted to using the good old fork, but did give it another try before all was said and done. I finally got it, but not with any great finesse. My husband was so thrilled with his new utensils that he tried it out on a fried egg the next day. It was too slippery to succeed. As for the foodstuffs? I think I prefer more bread and something with a little more familiar taste. Although I have to say it was fun to get acquainted with the favorites from this side of the world.