The Hi and Low Points of My July 4th
2016
I am so honored to be invited to
participate in the National Independence Parade in DC. This is a major
event, which draws thousands of Americans to celebrate the America’s birthday
in the annual parade!
Hi-moment
I am happy to be a part of the
community to represent my country, Taiwan, in the event. For my children,
and grandchild, July 4th is a patriotic holiday. For me, it’s
an involvement to pay back what these two countries rewarded me the education,
work and happy life.
I am forever grateful when I was
performing the ethnic dance on the blue Hakka costumes down the Constitution
Avenue with the red umbrella twirling among the youngsters. I am the
oldest! My teacher was the little girl, an 8th grader, in
front of me. I was continuously counting the movements of 1, 2, 3, 4… 2
and 3, and 4…. I was totally oblivious of the thousands of red white and blue
flag-waving crowds on the curb. Yes, it’s a true hi-moment passing
the grandstand hearing the announcer introducing about Taiwan. Watch the YouTube
on 1:34… minutes of the 98 minutes parade coverage. The Taiwan float was
the 130th among the 132s submitted this year due to late
entry. It’s not easy to have all the volunteers to get involved for such
a big event. But, we made it. The sights and sounds indeed had an
unforgettable feeling and an invaluable experience even the wet rain drops did
not dampen my spirits.
It’s too good to believe that I have
really made the parade the 5th time ever since I was the President
of Taiwanese American Association in 2009.
Low-moment
I came home a little wet. That
did not bother me at all! However, when I was lugging the backpack from
behind the backseat of my car, before I stepped inside the house in the garage,
I tried to avoid stepping on the sneakers, and slippers scattering on the
steps. I tripped one of the shoes, snapped my right foot ankle. I
knew I was in pain. But I was not necessarily hurt or anything.
It’s the sharp pain that made me angry and I sat down on that darn step,
throwing frantically away all those shoes on the side. I nearly cried!
I did not call the doctor. It’s
July 4th! I did not check into the Emergency room 5:00 a.m.
just like Mimi, my tennis partner, when she had the allergy itching issue last
week. I just applied the Tiger Balm heating patch and wrapped around the
ankle with elastic bandage myself. I went to bed tired from marching all
day until 2:30 p.m. at the Parade.
I cancelled my tutor session the next
day and checked with my rehab doctor Dr. Charles Young. I was lucky to get 10:30 appointment.
It’s not a pretty scene. I hobbled around the house with the walking cane;
the right ankle heavily wrapped with the elastic and ACE braces and had the
funky looking shoe on. From doctor’s instruction - no swimming or even
dipping the foot in the Jacuzzi. Forget about Tuesday Zumba toning for 72
hours. Wow, this is truly a blow! It’s definitely a low-moment
of July 4th 2016!
Folks - I will take two weeks break
from Thursday 6:00 p.m. tennis.
Lesson learned – Please clear off
the stairway, hallway, step or any pathway of your house! You will not
realize the importance of it until you are injured like me. This is not a
kind of fluky incident, it’s something we can all avoid it by just slow down
and remove all those potential hazards! For
God’s sake, you are retired, why rushing all the time!
Good luck to you all! And enjoy
the 98 minutes YouTube and my picture with Ruth and Ann – Senior Folks!
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