Thursday, July 28, 2016

The Hi and Low Points of My July 4th 2016 by Janice Chang



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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