One good decision

I have lots of childhood memories, but none came close to my getting free ice-cream from the guy my sister dumped. Let me backtrack.

My sister, 19 yr my senior, a law-school graduate, took a management position at Vietnam Agri-Development Bank. Naturally those matchmakers circled with lists of suitors among them MD’s etc…

She instead chose a discharged Veteran with a Law background. He courted her, taught her how to stay confident and competent behind the wheels (always with me in tow as de facto chaperon).

Then, one Sunday, in the heat of an exchange and in the middle of Saigon traffic, she jumped out and slammed the passenger door, forgetting her youngest brother in the back seat. I froze, not knowing how to react. Moments later, I sat opposite my sister’s date, working on my ice-cream, while he was deep in thoughts (letting the good Bach-Dang ice-cream melt). What a date!

Long story short. They ended up marrying each other with coke cans dragging along the street and me running after their “Just Married” car, crying my heart out ( in Chinese movies, they took away the Last Emperor’s nanny, and he ran after her, hence, the scene directed by, of all directors, an Italian one).

Next day, he took her to visit us just to see me, an embarrassed young boy ( who cried on their happiest day). I have witnessed their many more happy days evidenced in 4 successful kids, who in turn, have kids of their own. Two of those grandchildren are now in college.

I should have ordered more ice-cream that day since they could have broken up (bad decision), since many evenings, I tried to get them order noodles for me as bribes for their privacy – the Atonement comes to mind. In life, there are always decisions that affect generations to come.

BTW, their youngest is now a successful MD and his college-bound oldest daughter is in pre-med. My sister made a good decision, not to go for societal obvious choices at the time (or even now): other suitors, MD or not.

From her womb she can make a bunch of MD’s. Just give her some time.