Capturing Life
This past memorial day weekend Emily and I went to LA to attend Mike Chan’s wedding (her college friend). I’ve been to a few weddings and each of them have their moments. At Em’s sister’s wedding, THAT moment was when her father was recalling his early years back in New York. He reminisced about his memory of coming home, entering that backyard and seeing his little daughter’s run up to him to greet him.
At Mike Chan’s wedding, THAT moment was when Mike couldn’t contain his emotion while saying his vows and Sandy, his wife, reaches over to dab the tears away from his eyes. Awww. If that doesn’t make you laugh or feel good you’re most certainly made out of metal and circuitry.
It was a combination of this and spending the weekend scanning old family albums that put me in a reflective mood. Life has its moments where it’s sweeter than chocolate, brighter than the summer sun and grander than a snow-capped mountain. While we watched the requisite slideshow during the reception, I couldn’t help but think that I want to capture that. Well, WE ALL want to capture that, don’t we? That moment where a father gives a daughter away, that moment where vows of love and commitment are made, that moment where friends come together to share a good time.
And yet, as I continued to watch the slideshow, I realized how wrong I was. Things like this cannot be caught or held. And, if you can, it can be held for only so briefly. It’s like capturing smoke in your hands. You think you’ve got it but when you open your palms a crack to peek inside, it’s gone.
Time always wins. That doesn’t mean you lose. Once you accept that time wins, you learn that it’s more fun to surf on the wave of life than to swim against it trying to go back to a time and place that is no longer there. Catch the next wave, for the last wave is gone.
It seemed like just yesterday, and not 30 years ago, that my parents came to america.
And it was just last week when my brother and I were making trouble and having fun doing it.
Then our parents had their revenge by forcing us to wear traditional korean clothing. (My mom clearly is having a great time while my brother and I are miserable. I have the “Have A Day” face.)
I don’t know how to conclude such an entry. Something like this has no beginning or end. I can only say that I long to continue a life of living, loving, laughing, crying, seeking, finding, discovering and, most important of all, feeling.
Btw, my mom’s birthday was last week. I love you mom! And she clearly loves me. 
May 30 2006 07:50 pm | ?:]
June 4th, 2006 at 11:25 am
You look just like your mom! Especially in the pic where she’s dressing you up.
Aw…
June 6th, 2006 at 7:52 pm
oh those cheeks!