Tôi mai mắn được bà xếp hiền và dễ dãi. Làm việc dưới bà hơn năm năm nhưng bà chưa hề một câu phàn nàn những khi tôi cần lấy ngày nghỉ khẩn cấp như những con bệnh hay có việc tư phải làm. Thậm chí mỗi ngày đi làm không đúng và đủ giờ bà không hề thắc mắc.

Bà tin tưởng tôi nên công việc tự tôi sắp xếp. Khi đổi ông Dean mới bà không báo cáo thẳng đến ổng mà phải qua một ông mới dưới tay ông Dean. Vì tôi dưới tay bà nên tôi có thêm một ông xếp lớn nữa. Ông ấy và ông Dean cần gì thì qua thẳng tôi. Vợ ông Dean cũng qua thẳng tôi. Rồi càng ngày ai cần thiết kế hay trang web cũng email thẳng đến tôi. Nên công việc càng lúc càng nhiều. Không cần báo cáo bà xếp cũng hiểu được công việc hằng ngày của tôi nên cũng không cản trở mà chỉ ủng hộ tôi.

Cái tốt là tôi có được cái trọn quyền quyết định. Đôi lúc phải tự mình đối phó với những người nhân vật khó tính hoặc khó phục vụ, nhất là các ông thầy dạy luật. Nhiều lúc cũng căn thẳng lắm nhưng biết làm sao đây. Công việc là thế có cái này mất cái kia. Tóm lại có được một người xếp như bà ấy là cái phước của tôi. Vì niềm tin và tình thân bà ấy dành cho tôi, tôi lúc nào cũng cố gắng để không làm bà thất vọng hoặc mất mặt. Lúc nào tôi cũng nghĩ thế nhưng chưa bao giờ tâm sự với bà ta. Tôi không thích mang tiếng nịnh bợ. Có lẽ hiểu nhau là đủ rồi không cần nói ra.

Reading my nephew’s blog reminds me of the young me. He expresses his anger toward his parents and Vietnamese parenting. Although I disagree with his generalization, I understand his point of view. I also accept his criticism toward me. I have my flaws and I will try to do better.

He is a bright young kid with lots of potentials. He’s taking up graphic design because I have inspired him. He has been doing quite a bit of design work on his own. I asked him what he would like to do when he grow up and he has already determined to be a designer.

Like me, he started to blog. Through his writing, I get to know him more than I do in real life. I feel his anguish and joy. I hope that he will continue to write to get the rage out of his system.

He is a wonderful kid and I will always be there for him whenever he needs me. I wish he could talk to me. I will help him with whatever I can.

Cuối tuần về thăm mẹ và cùng mẹ đến thăm cậu mợ Sáu. Vài tháng trước nghe tin cậu té và vào nhà thương nhưng chưa có dịp viếng thăm. Nay cậu tuy khỏe hẳn nhưng rất yếu. Tuy vậy cậu vẫn vui tánh. Cậu bị lãng tai nên hỏi cậu sao không đeo máy nghe cậu trả lời rằng, “nghe nhiều chi cho mệt. Để tai nó nghỉ.” Khi hỏi về thằng con trai duy nhất của cậu năm nay đã hơn bốn mươi chừng nào lấy vợ cậu trả lời, “chừng nào nó muốn lấy nó lấy. Ngu gì xúi dại. Lấy vợ là đưa vào cái khổ.” Mợ đưa mắt liếc cậu.

Tâm sự một chúc thì cậu mợ bảo ở lại ăn trưa. Đáng lẻ muốn về nhưng nghe mợ nấu món canh bầu với cá muối chiên và đậu que xào nên thôi cũng nén lại ăn. Canh ngọt, cá béo, nước mắm mặn, và ớt cay. Đã lâu không được ăn những món quê hương đậm đà. Cậu nhiệt tình cứ gấp mãi cá qua cho tôi. Sau khi ăn xong mợ đem trong tủ lạnh ra món dưa gang đã với đường và nước đá. Còn nhớ lúc nhỏ tôi rất thích ăn món này. Lúc về tôi còn xin mợ cho thêm các món đem về cho vợ ăn.

Tuy chỉ ở vài tiếng trong căn nhà ở miền quê Lancaster của cậu mợ tôi cảm thấy rất nhẹ nhàng và thoải mái. Cuộc sống của cậu mợ giản dị và không chạy theo cái tấp nập của cái xả hội trên mạng. Cám ơn sự yêu thương và tình nghỉa của cậu mợ dành cho con.

What have you been up to these days? I just realize that the last time we met each other was almost a decade ago. Isn’t that crazy? We have a lot of catching up to do and I don’t even know where to start. Well, I got married and blessed with a very cute boy. His name is Duke. I named him after Duke Ellington. I always wanted you to meet him one of these days, but I can’t find you.

Last week I called your office, but an operator at Millersville answered instead. He told me that the Upward Bound program is no longer with the University and he didn’t know where you had moved to or if the program has been closed. I went to the main Upward Bound site, but I couldn’t find any information on you. I looked up the phonebook and saw your name listed in Lancaster area. I dialed the numbers immediately hoping to hear your voice. The phone rang four times then someone picked up but slammed right back down. At that moment, I realized that I have lost contact to the person that played an important role in my life.

I don’t know if you knew it or not, but you were someone that got me to where I am today. If it was not for the extraordinary program you ran, I don’t know where or how I would end up. Right from seventh grade, Upward Bound was already prepared me for my future. Those summertime living and studying on Millersville campus were some of the fondest memories of my life.

Your program landed me on all the colleges I have applied and I picked my first choice. After my first semester at La Salle University, I was struggling and wanted to drop out. I came to you asking if I could transfer back to Millersville. You picked up the phone and just like that I got in, but then you also encouraged me to give La Salle one more semester. If I still feel the same, I could always come to Millersville. It was the best advice you had given me. I went back to La Salle and I found what I wanted to do.

In the summer of my sophomore year, I went back to Lancaster and needed a temporary job. I called you up and you put me in charge of the Upward Bound web site. My task was to update the content, but I surprised you with a whole new redesign. You were thrilled and I had my first site for my portfolio. You put me in contact with other departments in Millersville and I began to build up my resume.

I still remember your reaction when I showed you “Vietnam In Memoriam,” my latest motion work at the time. Although you didn’t understand the words, you could feel the emotion from the vocalists accompanying the war-related photos. A couple weeks later, you took me to a conference, which filled with professors, about digital storytelling. The piece moved them and they asked me to explain my intention behind it. It was nerve-wrecking, but at the same time rewarding.

Until this day, I have never once forget the guidance and encouragement you had given me. I have always looked up to you as a role model. What I respect you the most is that as a successful African-American woman, you always embraced diversity. Ms. Cross, if you read this open letter by any chance, please contact me.

Sincerely yours,

Donny

I can still remember the exact words my cousin Phuong told me: “I stay this way to take care of my mum.” Meaning she’ll stay single to look after my aunt who suffered from a stroke that almost took her life. That was twelve years ago and my cousin was in her forties. Although my aunt has recovered, she is still paralyzed and in need of personal care including washing up, changing diaper, and eating. My cousin, being the oldest daughter in the house, has single-handedly taken care of her mom.

My cousin not only has a huge heart, but also a great personality. Prior to looking after her mom, she ran and managed the family’s grocery store. It was her hard work, honestly and smiles that drove the business. Customers loved her. She was so kind that if you could convince her, she would allow you to buy first and pay later. This character of her drove my aunt crazy because many customers wouldn’t pay her back. She ended up covered the lost out of her own pocket.

As for me, she had played an important role in my career. It was her who loaned my mom $1,200 to buy my first PC. In my sophomore year, I knew I wanted to be a web designer, which required a computer to work on my skills. My mom didn’t work at the time; therefore, her finance was limited. Thankfully my cousin covered it for us and mom would pay her back each month. Yet, I offered to pay up after I landed my first freelance gig.

That’s my sweet cousin. The things she has done for all of us are immeasurable, and she never mentioned any of it. She doesn’t need to seek for any recognition. Deep down our heart, we know how much we appreciate her and how proud we are of her.