Nguyễn Một:

Đời người có năm cái hồi. Hồi thứ nhất là hồi nhỏ, rồi lớn biết yêu là hồi hộp, lúc trung niên là hồi đó, già như [bây giờ] là hồi xưa và cuối cùng là hồi trống [đưa mình ra nghĩa địa].

When I still worked in the office, I would see Ms. Consuelo Granados almost everyday at noon. She either waited for me to microwave my food or vice versa. We made small conversations. Through Ms. Granados’s limited English, I have learned about her family from her children to grandchildren. When she knew there was leftover food in the building, she would notify me. Sometimes, she would give me a homemade tortilla.

I have tremendous respect for Ms. Granados. She shows up everyday and keeps the place clean. Although we work in the same building, I didn’t realize that she is not a George Mason employee until she told me. Mason contracted her company, which pays her $10.50 an hour, to work in our building.

Today, I have learned that Ms. Granados had COVID-19. Her husband, pregnant daughter, and son-in-law were also infected. Her company did not provide its workers with masks. When she had severe symptoms, she was granted two weeks of paid leave. She returned to work after five months with a $670 hospital bill that went to collector. Then her grandson was born prematurely and hospitalized for 13 days.

When the school sent out the news, my heart broke for my friend and coworker. I am glad that the law school community had pulled together a relief fund through GoFundMe to help her out during this difficult time.

My thanks to Chris, a friend and a formal colleague at Vassar College, for supporting this blog. Readers like Chris make this blog free of advertisement and third-party tracking. If you enjoy reading this blog, please consider supporting my efforts. Chip in what you can.

Lắng nghe thầy Thích Chúc Đại giải thích bốn câu trong “Kinh Phước Đức” đầy ý nghĩa:

Tránh không làm điều ác
Không say sưa nghiện ngập
Tinh cần làm việc lành
Là phước đức lớn nhất.

Đọc trọn bài ở trang nhà Làng Mai.

Amanda Gorman, the nation’s first-ever youth poet laureate, on democracy and the orange monster:

The hill we climb

If only we dare

It’s because being American is more than a pride we inherit,

it’s the past we step into

and how we repair it

We’ve seen a force that would shatter our nation

rather than share it

Would destroy our country if it meant delaying democracy

And this effort very nearly succeeded

But while democracy can be periodically delayed

it can never be permanently defeated

In this truth

in this faith we trust

As children of Mrs. Anh Ngọc Lý, we deeply appreciate your expression of sympathy through phone calls, emails, and Facebook.

Due to the pandemic, she could not say goodbye to her family and friends for the last time. With technologies like Facebook and the web, family and friends can find out more information about our beloved Mrs. Lý.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the special love you have for her. For her memorial visitation, which will be held on Monday, January 4, 2021, we will have a live stream courtesy of the funeral home. If you would like to tune in, please visit Mrs. Anh Ngọc Lý’s obituary page from 9:00 am to 10:30 am (Eastern Time).

Là con cháu của bà Lý Ngọc Anh, chúng tôi vô cùng cảm động với những lời phân ưu qua điện thoại, email, và trên Facebook từ gia đình trong và ngoài nước cũng như từ bạn hữu gần xa.

Vì bà ra đi trong mùa COVID-19 nên không thể gặp mặt mọi người lần cuối. Nhờ có phương tiện Facebook và trang web nên gia đình và bạn bè được biết rõ thông tin về bà.

Chúng tôi thành thật cám ơn tình thương của gia đình và bạn bè đã dành cho bà. Trong lễ viếng sẽ được cử hành vào thứ Hai, ngày 4, tháng 1, năm 2021, chúng tôi sẽ có chương trình quay hình trực tiếp tại trang nhà quàn. Gia đình và bạn bè ở xa có thể vào trang cáo phó của bà Lý Ngọc Anh từ 9:00 sáng đến 10:30 sáng, giờ miền Đông (ET), để theo dõi.

Maria L. La Ganga writes for the Los Angeles Times:

Marilou, Michelle and Michael had not seen their husband and father in person for 36 days. They hadn’t held Bob’s hand or stroked his forehead. There’d been phone calls and texts and video meetings. But once he was placed on the ventilator, even his voice was silenced. In the cruel calculus of COVID-19, there was only one way they could be with him in the hospital.

If the ventilator was turned off. If he was about to die.

We’re now in similar situation and dilemma.

Fuck you for taking my dad. Fuck you for trying to take my mom too. Fuck you, COVID-19. Fuck you, the-worst-fucking-year-of-my-entire-life. Fuck you, 2020!

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