I called my mom the other day. I swear to god, my peeps in Taiwan are nearly impossible to contact. Everyone has cell phones but they never answer their goddamn mobiles. And then the home phones never have fucking voice mail. It basically took me two days to finally talk to her. To my surprise, she sounds really good, like super energetic and chipper. She said she was having a blast with my aunt and her new feng shui friend: the other day, they laughed so hard, they were crying. Wow. For a joyless person, that’s pretty damn amazing.

Then she started telling me that my dad is too serious (i.e., he’s a buzzkill). He doesn’t know how to relax. I mean, yes, I have said the very same shit about BOTH my parents. And yet, I couldn’t help but come to his defense. I mean, hello, that’s what happens when people are burdened with a shit ton of responsibilities to take care of things for OTHER people!! Maybe if she and my brother could like handle their own shit, he could actually chill the fuck out! Seriously, I was reminded of John’s favorite scene in A Few Good Men, where Jack Nicholson is on the stand and he talks about people being such ingrates while they enjoy the freedom and protection that HE provides. For reals. Somehow I managed to voice it without annoyance, and my mother agreed that dad handles a lot…

Anyway, I’m thinking now that I may fly to Taiwan for a week after my dad gets his travel dates. I really hate visiting family, but things might be different with mom (and maybe dad) thinking more openly.  Plus, between my grandparents and my mom, mortality feels like a closer reality.