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Published: November 23rd 2009
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Pokhara
Lake with mountain behind it! I am in Pokhara, Nepal right now! It is absolutely beautiful with nature all around me. There's a beautiful lake and the view of Himalayas right behind it. The air is fresh and the people are down to earth. The highlight of my trip was when I rowed a boat to a random island that nobody went to and just went on my own adventure. I was ripping through the forest and then I heard the sound of water somewhere. So I decided to create a new path to follow the sound. Behold, it was a small waterfall with a pond under it. It was so beautiful, it looked like a natural jacuzzi with a waterfall over it. I couldn't resist, I was feeling too adventurous so I took off my clothes and just jumped in! It was a great discovery and it reminds me how much beauty in this world is left unexplored by human beings.
The girls in our family I was supposed to be a girl, you know? Yep, everyone was really excited and my aunt Julie bought a bunch of pink stuff for babies. The doctors told my parents it was a 95%!c(MISSING)hance that
I was going to be a girl or something like that. Ha! Nature knew better, 50% is the fair chance nature gives to every person. They discovered I was a boy when I popped out of there! A chubby little boy and not a baby girl. And I was born on August 28, 1986… the most embarrassing time of month for any man, haha, why? Because the horoscope is a Virgo. If you’re not a man, then you just wouldn’t understand… Everyone else gets such a cool horoscope like a lion or a scorpion, but I get a Virgin Women?? Come on! No wonder I never got into reading horoscopes. I mean, it’s pretty obvious what the fortune of a Virgin Women isn’t it? “Today, you will get very close, but that’s it, you’ll just get very close. Better luck tomorrow, but destiny doubts it… forever.” Nevertheless, my mom and Rachel are always reminding me how much of a Virgo I really am. Telling me how there’s a really sensitive side that resembles a daughter. Don’t get me wrong, I would have been a pretty awesome daughter, hehe, but everything happens for a reason. Our family was a male dominant
one where 3 boys (yes, including my dad) were creating havoc for my mother, haha!
And along came Julie. All our cousins have a sister but my bro and I are the only ones without one. But my bro finally brought Julie into our lives and it made all the difference. The wedding day was so beautiful for Jon and her. The ceremony took place at a Ritz Carlton Hotel at Dana Point(near Laguna Beach), California. It was outdoors on a cliff, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The grey clouds were looming over the sky but an amazing thing happened. Right after Jon and Julie said ‘I do’, a ray of light peered through the clouds and gleamed in the ocean. Remember that sis? That was beautiful. Then the reception began and it was time for my best man speech. I was planning on writing the speech down but I decided not to because one of Jon’s childhood friend, Jason, wrote his speech down and it was terrible. I mean, absolutely terrible, he decided to tell a joke to everybody (including my grandparents) about how Jon will have to buy less condoms now that he’s married….err…inappropriate….My mom and dad
were like, “What the hell”? and I was the only one laughing because I realized how awkward that moment was. But anyways, that was the first time I’ve ever spoken in front of so many people and I spoke from my heart so it came easily. Something along the lines of
…And that’s why I love Julie, because bro, even though I know that I’ll never be able to pay you back for all the times you’ve stood up for me, pulled through for me and taught me everything you know… Atleast, I know that on this day and for the rest of your life, you’re going to be happy, with Julie. And that’s more than a little brother can ever ask for a big brother. I love you guys. She’s a perfect sister because she’s just like Jon, except she’s a girl, and that officially makes her much cooler than the both of us. Believe it or not, she’s even better at bargaining for prices than any of the Changs. She even secretly wrote Kev Wu’s recommendation to help him get into UPenn, haha. And she’s deadly at poker… she’s always bluffing the hell out of Miles and Luis.
That’s a pretty damn cool sister to have. The family finally got a girl in our lives that I can call a sister and my parents can call a daughter. 3 boys and 2 girls.
And then comes… a baby girl! Julie is 6 months pregnant with a baby girl in her! The Chang family has always dreamed of a baby girl in the family and now she is on her way. I think of her every night and even in my meditations. It’s miraculous that something can be materialized from thin air. Usually, atoms and molecules cannot be created, only transferred, but to see an infant materialize from invisible atoms is such beautiful science of nature. Creation at the purest level. What’s more remarkable is the connection that Julie and her baby shares. I find it poetic that there are two hearts beating harmoniously inside of her. It’s like Julie’s heart is beating loudly for the baby’s heart to listen so that her tiny heart can learn to develop rhythm. The two hearts are jammin’ together, creating loving music. No wonder people say mothers have a stronger link with their kids than the dad, their hearts were completely
connected at one point. Now the score is three boys to three girls, how strange that after 23 years of a male dominant household, we’re finally tied at 3.
I’m also really happy for my mom because she can finally relate with girl’s stuff more. Although she is really getting into sports now. She’s a diehard Yankees fan now who comes late to meetings sometimes just so she can finish the game, haha, just like me! And she’s been watching some NBA too, although she was rooting for the Magic and not the Lakers in the finals…yes… my mom’s one of the ‘Lakers-Haters’ and it’s a dark family secret that my brother and I are trying hide from the public, haha! But now my mom can finally enjoy some good quality ‘girls shopping’ with Julie and this baby girl and not have to worry about us impatient boys.
Baby girl, (btw, what are you going to name her, Jon?) you must have been Mother Teresa in your past life to be born into this family. You got Jon and Julie, the happiest couple, as your loving parents. You got a grandpa that’s more spontaneous and adventurous than any
Secret Spot
This was the waterfall that i found! with a nice little pond under it. sooo nice 20 year old. You got a grandma that that’ll spoil you with love and gifts. And you got Uncle Vic to… actually, I’m not sure what I’ll teach you quite yet… but I’ll try and teach you how to laugh more than cry! You’re all set kid, all you got to do is come out safe and sound. But in the mean time, give my sister a break and stop kicking in there, yeah? 3 more months and you will finally see the beautiful world for yourself. We'll be ready for you baby girl.
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Julie
non-member comment
Hello Uncle Vic!
Vic, thank you for dedicating this blog post to the girls in the Chang family! Come February and in the many years to come, the boy-girl dynamics in our family will change and it's going to be a blast! No kidding when you say that this baby girl is one lucky duck. If she doesn't come out smiling, I don't know what went wrong! Seriously, her DNA is from the happiest and most joyful family I know. We are ready for her to enter this world of love. You're going to be the best uncle because you're so generous with your kindness and I hope you can teach her your passion for life and adventure. If there is one thing (out of many) that she gets from her uncle, I hope it's your free spirit and love of laughter. Each time I feel the baby kick or tumble, I always say "WHOA babe, hang in there, just a couple more months." But we are so so ready for her NOW! I am getting impatient but I can't even begin to explain how much I love being pregnant. No joke. Never thought I would make such a statement. It's simply the best feeling and I love that we have a connection that is just me and her for 9+ months. Still no decision on the name yet. We'll keep it a surprise and everyone on their toes until her birth. =) Any suggestions? By the way, your speech was the only thing that made me cry at the wedding!!! Not during the ceremony or exchanging of the vows, but YOUR speech. Haha. You have made me feel a part of the family from day 1 so I must say that it is actually my honor to call you my bro. Love you. -Julie