In the 27 years of my life so far, I have never been able to keep a plant alive. Several years ago, I tried to raise a spider plant, which I was told is impossible to kill. Well, one day, I put it out on the patio and forgot about it. Then, it rained for three days straight. A couple of years ago, when we had just started dating, my boyfriend bought me the most beautiful red orchid. He asked the florist for very specific instructions on how to care for it. But, I went out of town two weeks after receiving this incredibly thoughtful gift, turned my air conditioner off in the middle of July, and it sweat to death. Last year, I received a tomato plant and a little herb planter with basil, oregano, thyme, and Italian parsley. I managed to keep the herbs alive for two months, but I did not get a single tomato.
Now, onto this year. I'm determined to keep things alive! I planted some basil and sage and yellow peppers (I have officially given up on tomatoes). I also bought a couple of begonias and a limelight dracaena. Keeping my fingers crossed that this year will be the year, because despite all my failed attempts, I just know I love plants and I would love to have a successful garden.
What does this have to do with my father's book, you ask?
I just finished a chapter where my father talks about my great-grandmother's love for gardening. When she lived at Tao Sheng Lo with her mother-in-law, she did not have the freedom to garden. That was a job left up to the servants. But when they moved to Shanghai, my great-grandmother managed to turn their tiny little courtyard into a beautiful flower garden. Her favorite flower was the rose. She had lovely rose bushes with big blooming pink, yellow, and deep red roses. What I love about her, among many other things, is what she did with the roses. She planted them, cared for them and, of course, admired them. She plucked them and put them in vases around the house. But, after they would wilt, she would pull the petals and put them in water to preserve the fragrance. Then, when the water would evaporate and the petals would dry, she would crush them and make what we would now consider little potpourri pouches. Brilliant woman, my great-grandmother.
Maybe it sounds silly and shallow, but I like knowing that I share this love for gardening with my great-grandmother, even though my skills could take a little more cultivating. While I admire and respect her will and strength, I know I will never completely understand what she went through in life because I will never have life experiences as difficult or as frightening as hers.
But through a love for gardening, I can connect with her just a little and possibly experience a tiny fraction of her life.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Good People
Before starting this process, I knew very little about my great-grandfather, Nai Nai's father. I knew he was famous and very smart. I knew he was one of the top leaders in the Nationalist Party, working with Chiang Kai-shek. But I did not know who he really was. What kind of man was he? Husband? Father?
As I've mentioned in the earlier posts, I strongly identify with my great-grandmother. But I'm at a place in the book now where my father is beginning to focus more on my great-grandfather. Just based on what I've read so far, I have such a deep admiration for him.
I must admit, during the first several chapters of the book, when he was away at Beijing University, I almost resented him. He left my great-grandmother alone, to live in a house where she was terrorized every day by her mother-in-law and sisters-in-law. But just when I really began to ask where the heck was my great-grandfather, my father would include enough little nuggets to show his strength of character and renew my trust in him. Even though tradition bid against it, he vowed to care for his daughters and build a life for his family. In order to get his wife away from that horrifying environment, he moved the family to Shanghai where he had a job as an entry-level editor at a publishing house. He made very little money. But yet, this man, who grew up in a wealthy home, worked for every penny he earned.
The last several chapters have given me great insight into my great-grandfather's brilliance. (I'm on chapter 20, by the way) Two major incidents have happened so far. First, my great-grandfather was able to stop the sale of a huge Shanghai factory to a German company. Representing two big stakeholders of the company, my great-grandfather went to a stakeholders meeting and essentially said the company was breaking its own policy by agreeing to the sale without a vote. And the two-thirds majority needed for a sale actually voted against it. Had my grandfather not stood up at that meeting and spoken up, the company would have been sold to Germany. Because of that, my great-grandfather became famous, almost overnight.
The second major incident involved an article he wrote. On May 30, 1925, labor workers protested in the streets of Shanghai. Shanghai Municipal Police officers (made up of British officers) opened fire and killed several workers. As you can imagine, this caused massive fury among Chinese people. How can foreigners come to China and kill Chinese people? My great-grandfather, having studied law at Beijing University, was asked to write an article about how these British officers broke British law. His article appeared in the largest Shanghai newspaper at the time. As a result, he was taken to court by the British consulate. I don't know what happens next because this is about as far as I've gotten.
I have to say, what's impressed me the most, so far, have been the conversations my great-grandfather has had with Nai Nai, who is only three-years-old at this point. For example, I mentioned how my great-grandfather worked very hard for every penny. Despite his family's wealth, he did not get anything from them. Therefore, he and his family lived a modest life. My great-grandfather wore a lot of old clothes. On numerous occasions, my great-grandfather was treated poorly based on his appearance. He told Nai Nai each time, never judge people based on what they look like on the outside. It's their mind, intellect, character that's important. Treat people with respect and you will receive it in return.
It makes me feel good to know this is where I come from.
As I've mentioned in the earlier posts, I strongly identify with my great-grandmother. But I'm at a place in the book now where my father is beginning to focus more on my great-grandfather. Just based on what I've read so far, I have such a deep admiration for him.
I must admit, during the first several chapters of the book, when he was away at Beijing University, I almost resented him. He left my great-grandmother alone, to live in a house where she was terrorized every day by her mother-in-law and sisters-in-law. But just when I really began to ask where the heck was my great-grandfather, my father would include enough little nuggets to show his strength of character and renew my trust in him. Even though tradition bid against it, he vowed to care for his daughters and build a life for his family. In order to get his wife away from that horrifying environment, he moved the family to Shanghai where he had a job as an entry-level editor at a publishing house. He made very little money. But yet, this man, who grew up in a wealthy home, worked for every penny he earned.
The last several chapters have given me great insight into my great-grandfather's brilliance. (I'm on chapter 20, by the way) Two major incidents have happened so far. First, my great-grandfather was able to stop the sale of a huge Shanghai factory to a German company. Representing two big stakeholders of the company, my great-grandfather went to a stakeholders meeting and essentially said the company was breaking its own policy by agreeing to the sale without a vote. And the two-thirds majority needed for a sale actually voted against it. Had my grandfather not stood up at that meeting and spoken up, the company would have been sold to Germany. Because of that, my great-grandfather became famous, almost overnight.
The second major incident involved an article he wrote. On May 30, 1925, labor workers protested in the streets of Shanghai. Shanghai Municipal Police officers (made up of British officers) opened fire and killed several workers. As you can imagine, this caused massive fury among Chinese people. How can foreigners come to China and kill Chinese people? My great-grandfather, having studied law at Beijing University, was asked to write an article about how these British officers broke British law. His article appeared in the largest Shanghai newspaper at the time. As a result, he was taken to court by the British consulate. I don't know what happens next because this is about as far as I've gotten.
I have to say, what's impressed me the most, so far, have been the conversations my great-grandfather has had with Nai Nai, who is only three-years-old at this point. For example, I mentioned how my great-grandfather worked very hard for every penny. Despite his family's wealth, he did not get anything from them. Therefore, he and his family lived a modest life. My great-grandfather wore a lot of old clothes. On numerous occasions, my great-grandfather was treated poorly based on his appearance. He told Nai Nai each time, never judge people based on what they look like on the outside. It's their mind, intellect, character that's important. Treat people with respect and you will receive it in return.
It makes me feel good to know this is where I come from.
My great-grandfather with two of his sons
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