Community

Fun, fantastical and so very fabulous. Plus, drama. Who could not want a little bit of community? Be it with the one friend you’ve known since grade school or the multitude of people you might hang out with at any given time: Saturday hikers, Tuesday night bowlers, Friday happy hour gatherers, perhaps even the humans living with you – these are your “people.” And, despite the rousing discussions that may leave you in a hot mess, there’s a magnet that continues to draw you into community that is inherently part of our DNA. I’m sure there’s a study or 4 about how humans need each other… yes, even the professed introverts need others.

As the world started spinning again post-Covid lockdown, the extroverts (yes, meeeee) were tentative, yet delighted to reconnect. I wasn’t always met with the same level of enthusiasm (which, I’m told, can be overwhelming and loud). Yet, if you give community a chance, there’s is something pretty special when connection happens.

A couple of weeks ago, my extra large family gathered to officially “close” the 2-week celebration of the Chinese / Lunar New Year. This event, “saan neen” or close the year, is always a big meal where the kids look forward to practicing their Cantonese and receiving lucky red envelopes from their elders. Side note: Did you know… Neen (saan neen) was a mystical monster in China? The people figured out that it was terrified of the color red. So, they painted their front doors red and hung red decorations to scare away the monster and bring in the good fortune. Also, second side note: “saan” is not to be confused with the drinking game (which I have “never” played before) ha, ha.

As a 4th gen. Chinese-American (1860 – great grandfather Fung arrived in San Francisco), I am so grateful for these moments of connection to our ancestry and to pass on a few traditions to my kids. Our family gatherings are always loud and filled with laughter, guaranteed!

And, to my delight, I am learning so much more about our family community. Along with cousins, (one is a publisher, the other is a history gatherer), we are building an archive of oral and written history of the Chinn family (my mom’s side). We’re tracing our grandfather’s journey from when he touched U.S. soil in the early 1900s as a young boy, attended a Chinese Mission in Santa Barbara where he learned to cook and clean, and then eventually settled in NorCal where he was a restauranteur and had 12 children. Today, five of the 12 children remain, including my mom who turned 90 this past December!

^{Happy 90th, Mom! Nellie’s family: Great grandson, Zane and Granddaughters Aly & Christina with Zane}

I can’t wait to share the twists and turns of life with the Chinns, as they grew up Chinese in Emeryville and Oakland’s Chinatown, finding their voices and their community while surrounded by a constantly changing political landscape. Hold onto your hats… there may be a gambling hall, baseball, lots of pie and a few other very interesting tidbits to come!

As we March into March, I wish you deeper community this year. Belonging is something we all seek. Take the initiative and renew your community. Make a date. Keep a promise. Show up. Be present. Practice active listening. Your heart will be fuller because you did.

Blessings!

Chalk art for my church! http://www.pathwaycc.co