The Shui Kuen and Allen Chin Foundation

happy birthday, mom

Today is Mom's birthday.

Birthdays were always kind of a big deal around our house, but with the way we all doted on Mom, her's was even more of a big deal. When we were younger, we'd all go out for dinner. As we got older, we made sure to give Mom and Dad some alone time.

The thing I'll remember most though, was how Dad always seemed to surprise Mom with a gift from out of nowhere. Seeing as how they lived and worked together all the time, we would always be amazed how he could actually surprise her. Sometimes it would be jewelry, but usually there'd be some clothes. Dad always knew Mom's size and knew not only what would look great on her, but also what she'd love too. I can't remember even once when he got it wrong.

Maybe Dad can be with us all today and help make sure that all the things we got for Mom were just right too.

Happy Birthday, Mom.

thinking of dad

Tomorrow's the anniversary. We'll be announcing the scholarship. But I can't help but just be absolutely flattened remembering losing Dad so suddenly. I went back and posted the eulogy I gave at his funeral on that date last year.

If it's in your beliefs, please take a moment to say a prayer for Dad; if not, maybe take a moment to bring back a memory or two of him. One of mine is the time he surprised me by writing a long card to encourage me after the band broke up and I was moving back to New York City without a job or a place to live. He told me how proud he would always be of me, no matter what. It was just what I needed, just when I needed it - just like him.

-Calvin

two grandkids

So two little ones were added to the family this summer. And though it breaks our hearts that Dad's life ended before theirs began, we know Dad's watching over them still...

Spencer Allen Wu-Chin
Born June 19 to Angie and Calvin in Shanghai

   

Zachary Allen Chin
Born August 1 to Nadine and Christopher in Mountain View

 

 

See the resemblance?

   

a little miracle

I've been meaning to write, but have been struggling with the words. Sorry this is a bit late. We shared this news with the family a few weeks ago, but for the rest of the Foundation's friends...

Angie and I had been trying to have a baby for a long time. Almost a year. Our marriage and our careers and our life together had reached a place where we felt really ready. But no luck. We tried month after month, but with no success. So of course, we went through all the doctor's appointments and tests and "procedures" and etc... that couples try. But still no luck. We started thinking about more and more procedures and maybe adoption.

Then October, Angie and I spent a brief respite in Kyoto and Tokyo for the Chinese national holiday, before everything happened. When we came back, we were fortunate enough to get in a few phone calls with Dad. Just the usual stuff, checking in. He asked about our trip and our jobs. He didn't ask about the grandkids he was so excited to one day see.

I remember one time earlier this year, when in the garble of transpacific calling, Mom and Dad thought we had really big news to share. I could hear the smiles on both their faces as they thought we were going to tell them we were pregnant. Unfortunately, we had to tell them we weren't. But we told them we were planning on it, and that we hoped to share the news soon. I think they were both excited to know that it was coming soon and not to hear the usual deflections we might have given before we were ready.

And then the accident happened. And we never got to have that call with Dad.

But a couple of weeks ago, we got to have that call with Mom.

Somehow, despite the emotional rollercoaster we were on, we got pregnant. We found out when we were back in the States to say goodbye to Dad and help Mom. Angie was late in Michigan and felt a bit off in California, so we did a home test. That feeling of joy and relief after so much sadness and worry that week is impossible to describe. And Angie and I had to hold that feeling inside until we could safely share it with everyone this month.

Doing the math, it seems we got pregnant in Japan, but we both could swear that Dad must've put in a good word for us, and that despite not being here to share in all the joys to come, he was giving us one last gift.

But in a real sense, the baby will be a part of Dad, not just a gift from him. Through us, the baby will know Dad. And we'll try to share the love that Dad brought into this world with the newest member of the family. It's the least we can do. The baby couldn't be, our love, our family, our lives couldn't be, without him.

Thanks, Dad.

-Calvin

Happy Holidays!

It’s time for the family to gather again. Chris and Nadine have opened their house to us all. Mom has been slowly recovering and knitting. Craig arrived earlier in the week. Curtis and Jeff are en  route. Cliff came down last night. Calvin and Angie will join us over the phone.

Looking back on things, Mom and Dad always had the biggest grins on their faces when the family was together. They had a special twinkle in their eyes and their smiles just seemed bigger. It didn’t matter the reason, as long as we were together, they were happy.

As the kids got older, fewer of us returned for Thanksgiving, but we’d make it back for Christmas. The only year that we all didn’t make it back for Christmas was 2001. That year, some got together in California while others gathered in Michigan, but it didn’t really feel the same. That excitement and joy from all of us being together wasn’t completely there.

This year, the Chin clan will be separated again. Calvin and Angie are an ocean away, but still reachable by phone. And Dad. Well, Dad is within all of us. Always.

This holiday season has me a bit more reflective than times past. I am more appreciative of the friends and support that have rallied behind us. I am more in awe of the way our parents sacrificed for us. I am more grateful for my family and the family that is to come.

So, on behalf of the Chin crew, we thank you for all of the love and support you have given each of us. We hope to stay connected with you in the New Year.

I’m out.

–Cindy

email list

Sorry for a bit of testing going on this morning. I've worked through it though and want to announce a small change...

The email list managed by FeedBlitz (at your right), will no longer send you all posts from the blog. It will only send you posts that have a category of "SKAC Scholarship." This way if you're looking for updates about the scholarship itself, we can keep you posted as the application and award schedule gets underway.

However, if you've already subscribed with the form, then you're subscribed for all posts and will get the scholarship news as well as our occasional family posts, housekeeping, etc... We promise not to flood you, but if you'd like you or I can unsubscribe you from that list (just let me know, in the comments) and then you can re-subscribe to the new list if you like.

For those with a bit of technical acumen, and/or who are using feed aggregators, these are the feed URLs:

All posts: http://blog.skacfoundation.org/index.rdf

Scholarship posts: http://wuchin.typepad.com/skacfoundation/skac_scholarship.rdf

Thanks! C

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving came and went and all of the Chin kids were around to share in the festivities, with Calvin and Angie there via phone.

By Wednesday Craig, Curtis Jeff and Cliff came in to Mountain View to be with Mom for a grand Thanksgiving feast. Between episodes of Lost, Off to War, and America's Next Top Model the family was busy trying to figure out more of Dad's paperwork in order to take care of mom in the future.

On Thanksgiving we all drove over to the cemetary to visit Dad. It was a good chance to let all the kids and mom give thanks for all that Dad has done for us in the past. Any holiday was special for Dad because it meant family was going to be together, but part of me thinks that Dad's favorite was Thanksgiving.

The actual feast included a Cranberry glazed 20 lb. turkey prepared by Chris, Yams by mom, Mashed Potatoes from Cindy, Stuffing from Cliff and Jeff, Gravy by Craig, Corn, and rolls. Although the food was great, I have to admit I missed Dad's roasted chicken, which to me always seemed the more appropriate bird to cook on Thanksgiving. We didn't try it but I don't think Nadine would let us set up her chairs in order for Cindy and I to play hot lava like we did back in the Detroit restaurant.

Friday we continued the festivities by celebrating Craigs birthday a little early. Two car fulls of Chin's made there way over to Gombei a favorite Japanese restaurant for the Bay Area kids. Everyone stuffed their faces again and when we got back to Chris and Nadine's it was time to say our goodbyes.

Of course it ended all too soon and it was a shame Calvin and Angie weren't there with us.

-cliff

updates

Just posted a donors list here. The link will stay over to the right, next to the donations info. Nothing fancy, but we wanted to get the list up as quickly as possible to show our deep appreciation for all of the wonderful gifts that have already came into the foundation.

Also added some more pictures to Dad's photo album.

UPDATE: Added a small form for our emailing list too. It'll sign you up for our posts via email, same as our RSS feed. Great way to keep updated on the scholarship announcements.

Gobble, Gobble, Gobble!

Thanksgiving is just days away.  We'll all be gathering at Chris and Nadine's in Mountain View.  Cindy and Cliff are already in the Bay Area.  Jeff and Curtis will be driving up on Wednesday and Craig will be flying in from Michigan.  Calvin and Angie will also be there in spirit!

Thanksgiving has always held a special place for our family.  It was the one day of the year that Chung's Restaurant would be closed to customers.  My Mom and Dad would wake us up early to help prepare for the day's big family gathering, as many as a hundred and fifty mouths to feed!!  (When we were younger, my Dad even found time to sneak away to the big parade!)  Once at the restaurant, we would all pitch in.  Whether it was to butter the sweet yams, cut the Chinese chicken or carve the ham, we all did our part.  Dad was so happy to be surrounded by the ones he loved.

We'd set up the dining room in a giant "U" shape and everyone would have a seat.  Family members would come near and fear for a fabulous lunch.  A little TV would be set up in the corner so Dad could watch his Lions play their traditional Turkey Day Game.  Everyone would stuff themselves full.

Afterward, once most everyone had left, the fun would really start.  Our parents would play mah jong in the back while Craig, Chris, Curtis, Calvin, Cindy, Cliff, Waimon, Waikit, Wayne and occassional cousins and/or friends would take over the entire dining room.  We'd make a maze of all the chairs in the dining room, play tag and board games, watch TV and eat left overs.  Around 8 PM, we would serve all the parents who had stayed to play mah jong.  Sometimes, we would even experiment in the kitchen with our own cooking.  (Not a good idea, though the parents were good sports and ate what we made.)  So many great memories.

In this time of Thanksgiving, we look forward to spending it with family.  We'll create many new memories, but it just won't be the same without Dad.  However, he will be with us in spirit.  Make sure to spend this holiday with the ones you love.

Curtis

photos uploaded

I've added a small gallery of family pictures, click here, or in the sidebar at the right for photos like these: