Everyday, we should be grateful.

I watched a couple episodes from Aziz Ansari’s Master of None and the Parents one struck a chord with me. It’s fitting that today is the day we give thanks.

My family isn’t perfect - dysfunctional, even. But in the end, they are my family and I am grateful to have people in my life who support me in what I do. My dad, especially, has really loved us and given us everything. He gave up everything to give us this life. A life that knows no hunger, no homelessness, no poverty.

He told me yesterday that he doesn’t need much, just family. That’s why he doesn’t fight with my mom anymore even though she’s ridiculous and unreasonable sometimes. He just wants the whole family together again to make up for the time we lost in our childhood. He said he felt sorry me and my brother lost that growing up.

You see, my dad was an orphan. So it probably hurt him the most when my mother walked out of our lives. He had to raise us both on his own in a little apartment in Millbrae. My dad worked a lot and didn’t really know how play with us or take us out to things - he thought that by making more and more money, we would be okay. My dad wasn’t always there for us and it was tough growing up on our own and figuring out all our emotional and mental issues without our parents, but I think Dede and me turned out alright. He provided for us and we never had to worry about paying for food or tuition bills. And we owe it to my dad to make things work at home now. All he ever wanted was family. So although he doesn’t talk much, I can tell he’s happier now and grateful that we are finally together with my mom after 13 odd years.

I am thankful for my family.

But above all else, I am thankful for my dad.

謝謝