If some geeky guy on TV—dressed in a tacky blue suit, a 2.3 mile comb-over covering his large noggin, and pair of thick coke bottle glasses resting on his overgrown nose—said, “According to the calculations performed by myself and my esteemed colleagues at Haaaaarvard . . . it can be concluded that the Beijing Olympic Summer Games of 2008 has affected more lives than any other Olympic Games held before it.” I would believe him in a second. It sure has affected our lives.
Among other ways in which it has affected us, and the most cutting and hard to bear of all ways, is that we are so often reminded of the family we left behind back in the U.S. of A. Some ways in which they are connected with the Olympics are completely expected; we are watching the opening ceremony, and we think, Pa would really like this part, Sharon would love that thing, Fernando would be so excited to see that, Mom would enjoy that, KT would miss China when she saw that, Miranda would actually sit still through that part, Sammy . . . man we miss Sambo! Other ways that they are connect don’t make any sense except for in the twisted mind of Xiaoyu Fan Belnap; we are walking through a 7 story Super Mall where, on the first floor, around 100 crazy Chinese sports fans are watching the heavyweight Judo Competition between China and some other country that is not China. The two competitors are so big they look more like monsters than men . . . well . . . actually women. China wins, the crowd screams, and a middle-aged woman sheds tears of joy. Xiaoyu and I have no real reaction to the victory, mostly because we are still surprised that Chinese people can be grown that gynormous. The victor’s stats are thrown up on the screen, and Xiaoyu looks up at me with the big eyes of unbelief. “130 kilograms!!!” Since the measurement of “kilograms” means nothing to my U.S. raised brain, I bust out my trusty cell phone, go straight to the “converter” application, and convert, convert, convert. The results are in: 130 kg = 286.5967 pounds!!! That’s a big Chinese lady. Then, for some reason, in an attempt to explain to Xiaoyu how big that really is, I say, “That is like . . . way bigger that Pa!” (As if the rock solid and totally in shape/handsome/coolest daddy-O in the world is his own separate unit of measurement.) We both look over to the huge screen as a full body shot of the victorious victor fills the screen. Xiaoyu looks back at me with another set of big eyes. Not the big eyes of unbelief, but the big eyes of “that was a total understatement, and now I’m going to set the record straight” that only those who know her best have seen. And with those eyes come the statement, “Pa?! Her boobs alone equal the size of Pa!” An odd comment? Yes. A true statement? Yes. A called for statement? Maybe. A round about expression of how much Xiaoyu misses Pa? Mos Defnily!
So, to better illustrate why we be missin’ them much . . . here are some classic Kodak moments from our life back at home (and some new ones just for kicks).
Among other ways in which it has affected us, and the most cutting and hard to bear of all ways, is that we are so often reminded of the family we left behind back in the U.S. of A. Some ways in which they are connected with the Olympics are completely expected; we are watching the opening ceremony, and we think, Pa would really like this part, Sharon would love that thing, Fernando would be so excited to see that, Mom would enjoy that, KT would miss China when she saw that, Miranda would actually sit still through that part, Sammy . . . man we miss Sambo! Other ways that they are connect don’t make any sense except for in the twisted mind of Xiaoyu Fan Belnap; we are walking through a 7 story Super Mall where, on the first floor, around 100 crazy Chinese sports fans are watching the heavyweight Judo Competition between China and some other country that is not China. The two competitors are so big they look more like monsters than men . . . well . . . actually women. China wins, the crowd screams, and a middle-aged woman sheds tears of joy. Xiaoyu and I have no real reaction to the victory, mostly because we are still surprised that Chinese people can be grown that gynormous. The victor’s stats are thrown up on the screen, and Xiaoyu looks up at me with the big eyes of unbelief. “130 kilograms!!!” Since the measurement of “kilograms” means nothing to my U.S. raised brain, I bust out my trusty cell phone, go straight to the “converter” application, and convert, convert, convert. The results are in: 130 kg = 286.5967 pounds!!! That’s a big Chinese lady. Then, for some reason, in an attempt to explain to Xiaoyu how big that really is, I say, “That is like . . . way bigger that Pa!” (As if the rock solid and totally in shape/handsome/coolest daddy-O in the world is his own separate unit of measurement.) We both look over to the huge screen as a full body shot of the victorious victor fills the screen. Xiaoyu looks back at me with another set of big eyes. Not the big eyes of unbelief, but the big eyes of “that was a total understatement, and now I’m going to set the record straight” that only those who know her best have seen. And with those eyes come the statement, “Pa?! Her boobs alone equal the size of Pa!” An odd comment? Yes. A true statement? Yes. A called for statement? Maybe. A round about expression of how much Xiaoyu misses Pa? Mos Defnily!
So, to better illustrate why we be missin’ them much . . . here are some classic Kodak moments from our life back at home (and some new ones just for kicks).
The girls bringing back goodies from the grosheriey store.
This is what happens when you have Xiaoyu and Patrick watch your kids.
Me and the little geek.
Probably the happiest day of Xiaoyu's life.
Geeks.
Xiaoyu and her new hairdoo!
1 comments:
That's what I'm TALKIN about with the hairdo pic. You are gohhhrgeous.
We miss you guys too. I forgot about Sammy in that bouncer! That is one of the most classic shots ever.
We miss you more than you miss us I bet because we watch China EVERY day (some of us, not naming names Pa and Fernando, for HOURS on end) and you are there and it just makes sense for us to start thinking if you're watching it or what you're thinking or if Xiao Yu is as intense in medal counting as Dad is in their battle of US vs. China medals.
I canNOT believe you compared Dad to a gijantic (that's what Miranda says now, like guy jant ik) bosomous Chinese judo lady. OH that is the best.
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