It was a beautiful day for a parade. Add in some Chinese musicians, Lion dancers, rhythmic drumming, dim sum and mindfullness -- and the day upgrades to near perfection.
Birthday weekends can be a little bittersweet when you're in the LID-waiting-room. Holidays, back-to-school, birthdays, Fall TV Seasons - all serve as pesky reminders that although time may stand still in one's heart it continues to march on every place else.
The Autumn Moon Festival couldn't have come at a better time.
Hanging out in Chinatown made me feel a little closer to the country that has become so special to me. Made me love it a little more. Made me want to embrace it a little more.
Walking through the hustle and bustle of the very crowded festival also made jzboy and I wonder about our future trip to China. It inspired so many questions. For example: Will the alley's in China be this stinky or will they be worse? Will I be able to handle the jostling crowds with a baby strapped to me - or will that just push me over the edge? Will we get sick? Will we get along? Will we remember a souvenir for everyone?
We escaped the crowds for a bit and grabbed a bag of dim sum, a drink & some time to reflect. During my recent research, I've learned that the Moon Festival holds cultural and historical importance related to the Autumn harvest. Similar to Thanksgiving, families celebrating the Moon Festival organize reunions and honor those that have passed away or that live far away. The belief is that we all share the same moon.
I love that image of all of us, every one of we humans, sharing the same moon. In spite of our differences, distances, colors and beliefs we have this in common. I have been looking at that moon and wondering about our future daughter. Has she been conceived? Where is her birth mother? Where is her birth father? What do they think when they look at the moon during this season? Will our daughter be born during the Year of the Dog? Is she living under the same moon that we are looking at tonight? So many questions tangling up my thoughts.
It is that birthday season time, and soon will come the holidays. I'm sure that I'll find my way back to Chinatown for another shot in the arm in the near future. It definitely was therapeutic this weekend.
I leave you with images of mooncakes-a-plenty:
19 comments:
Oh I'm so jealous! I wish I had a Chinatown nearby.
Looks like a lot of fun. It's so interesting to learn about this culture that our daughters were born into.
Looks like a wonderful day. Before Buttons came, I would look at the moon with the very same thoughts and questions. It is a small world and we surely do share the same moon.
Looks awesome. So glad you went and took those great pictures too. Happy birthday!
That looks like a cool day. I am glad you went!
That looks like such a neat event to have been a part of. I LOVE Chinatown. Sometime when I'm up your way, we'll have to meet up for dim sum!
What and awesome day. Krista is right, there isn't much Chinatown in the midwest! Gotta work on that.
Happy B-day, my budette!
Your post reminded me of this song from "An American Tail" :
Somewhere Out There
written by James Horner, Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil
Somewhere out there beneath the pale moonlight
Someone's thinking of me and loving me tonight
Somewhere out there someone's saying a prayer
That we'll find one another in that big somewhere out there
And even though I know how very far apart we are
It helps to think we might be wishing on the same bright star
And when the night wind starts to sing a lonesome lullaby
It helps to think we're sleeping underneath the same big sky
Somewhere out there if love can see us through
Then we'll be together somewhere out there
Out where dreams come true
And even though I know how very far apart we are
It helps to think we might be wishing on the same bright star
And when the night wind starts to sing a lonesome lullaby
It helps to think we're sleeping underneath the same big sky
Somewhere out there if love can see us through
Then we'll be together somewhere out there
Out where dreams come true
Happy birthday buddy! :)
Happy Birthday, fellow Virgoan!!!
Love the pics of Chinatown, and the sense of a *need* that drives you to go there. It does feel that way, doesn't it?
Looks like a magical time! I ove your introspective thoughts about all that we share in common as I have asked those same questions. It's nice to look at up at the moon and think about our children far away.
Beautiful reflections on your time at the Moon Festival. The questions... they haunt us too. It's nice that you have a Chinatown near you to be able to get your 'fix', and to give you some hope and connectedness while you both endure this wait.
Wendy,
You are so lucky to have Chinatown so close. I have to go 5 hours to go to ours in NYC. Hope you had a great time and thanks for putting those cool pics up on your website.
"I See the Moon
the Moon sees me
Down through the leaves
of the old oak tree
Please let the light
that shines on me
shine on
the one that I love..."
my all-time favorite song.
Happy Birthday, Buttercup's Mom!
I am so glad you had the chance to go!! Sounds like you held Buttercup in your heart every step of the trip.
Check out all those pastries! The yellow ones on the top shelf are called egg tarts. They are really good and served also at Dim Sum restaurants. My other favorite Chinese pastry is the Pinnaple bun with red bean paste inside. They are yummy!
Great post and GREAT photos! I especially liked these comments from you: I love that image of all of us, every one of we humans, sharing the same moon. In spite of our differences, distances, colors and beliefs we have this in common. I have been looking at that moon and wondering about our future daughter.
Rock on, girl!
Wow, looks like so much fun. We plan on coming to San Fran next September, I just wish it would be the moon festival then. But hey, we can let buttercup and Shayna get together, right? Meet you in Chinatown.
Looks like a lot of fun, and tasty, too!!! Unique way to spend your birthday. Sounds like you had a great time.
Happy Birthday!!!
I wish we lived closer to a city so we can experience such an event. It looks amazing. Thank you for sharing.
Did you try Moon Cakes? I hear they can be compared to fruit cake. We are haveing a moon festival at our house and I thought of getting some, but I can't decide.
How fun! Here in SC no Chinatown, we do have a PF Changs...LOL! I am going to stop at a Chinese grocery tomorrow and check for some Moon Cakes, I have to try them! Happy Birthday, mine is next Monday!
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