Prior to meeting my family in 2002, my previous knowledge about Korea was pretty much to nothing other than being “found” at the police station, according to adoption documents and that’s all my adoptive parents knew too. For much of my life, I took that as a fact and did not really think much about it. But then over the time, it seemed natural that I’d start to ask questions about myself like what does my parents look like or whether if I have siblings. As for my siblings, I remember having a strong feeling about them and I remember not believing that I was an only child in my biological family and that I must have had a brother or sister. Sure enough, when I met my siblings in 2002, my sister told me she spent some time with me (she was six years old) and helped carry me on her back at times.

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Out of all things what I can get for my dad’s birthday and his retirement, I think the best gift I can get for him is this, other than a plane ticket to surprise him at home.

My dad turns 57 years old today; we’re 30 years apart so that makes it easy to remember. This one is probably his best one ’cause he gets to retire! he worked for 31 years at the United States Postal Service. He was a mail handler and for the last five or six years, he worked the forklift. To be frank, I was a little depressed to hear what did he get out of this. All he got was a plaque that’s made of paper and a cake to go with it. That’s it. Not even an ounce of cheese, summer sausage, celery, carrot or a single cracker. Zilch. Just a cake for my dad. He had a clean record—no suspensions or late warnings—and had more than 500 sick hours to spare.

It was only two weeks ago that my team and I had a nice team outing. We went to this cool indoor go-kart racing where we put on racing uniforms and helmets, then had some pizza and soda for lunch. What a contrast. The speaker box blasted on after a half hour of celebration, telling everyone to go back to work. So, after working for more than thirty years for P.O, ensuring that every box goes to your door on time, my dad’s retirement party was over in less than a half hour.

I’d like to share a story about how my dad wound up at the P.O. He used to work as a printer, along with his good friend who was also deaf. They were good workers who do their jobs well and would know exactly if something went wrong. It could be as obvious as ink running out or as small as a nut getting loose. My dad would see that easily and go to fix it. keeping the whole facility equipment running, which kept the business going and ultimately, for managers to be happy.

For some time, I wonder why did my dad decide to make a jump to work at the P.O. I found out it was because of me. When it came to a time for my parents to have a child, they already knew they couldn’t have a child so they wanted to adopt. After they’ve found a child to adopt and that, of course, came with a cost. My dad knew they couldn’t afford the adoption, had he stayed at the printing so he applied and got the job. His math skill helped him out. He had to work on weekends, had Wed., and Thurs. off and worked overnight because it paid more than the daytime. He thought he would eventually work in the daytime but he never did, though he did have better days off – on Fri and Sat. and he was the last employee to have those such days off.

For the first year or two, my parents didn’t see each other much but that didn’t bother them, they had the same goal, which was to save up money to afford the adoption. At that time in 1984, the cost was eight grand (16k in today’s value). They were able to save 7 grand, one thousand short but when the agency found out that I was deaf, they slashed it by half, to four thousands. Ha, I’m a bargain child, so to speak.

With those said, I’m ecstatic to see my dad retired and I hope he’ll enjoy his retirement and do whatever he wants. Happy birthday and retirement, Dad. This is yours.

Got an email from my sis, 수빈, that she now has a baby girl! 5 months old.

Learning some 한글 must have worked. All the more reason to go visit Korea soon and study 한글 every night. :-)

나 종일

I’d like to share the passing of my grandmother who died peacefully at one o’clock am, Sunday the 18th of November, 2007.

“Madeline F. Kester, 77, of Chatham, IL died Sunday, November 18th, 2007 at St. John’s Hospice. She was born February 3rd, 1930 at Friedheim, MO to Ben and Edna Moore Kayser. She married Harold Wilbur Kester in 1948; he preceded her in death in 1999 as well as her parents, 3 brothers and 3 sisters.

Mrs. Kester, a registered nurse was last employed at Memorial Medical Center where she worked for 18 years. Prior to becoming a nurse, she worked 15 years at the Warren-Boynton State Bank in New Berlin, IL. She graduated from Perryville High School and Perryville School of Practical Nursing, Springfield College, and St. John’s School of Nursing. She was a Member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Chatham and a Memorial Medical Center volunteer.

She is survived by her son H. Wayne (wife Pamela) Kester of New Berlin, grandson Nathan Kester of Mountain View, California, and sister Nell Kieninger of Pocahontas, MO.

Her family will greet relatives and friends from 9 am, until time of services at 10:30 am Tuesday, November 20 at St. John’s Lutheran church, 1225 N. Main, Chatham. Revs. Clarence Rogers and Thomas Philips officiating. Burial at Chatham Memorial Cemetery. Contributions may be made to the St. John’s Lutheran Church in Chatham or the American Heart Association.

Staab Polk Memorial Home, 201 S. Main, Chatham, IL is serving the family.”

She was a dear grandmother to me who gave her unconditional love and support. I thank her for all my success.

Heh my dad is funny. One quarter and a penny. 26.

Sent via BlackBerry from Cingular Wireless

Here are some pics of my Korean family when I visited in 2001. Cool fact: my sister is deaf.