Saturday, March 29, 2014
마당쇠는 아니다
Friday, March 28, 2014
My husband is not a chore guy
Saturday, March 22, 2014
대박이 나려다
노환으로 누워계신 친정아버지가 올해 안에 돌아가시지 않으면 나한테 액운이 닥친다는 용하다는 점쟁이의 점괘를 듣고는.
나머지 반병의 소주를 들이켜고 얼음물을 벌컥벌컥. 여전히 속이 풀리지 않는다.
Friday, March 21, 2014
It was about to hit the jackpot.
Saturday, March 15, 2014
옆집 구멍가게 아저씨
눈을 부라린 벰파이어 같은 뉴욕 경찰과는 달리 우리나라 경찰은 옆집 구멍가게 아저씨처럼 친절하다.
Friday, March 14, 2014
An uncle next-door small shop
Saturday, March 8, 2014
에너지 맨
Friday, March 7, 2014
Energy man
My eldest child works and studies in the field of energy — things like solar, carbon, and batteries. It’s all about saving energy to protect nature… or something like that. Honestly, I don’t fully understand the technical stuff, but he often talk about it at the dinner table. It’s kind of fitting — a kid who was always bursting with energy now studies energy. It feels like he has found the right path.
Raising such a high-energy kid was no easy job. Once, I was pushing the stroller only to realize the baby had already crawled out and was making their way down the street! Another time, he fell headfirst from the bed, his heavy head hitting the floor with a sound like a watermelon splitting open. Even now, as an adult, when they do something a bit ridiculous, I wonder if it’s the aftershock from all those childhood tumbles.
To manage all that excess energy, I started swimming lessons when he was just six months old. Once in the water, he never wanted to come out. He was so good that the coach even talked about the Olympics. But being full of energy doesn’t automatically make someone a swimmer. My child couldn’t handle the pressure of diving in right on the starting gun, and eventually gave it up. Even energy couldn’t overcome nervous tension.
Unlike my younger child, this one always has a full schedule and a lot of interests. And let’s not even talk about the endless number of girlfriends. Who do they take after? I guess I’ll admit — probably my own father. Otherwise, I’d have to listen to my husband’s long rants about how my dad was quite the ladies’ man himself.
Whenever my son got dumped by a girl, I’d say:
“Well, it’s your fault. She found someone better — good for her.”
And when he seemed like he was pulling away from a girl he was dating, I’d say:
“Just give her a little more time. Don’t you feel bad for her? She grew up without a mom, raising her little sibling alone.”
Honestly, it felt like I was the one who got dumped.
"My dear son, while the energy you study is important, maybe it’s time to stop wasting your emotional energy on one girl after another. I hope you can build a lasting relationship with the girl you’re seeing now. Every time you fight and break up, it affects your work and your studies too, doesn’t it? Try to be aware of what your girlfriend wants, and be quick to take care of her. Don’t make her suffer — because when a woman gets angry, the energy from that anger will hurt you, hurt her, and somehow even reach me, your poor mom. Breaking up with girls has almost become a habit for you. I don’t know which one of them is meant to be your true partner."
Even though he came from my own belly, I really can’t figure him out.
Saturday, March 1, 2014
기면 기고, 아니면 아니지
플러싱 가는 길에 여행사에 들렀다. 크레딧 카드를 내밀었더니 캐시나 체크로 달란다. 몇 불짜리도 카드로 긁는 내 생활 습관과는 맞지 않았다. 직원과 몇 마디 실랑이하다가 그냥 밖으로 나왔다.
혼자 하는 일은 딱 부러지듯 하면서 함께하는 여행엔 술에 물 탄 듯 물에 술 탄 듯한 나의 태도에 화를 삭이던 지인이 드디어