when i was little

i remember my dad and mom having birthday parties for me every year when i was little. i think the first one we had when i was 4 years old was at a chinese restaurant. my dad's idea was to expose little preschoolers to the chinese cuisine. he told everyone that we were going to have a "royal meal." the funny thing was, most of the kids didn't get the idea of trying new foods, and kept asking for french fries and hamburgers (instead of fried rice and spring rolls!) every year after that, i had my birthday party at the Ground Round instead, an American restaurant with clowns and video games. :)

i also remember one year, i think i was turning 10 or so, when my dad took me and my 4 best friends into Manhattan for my birthday. he took us to FAO Schwartz and Central Park to feed the crazy pigeons. it was so much fun.

i also remember one time when my dad and i bought bikes, and for some reason decided to ride the bikes back home and leave the car at the bike store (not sure if it was just for fun, or because the bikes wouldn't fit). so me and my dad rode a few miles through the traffic-filled streets of Taiwan so that we could get out bikes home. he was the one that taught me how to ride a bike in the first place when i was in second grade. i remember he kept saying i could do it, even though i wanted to give up, and finally i did it! and he was right there with me.

my dad was such a good father. he was always there with me whenever i needed to learn something new or go somewhere new. hopefully i will take a lot his parenting skills with me the day that i have my own kids...

my dadi's wedding speech

my dad had a speech prepared for my wedding, and my mom read it for him.... i really wish he could have been there, i know he would have had such a great time. but at least i know he was there in spirit, especially because my mom was able to give his speech on behalf of him. here is his speech:

小女袁積璇與女婿潘維揚的姓就已代表著豐盛的意義：
「潘」字，即：有水有田稻米多，這是地球人類的足食基本Foundation。
加上「袁」字，即：有土有衣及有口接收足食，更達成豐衣足食的境地。
從中方觀點看，潘袁聯姻已是一完美結合，再加上西方層面來說明其具中西合璧的內涵：兩位都是美國東岸長春藤盟校的畢業生，並且也都被美國加州Bay Area公司延聘，而於西岸生活及工作，更取得多元經驗再孕育成長的。

目前半子又在全世界金融中心曼哈頓從事投資管理，而小女則於工作五年後進入法律研究所再深造攻讀不同層面與另一層次的法律學位。將來他們二人的分工合作可為人類帶來繁榮及進步，而且也為他們自己的小家庭綻放出光明前景，也預祝她們將來可以營造出一個和樂、和諧及健康繁榮的家庭。

我在此以老丈人的身份，向各位親朋好友宣佈全心全意祝福倆人所有的夢想都會一一實現。
感謝我的親家公及親家母，特別從台灣前來參加，也同時謝謝大家前來參與並祝福他們。更盼望給這一對年輕夫妻鼓勵及協助，謝謝各位。