Last night my mother and I ate Thai food and she took out her iPhone and showed me a note that listed down all the important dates and events in her life, then she put it down and started recounting her life from the beginning to now. She talked a lot about her aunts and growing up and we talked a bit about the evolution of political ideology and Marx.. Heard it all before but it never feels that way.
We went to her office after that and she took out an enormous Chinese painting titled "The Universe Painting 1/10". We rolled it out on the carpet and it was really magnificent, but she wants to sell it because the business isn't doing well. It's been sitting in a corner of the office for years and years.
On the ride home she got into a discussion about Buddhism with the taxi uncle but I was too spaced out to stay in the conversation. He started by explaining a bit of his view on life and telling us that the teachings of his faith were something really profound. At the end of the 15 minute ride the uncle was laughing and thanked my mother for teaching him something. I handed over the cash and went upstairs.
In our living room I stuck a candle in a cupcake and sang "Happy Birthday" with my sister on FaceTime. She blew out the candle and we talked a bit more before I went to sleep.
