Mourning
Today I'm dealing with sadness. When I was born, my parents co-owned a print shop. That's really where I grew up. I would walk to school from there and do my homework at my desk there before we went home. My very first friend, Carol, was part of the family that owned a business next door to us. Carol called me yesterday to tell me that her dad had died.
His name was Yut Wah Tom. Though the family never confirmed (or denied it), I always thought he had immigrated to the U.S. as a "paper son." He was in the U.S. army during WWII (I remember seeing the group photo). After the War he went back to China where he married his wife. Immigration problems slowed things down. Their first two children were born in Taiwan. The 3rd child in Hawaii (before it became part of the U.S. I believe). The last 3, including my friend, Carol, were born in Southern CA. Because of immigration stuff, Mr. Tom lost his real name and was known as Wing Lee for many years. It wasn't until he, his wife, and the older children became citizens that he was able to reclaim his real name. I am proud that Mr. Tom asked my dad to be one of his sponsors for citizenship.
The Tom family is one of those wonderful immigrant success stories. At first they lived in the LA Chinatown area. As soon as possible, they started the family business, a laundry. As soon as possible they bought their first house, just outside the Chinatown area. Mr. Tom invested the profits from the laundry into apartment buildings. By the time I was in high school they had moved to a new, lovely home in the Monterey Park Hills. Both Mr. and Mrs. Tom continued to work at the laundry, long after they could have retired.
Eventually they did retire, and Carol joined them in travel. Carol's another interesting story. She ended up the daughter who took care of the parents, although she had her own home. All 6 of the Tom kids did well. I hope to get updates on Thursday when mom and I go to the service.
I could write so much more. So much of my childhood included Carol and her family. The last time I had been in contact with Carol (around 5-10 years ago), her dad was already having heart problems. So his death wasn't entirely a surprise. We've lost a good man who was a good citizen.
His name was Yut Wah Tom. Though the family never confirmed (or denied it), I always thought he had immigrated to the U.S. as a "paper son." He was in the U.S. army during WWII (I remember seeing the group photo). After the War he went back to China where he married his wife. Immigration problems slowed things down. Their first two children were born in Taiwan. The 3rd child in Hawaii (before it became part of the U.S. I believe). The last 3, including my friend, Carol, were born in Southern CA. Because of immigration stuff, Mr. Tom lost his real name and was known as Wing Lee for many years. It wasn't until he, his wife, and the older children became citizens that he was able to reclaim his real name. I am proud that Mr. Tom asked my dad to be one of his sponsors for citizenship.
The Tom family is one of those wonderful immigrant success stories. At first they lived in the LA Chinatown area. As soon as possible, they started the family business, a laundry. As soon as possible they bought their first house, just outside the Chinatown area. Mr. Tom invested the profits from the laundry into apartment buildings. By the time I was in high school they had moved to a new, lovely home in the Monterey Park Hills. Both Mr. and Mrs. Tom continued to work at the laundry, long after they could have retired.
Eventually they did retire, and Carol joined them in travel. Carol's another interesting story. She ended up the daughter who took care of the parents, although she had her own home. All 6 of the Tom kids did well. I hope to get updates on Thursday when mom and I go to the service.
I could write so much more. So much of my childhood included Carol and her family. The last time I had been in contact with Carol (around 5-10 years ago), her dad was already having heart problems. So his death wasn't entirely a surprise. We've lost a good man who was a good citizen.