Good Thing Coming in Surprise Way, but Gone in Unexpected Time   

It is more than one year for me  not to have eaten hand-made dumplings. But, recently I had  them, which were made by my Chinese neighbor, sister Ma. She, 58 years old, came from the northeast China and is living with her daughter and a grandson together.

Dumplings From Sister Ma

Sister Ma’s grandson only two and half years old. Since the little thing coming, sister Ma and his husband have shifted  to come to USA for taking care of him.  Each one can only stay half of year due to visa policy.

From last May it turns sister Ma on duty and his husband went back to China. Without husband at the house, they have trouble to hand some house maintenance issues. Both my husband and I are Christians and usually we would like to do people a favor as possible as we can. I told sister Ma if they need help, let us know.  Actually, I understood I may do nothing for her physically, but my husband is talent in repairing appliances and fixing devices.

Yesterday, my husband  helped her to solve some electrical problems in her house. In order to thank us for the help, sister Ma cooked the dumplings for us. I like to eat dumplings, but I never expect them. So far, I was still  not able to do cooking. However, good things come in my surprise way. Sister Ma did them for me. Especially, she cooked low sodium dumplings because she knew I could not afford too much salty food.  

Actually, we made friends  each other only several months and only had one time short chart. During the talking, she knew I am not able to afford the salty food. So she added a little amount of sodium in the dumplings so that I can eat more. The dumplings were really delicious and I had eaten eight. I really appreciate she did all of these.  

Then, this good thing has gone soon ! Unexpectedly, sister Ma, grandson and her daughter have  moved to other area.

I become admiring her from what I have learned about her family.  She is a very strong woman. She can not speak English, but she dares to drive her grandson to a library, a church and some supermarkets  regularly. Instead,  her husband was not have the courage to drive. 

Just like sister Ma, her daughter is a strong younger lady. She has been studied in Singapore since fifteen years old. She earned high school diploma and bachelor degree in Singapore. Then, she obtained her master and Phd degrees in US and eventually, found a job here. 

Unlike Sister Ma, her son in law absences self-confidence. He obtained a Phd degree in US, but was difficult to get a job offer. He thought this was because he was not able to speak English fluently. He left his wife and son, and went back to China two years ago.

For her daughter,  without the husband’s accompany, the life is not happy. But, with the help of the patients, her life is becoming easy.  

From then on, once I eat dumplings, it let me remember sister Ma, one working hard Chinese woman, one great mother, and one strong lady.  I respect her and also miss her.