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Crossing Borders, Fulfilling Wishes: A Christmas Story Across the US-Mexico Divide
Hayes resides in a quaint hamlet nestled on the frontier between the United States and Mexico. In this locale, the discourse of border fortification holds perennial sway, yet on occasion, denizens venture near the border barrier to glimpse existence on the opposing side… One wintry weekend, Hayes embarked on a stroll with his young canine companion across a neighboring farmstead. During their promenade, Hayes chanced upon a fractured remnant of a balloon upon the verdant sward not far distant. His intention was to retrieve and deposit it within the receptacle he bore for refuse. However, upon closer inspection, he discerned the tethering of the balloon remnant to a cord affixed…
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Honest People Aren’t Fools: When They Leave, the Company Loses
Whether “honest people” who are hard-working and willing to take on responsibilities are treated kindly or squeezed hard reflects the values of a company, especially the person in charge. Almost every unit has some “people who are least likely to leave”: those who have just given birth, are still paying off car and house loans, are elderly and are hospitalized. In short, they are burdened with heavy family burdens or financial pressure and are in urgent need of a decent salary support. The kind of person who seems very obedient and doesn’t dare to change jobs. This kind of people are often regarded by their bosses as the least capable,…
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Life Lessons on Appreciating Each Moment and Finding Hope Through Hard Times
Some time ago, I received a call from a friend. He has always been an optimistic and sunny person, but when he called me that day, he asked me in a choked voice if I had any money left. His mother had a heart attack and was admitted to the intensive care unit. He urgently needed some money to help her. Operation. After I transferred the money to him, I stood by the window holding my phone and couldn’t help but think of the words “life is impermanent”. We are all pursuing a better life. We want to grow up faster than our parents grow old. We want to mature…
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A heartwarming tale of two “Mi”s: A stranger’s favor and a bond that transcends time and distance
Cutting potatoes into julienne, slicing cucumbers, and dicing eggplants, the rice knives resounded melodiously on the chopping board, while the basins brimming with vegetables were successively filled before me. Glistening droplets of perspiration cascaded swiftly along their natural course. Rice raised his arm, using the aged sleeve to dab at his countenance. After completing the vegetable preparation, he proceeded to steam the rice. As he scooped up the pristine grains, a serene smile graced his lips. A year later, due to land acquisition and demolition, he lost the ancestral abode that had sheltered him for decades, along with the meticulously cultivated land. Bereft of his cherished dwelling and fertile acreage,…
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The light we carry
When I was a kid, it occurred to me one day that my dad started using a cane to help me balance while I was walking. I can’t remember exactly when it showed up at our home on Chicago’s South Side—I was four or five years old, and suddenly, there it was, a smooth black wood cane, slender and strong. It was an early result of multiple sclerosis, which left my dad with a severe limp in his left leg. Slowly and silently, it erodes his central nervous system and weakens the strength of his legs. The disease had likely been taking its toll on Dad long before his diagnosis,…
