Listening Schedule
Dragon Reborn RED | Jun 2024 Multistage Stage IVC7
15 mins, Tues and Thur, 7 days break after 21 days
Once a year, we come together to celebrate Chinese New Year — one of the most special occasions in our family. We are fortunate to have many holidays throughout the year, an extended Christmas season, and more breaks than most, but this celebration feels different. It carries something deeper — tradition, culture, and home. Kung Hei Fat Choi!
It has always been part of our culture that, with or without formal invitations, people simply return home for this day. It’s understood. It’s expected. It’s felt.
Every year, I make sure to visit Mom. One of the reasons — honestly — is because I love eating whatever she prepares for the occasion. There’s something about her cooking that no restaurant can ever replace. My brothers and their families come, relatives drop by, neighbors show up, and suddenly the house transforms into a living, breathing celebration. An instant party comes alive.
It reminds me so much of our childhood. Back then, we had a small modular pool for the kids and a simple playground set up outside. Everyone contributed food; it was never about who brought what, but about sharing. Today, I didn’t bring anything — I just wanted to show up, mingle with old neighbors, and spend time with my brothers.
This year’s celebration felt unique. There were more kids than adults, yet somehow they didn’t have the same wild energy we once had. When we were young, we played from morning until evening. We only paused to eat, take a quick nap, then eat again — and return to playing. The party only ended when we finally admitted we were too tired to go on.
Mom, as always, had her own special way of navigating conversations. She never entertains politics — the moment it comes up, expect her to quietly disappear. But mention marriage, food, or vacations, and she’s fully present and happily engaged. Those are her favorite topics.
The celebration started at 10 in the morning. By a little past 2 p.m., most guests had gone home. What remained was the best part — just me, my brothers, and Mom. We spent hours going through old photos, sharing stories, laughing, teasing each other, and cracking jokes. Those quiet moments after the crowd leaves are the ones that stay with you.
We also have a family habit: before going to bed, we make sure the oldest in the family has the best place to rest, complete with blankets and comfort. During special occasions, we don’t like sleeping in separate rooms. We prefer to sleep together in one room, close and packed in — just like when we were kids. There’s comfort in that closeness.
And for the first time, my brothers got to see me cook — not just for them, but for their families too. It felt like a small milestone, a new chapter woven into an old tradition.
Chinese New Year isn’t just a holiday for us. It’s memory, family, laughter, food, and love — all gathered under one roof, even if only for a day.