My sister is cross with me because I teased her about having been sober the last five months. I had forgotten it is not wise to tease a pregnant woman. Perhaps it will make her feel better to know that I am considering a leave of absence from work in the early part of May to attend the birth in Bangkok. Additionally, our mother is suggesting that she will get Father to pay for the airfare because she wants me to be there for my little sister’s first baby. Nothing is certain, but an idea is forming.
You’ll have to forgive the proper manner of speaking but Bella and I have just finished watching Mansfield Park. I love Jane Austen. I had forgotten how much.
My mother said a few more cheerful things. The Chinese new year, which begins February 18, 2007, will start the year of the golden pig: a very auspicious sign. She assures me that millions of Chinese are enthusiastically working towards having a baby born this year. My first little niece or nephew will be a golden piglet. Very lucky.
She also told me to pick a wedding dress I like – that it will be a gift from her. Hurray! I might love new dresses more than I love Jane Austen. I might try the Trina Turk shop in Palm Springs first. Better move quickly on that offer before she forgets.
The inital elations of the conversation were quickly dampened by my father’s stern remonstrations. He was not pleased to see the master’s thesis appear on the new year’s resolutions a third year in a row.
Oh – another thing that might cheer up my preggers sister: I got you something this weekend. and sheesh I’ll share some of my christmas presents with you already.
[more on the golden pig at this post.]
[link to an article disputing the year of the golden pig at The Seoul Times here.]
[link to wikipedia’s very informative general article about chinese astrology here.]
[As I am seeing relatively huge surge of hits looking for more information about the year of the golden pig, and seeing as how I feel a little guilty about accidentally leading people to my site without providing very much information – I am going to remedy the situation right here.
Most of the information seems to dispute the notion of a “Year of the Golden Pig.” I am also hearing people say, Who cares?! Here is an article from english.chosun.com cautioning against “milking the golden pig.” And another from KBS world saying the whole premise is a load of hooey. If you want to hear from from somebody in Korea, here is a nice little post on a blog called Ranting on the ROC: Rantings and ravings from a kiwi in Korea. Here is one from associatedcontent.com with more links. And one last little article from the Honolulu advertiser here.