Posts about my personal life
Every time I’ve performed as part of Nightmare, I wonder what my mom would have thought of it.
I think she would’ve gotten a kick out of Nightmare. She was never into rock or pop music, but the sheer theatrics we put on — yeah, I’m pretty sure she would’ve enjoyed that.… Read More Something Bittersweet
I came across this photo last summer, when we were cleaning out my parents’ house … The only information I have on the photo is the date printed at the bottom — 7/17/2011. Aside from that, I have no idea where this was taken, or who the people with my mom are. Still, I really… Read More Random Photo, Random Thoughts
Happy birthday, mom. I still think about you every day.… Read More Happy Birthday, Mom
My mom died one year ago today.… Read More Waves of Sadness
Today is the one-year anniversary of my mom’s death.… Read More One Year … sort of
This album is more for me than anyone else. It certainly isn’t for my mom, as she never liked being the center of attention. And it certainly isn’t for anyone out there on the internet, as these photos will undoubtedly mean nothing to you (though it would mean something to me if you actually looked at it).
Yet, for me, something about the idea of putting these photos out there, in public view, on an internet notorious for things being impossible to delete off of …
It’s like a form of security.… Read More Memories with Mom
For my mom’s part, I know she was just happy that I was excited. I guess it makes sense now that I’ve realized how much dancing was a part of her entire life.… Read More Like Mother, Like Son
Anyone who’s been to my parents’ house in Irvine knows about my mom’s fruit garden. Over the course of the 34 years she lived in that house, she slowly transformed a tiny stamped concrete-laden OC tract home back yard into a trove of exotic fruit trees — everything from apples and oranges to starfruit, guava,… Read More My Mom Was Dr. Frankenstein
I was a mama’s boy. For literally my entire life, my mom and I were super-close, and it started partially from necessity. When I was two years old, my dad left Taiwan to pursue a new opportunity for us in the United States. The only snafu was that it took more than three years before… Read More Nobody to Everybody Else
I love this video from January 2015, when my dad was just starting his recovery from his aneurysm. It was a rare moment of affection and playfulness from my parents. The parallels between my mom and my dad were uncanny. Both suffered mysterious and catastrophic ailments that left them completely incapacitated and in the hospital… Read More Parallels
After my mom’s passing, Melissa and I went up to Irvine last weekend and dug through some old photo albums. Here’s a set I found from a particularly special day on January 2, 1971. Mom, I wish it had occurred to me to dig these up and post them while you were still around. I… Read More Mom and Dad’s Wedding
You hung in there for over a year, which is pretty impressive in itself. But I guess we all knew how this was going to end. I don’t know where you’ve been for the past 14 months, but I hope you’re finally at peace now. I’m touched that you waited until I submitted my last… Read More Farewell, Mom
Yesterday was exactly one year that my mom has been in a persistent vegetative state. I was drained by the end of the day, but that was more due to school than anything with my mom. I did tear up a bit at one point. But here’s the weird thing … I didn’t cry about… Read More Haunted
Hey, mom. Hi. Hey. Where are you? It’s been a year now. Do you even realize that? It was one year ago today that you decided to take a break from … well, breathing. Fortunately, the doctors were able to get your heart beating again. Unfortunately, doctors still have no idea what happened. And worst… Read More One Year …
One day soon, we’ll have to leave the older sibling in Irvine, to be cared for — and hopefully, not chopped down — by a new family.
But not Elsa. One day soon, I hope we’ll find Elsa the Wax Fruit Tree a permanent home where we can spend many years together.… Read More Meet Elsa the Wax Fruit Tree
Sometimes the days seem to drag along. Other times, the months fly by. It’s hard to process that it’s been 10 months now since my mom went into cardiac arrest. 10 months now that she’s been in a persistent vegetative state. Man, whoever coined the term really wasn’t kidding with the “persistent” part … Anyway,… Read More 10 months
I’m pretty sure I took more photos of Mama yesterday than I ever have in my entire life … of any cat … combined. I think I just became that guy. (You are free to define “that” in whichever way you deem appropriate.)
What would you be doing if you knew you had less than 24 hours to live? … Lots of things, probably. … What would you be doing if you didn’t know you had less than 24 hours to live? … This, I guess … … At least, if you’re Mama. We’re saying goodbye to Mama… Read More What would you be doing?
My mom turned 71 today. We did a video call with my dad last night (because Taiwan is a day ahead) and sang happy birthday to her. I’m not sure she had any awareness of us, though, so it wasn’t exactly an uplifting moment. Anyway, people have been asking how she’s doing, so I figured… Read More 92 days …
This is the image I’ve seen twice a day for almost three weeks straight now … The intensive care unit opens for visitations twice a day, for half an hour each time. As I’ve previously mentioned, the experience reminds me of a cattle call. Visiting time nears, and a small crowd gathers outside the sliding… Read More Waiting …
Dennis Hong's Attic 