On a lighter note

Paul and I will be celebrating our 5 year anniversary.  We actually don't know the exact date and agreed that it's the last weekend of June.  I was hoping to do something extravagant but we're too busy prepping for our 2 week visit to the US.

We decided to but tickets for a wanna be Cirque du Soleil show called AO premiering at the Opera House in HCMC.  I was using my Vietnamese with an American accent and the guy was happy to hear that I was trying to speak the language and upgraded our seats for free.  I just saved each of us 500k (you do the math).  He probably also felt sorry for us cause it was pouring rain.  The rain was coming in sideways.  We needed to buy a bunch of souvenirs for our friends back home so Paul and I were determined to venture out, suit up in our rainsuits and hit the streets on our motorbike.  If you're new in Vietnam, avoid riding in the rain, although that's hard since it rains 50% of the time.  Sigh........

This day was unusual though, it was like a hurricane was going to hit, in actuality I had experienced my first monsoon.  Anyway it was so strong it knocked down our umbrella parking stands and vases outside of the office.
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I'm excited about returning home.  First stop In n' Out Burgers!  Second stop, pick up Riley.  Third, drop Paul off back at the airport so he can visit his family in NY.

This will be the first time Paul and I will be apart in 8 months.  I'm going to miss him, but I'm glad he gets to see his family over Independence Day.

While in the US, we have so much to take care of.  Living abroad takes a great deal of organization.  When I return, I have to file taxes, find a new tenant, prepare Riley's paperwork, witness my sister tying the knot, reconnect with family and friends, and stock up on things that aren't available in Vietnam.  Looking forward to seeing all of you!!

Numb...

It's supposed to be an exciting month, my sister is getting married.  She is the first grandchild on both my mother and father's side and she was finally getting married.  Her wedding in the US is scheduled for July 14th and the one in Australia is on the 21st.  My grandmother is so excited because all the grandchildren are going to Australia for a big reunion.

Yesterday, I received a call from a strange number and it was a lady sobbing on the phone.  She started speaking Cantonese to me.  The line kept breaking and I heard death.  Your aunt...is dead.  What?!?!?  It didn't make any sense because I just saw her a month ago as healthy as a 50 something year old could be.  I messaged the family in US to tell them what I heard and that when it was made cleared to me that it wasn't aunty, it was GRANDMA.

I only have one grandma, everyone else passed before I was born.  So my one and only grandma has passed.  What's strange is I've never experienced a death before.  I'm not sure what to feel.  I haven't cried but I feel like I'm supposed to.

The wedding in Australia is cancelled and now, you can't have a celebration the same year of a big death.  I have to fly over for a funeral instead of a wedding.

I'm just feeling numb.....