Steve's family

8/6星期五Steve只须做半天工作，回来后我们就起程去Kansas City拜访Steve的妈妈。路途中常会看到大小不同款的motor homes。我终于拍到一辆大型的motor home照片，就停在我们车前，红灯处。从Steve的述说，这款应该里边的设备较豪华也较贵，外观很像巴士，后边可拖着汽车。
从St. Louis到Kansas City，车行约须三小时半，我们在途中又花时用午餐。还没抵达妈妈家，Steve就对我说，他妈妈一定会在家门外等侯。的确果然如他所说。车行靠进一住家区，就看到一个老妇女和一只小狗。
热情的拥抱相见之后，她就把我当新女儿了。进入她住家，我很欣赏她家里的整洁及摆没。 尤其是房里梳装台上的一套法国古式的摆设，小桌灯、手柄小镜子、饰物盘。很精缀，我想每个女人看到一定会很喜欢，而且会情不自禁的拿起小镜子来欣赏，哈哈...我就不只拿一次...
不久之后，Steve的姐姐Sue(是她远到Penang参加我们的结婚仪式)带着她的两个孩子一男一女到来，少男名叫Alec, 小少女名叫Elizabeth。Elizabeth很活泼，她一直表示要我去他们的家。我们聊天、品食、吃西式的家中晚餐....

隔天早上，她姐姐和两个孩子又来了，准备带我们去走走。六个人坐上大型的汽车，我们先去她姐姐家一会。一进门口，一张小图写着﹕Welcome Steve + XinYi及吊着中国式的小纸灯笼(中秋节时常看到的那种)。很温馨，应该是小孩的精心设计。接着是他们的三只狗会围绕着你，都很温驯。
过后我们就起程去City Market也是那儿的Farmer's Market，类似算是Penang的＇巴刹＇及夜市场的综合。有一景象，一个女性装扮成铜人，静止不动的在人群一处，只有当你投钱，她才如机器人般移动望向投钱者微微笑几秒。又静止不动了。
附近有一间中国城商店，有一点的Malaysia产品，如Milo, Ipoh White Coffee, Penang Laksa Powder..
约四点，Sue的丈夫从其它州飞回来， 我们一家七口在一间Mexican Restaurant用晚餐。墨西哥餐在美国很受欢迎，但目前不是我喜吹的食物... 啊...我要Penang Food....
晚上回妈妈的家，我们三人在客厅闲聊，Steve妈妈的一些话让我很感动﹕"我有淮备要去Penang参加你们的婚礼，但医生劝告不行，虽然我缺席，但我的spirit是在那儿的。你的家人喜欢Steve吗？他们有反时吗？"
这似乎是相反的想法 – 当初未嫁给Steve时，不知道他妈妈会如何看待我这个华人媳妇。真想不到她对我的接纳程度，出乎我意料之外....我想一定是前世修了很多善业吧！有福报亲近拥有快乐亲切的美国家人...

星期天早上，我们起程回去。回到家，看到还没完全收拾整理的家，开始有些压力了 – 如果他家人来拜访这个不是很整洁的家，我会很不好意思。我又开始提醒Steve，催促他一起整理.....

8/5 Friday, Steve just worked for half day. After he got back, we went to Kansas City to visit his mom. On the way, we saw many types of motor homes. Finally, I got a photo of one big motor home which stopped in front of us at a traffic light. Steve mentioned this type is well furnished and more expensive. It looks like a bus, and a car could be towed at the back.

The journey is about 3 and half hours from St. Louis to Kansas City. We spent time to have lunch on the way. Before we arrived, Steve told me his mom might be waiting for us outside. It was true, when we drove up to the condo, we saw a woman with a little dog.

We had a warm hug and she loves me as a new daughter. We got in her home and I admired her nice house with pretty decorations. I love the unique set of French style little lamp, hand mirror and jewelry holder on the dresser. If you are a lady, I bet you would love them too, and take up this hand mirror for viewing. Haha…I picked it up and look at it more than once… A couple of minutes later, Steve’s sister Sue (she attended our wedding ceremony in Penang) with her two kids; one boy, Alec, and one girl, Elizabeth. Elizabeth is very active and wanted me to visit their house. We talked, ate snacks and had dinner at home….

The next morning, his sister came again with her two kids. She planned to have outdoor activities, so the six of us got in her minivan. We stopped at his sister’s house on the way out. Inside, I saw a little drawing with the words: Welcome Steve + XinYi, and a little paper Chinese lantern (Mid-Autumn Festival often has these). I think it was prepared by the kids. I felt so warm. Then, their three dogs greeted everyone. They are very mild and friendly.

We went to City Market or Farmer’s Market in downtown Kansas City. It is similar to ‘pasar’ (wet market) + night market in Penang. In the crowd, there was a lady with who made herself up in copper color and didn’t move at all. When someone put money in her jar, then she moved slowly and gave a little smile to that person. Then she stopped moving again.

We found a Chinatown store; they had a few of Malaysia products, like Milo, Ipoh White Coffee, Penang Laksa Powder…

Sue’s husband got back home from Texas around afternoon. The 7 of us went to a Mexican Restaurant for dinner. Mexican food is quite popular in the US, but it wasn’t the food I was craving at the moment …ah…I want Penang food…

That evening, in the living room of mom’s house, the three of us were chatting. I still feel touched and impressed from the conversation with Steve’s mom, “I planned to go to Penang to attend your wedding but my doctor advised me not to do so. Even though I couldn’t attend my spirit was there with both of you. Does your family like Steve? Did they object?”

These questions were unexpected – before I married Steve, I didn’t know how his mom would treat me, a Chinese daughter-in-law. I didn’t expect her complete acceptance of me….I think I am lucky to approach a very kind and happy family in the US…

Sunday morning, we went back. When we arrived home, I felt a little pressure seeing this house which is still messy – I will feel sorry if his family visits our messy house. I reminded Steve again, I want him to do cleaning with me….

11.6.07 3.12pm 云