grains of truth for future generations
Dec 18th, 2009 by Steve Sue
Hey gang – we’ve uploaded the ancient family history book for all you Chinese readers to enjoy… If anyone can translate it, generations of new banana kids will worship at your feet. Tim Owyoung – we’re calling you out!
You can page through the book by clicking “Book of Chan“ here or in the top bar tab above.
Happy reading!
Dec 2nd, 2009 by Steve Sue
Hey Gang, here comes Edy & George Sheu to niceyricey! George and Edy will be writing under “georgesheu” so be sure to look for their posts.
George Sheu, Steve Sue, Edith Sue Sheu at Karen & Steve's Honolulu wedding reception 6/27/09
Edith is the third child in the Henry Sue clan who met George at UC Berkeley, then followed him to LA as George completed his education as a pharmacist at USC. Good move Uncle George – USC football is so much more satisfying to follow than UCB football.
I have an extra fond spot in my heart for Uncle George and Aunty Edy as they cared out for me while I attended UCLA. They used to have me out so much that I became “K5” even though my name started with an “S” (their kids are Kevin, Kerry, Kristy and Keith). I even spent the better part of a summer rooming with cousin Keith in the back bedroom above their pharmacy. Those were truly wonderful days and I thank them for so much joy and love.
I recall they worked so hard putting drug orders together and driving the around town on deliveries… and they smiled and were good natured all the time despite the hard work. I used to be amazed at how Uncle George could type. It was an unusual thing for men to do in that era. And he did it on one of those typewriters that didn’t erase! No backspace, no delete, no spell check. Then Aunty Edy would go out on her deliver rounds to disburse drugs to the many customers and retirement homes that were their patrons.
The Ladder Trick: two tall ladders + one plank = 1 dozen short Chinese kids seeing Rose Parade. Susan Siu, Valerie Siu, Kerry Sheu, George Sheu, Edy Sheu, Jennifer Siu, Kevin Sheu, Tina Siu, Alan Sue, Steve Sue 1/1/1977
Yet they always had the energy to take us to Disneyland or see the Rose Parade. Work hard, play hard. That was always their motto. What great role models to follow. Thanks Aunty & Uncle for letting us tag along after you and for showing us how to live life with so much class.
These days, despite being retired, their dance card is literally full… every week they do line dancing, ballroom dancing, pilates, gym workouts, yoga, bingo and family time with the kids and grandkids. You go Aunty & Uncle!
So, look forward to their writings mostly in the Sue and Sheu family categories… and bug them with special requests if you have questions about the past… welcome to niceyricey Uncle George and Aunty Edy!
Nov 13th, 2009 by Steve Sue
Bride Linda Cheng attacked from behind... news at 11.
You go Aunty Linda! After a quarter century of dating Phillip Wilson, Aunty Linda finally decided to tie the knot (Geez, I thought I was a late bloomer) so on November 7, 2009, first cousin Ed Sue married them in front of 70 relatives and friends at the Pier 29 Restaurant in Alameda. It was a beautiful event by the beach with perfect weather and a radiant bridal party.
Although I wasn’t originally on the guest list, Aunty Helen scammed an invite for me. You see, I happened to be in the Bay Area on business. Gotta say though, I didn’t know it was aloha attire, so I walked in like a mainlander to an event that looked like back home. That was really cool though because just the day before I had this thought that SF was very grey and that I really needed to see some tropical turquoise, so tad-dah, my wish was granted.
Actually, the whole event was really quite the rainbow. Phillip is Italian, Linda is Chinese and the rest of us guests were an ethnic soup of blacks, whites and all shades of yellow. Very modern. Very hip. Very cool.
Highlights included daughter Donna Cheng doing several hula dances with her coconut-encrusted gang… whoa, what a hottie… I’m sorry to say that every time the coconuts started shakin’, I experienced a strange bout of paralysis so I didn’t get any pics, but I am proud to report that Donna still got game. Good genes those Chinese have.
And speaking of Donna – I’m calling you out girl! Please help get some pics from the wedding day onto this site… my iPhone pics aren’t the best and I know you and your muscle-bound brother Regan got some killer pics. Oh, Regan got good genes too: when we were kids, he used to do his Mr. Universe pose and let us hang off his guns, then he’d ask if we’d been picking up girls, and we’d be like, “No – girls are heavy!” And he’d just chuckle. It was several years past puberty before I finally got the joke…
Finally, I just gotta shout out a congratulation to Dale Cheng’s son, Dale Jr. who has a baby of his own now. WOW! So that makes Aunty Linda a Great Grandmother Bride… awesome. And hecks, that makes Dale a Grandfather…yikers! And whoa, I originally reported that Sharon (the last third child in Aunty Linda’s litter) couldn’t be far behind the grandparent’s train as daughter Janelle is clearly packin’ some WMD’s now… but like DUH, I was having a senior moment of my own as I knew Imani was Janelle’s daughter which means that Aunty Linda has been a great grandmother for a long time!… so like I said, they all got good genes ’cause no one in that family looks like a grandparent. Hmmm, or may be it’s because my old eyes are goin’ now… Naw!
MORAL OF STORY
Chinese stay hot long time. (put that in your fortune cookie an smoke it!)
Nov 8th, 2009 by Steve Sue
Here’s some memories from Helen Owyoung…
We went to Chinese School after American School every day. It was the usual routine for all the Chinese children growing up in Chinatown.
There was never any juvenile problems in Chinatown. The parents only had to remind their children that they do not want any shame brought to them if they misbehaved in the community. Saturdays was a half day Chinese School. We usually stayed after school to play basketball or hang out with our classmates. When we were older, we joined the YWCA or YMCA for activities there. We would spend much time at the Powell Street Library where we can read the funnies. We also had jobs with the school or house jobs.
We went to the Cumberland Church on Sundays. We had some great Sunday School teachers, but the Minister was quite boring and we never knew what he was preaching about.
We all played at Grandpa & Grandma Lum’s apartment on Stockton Street. They had a hallway that went square ways all around and all the kids played there. Some Sundays, a friend dropped by to visit and gave us 50 cents to the movies. There were about 7 or 8 kids who went with us to the movies. We elected one person to hold the 50 cents to pay for entering, while all the kids are told to run as fast as they can to past the ticket man. I think he was just too kind to question us, so he just lets all of us in.
When we were attending Francisco Junior High, we would pass a cookie shop walking home on Columbus Ave. They have broken cookies for 5 cents and we really enjoyed these treats as we are going home with our friends.
Some of our memorable days off would be going to the Columbus Park enjoying the sunshine with Mom on her day off and with our sisters and brothers. It’s a short walk on Stockton Street to the park. The Catholic church nearby would be playing their chimes as we are enjoying the sunshine. Many of our friends are also there with their families.
One Sunday, we lost sister Gladys at Mosswood Park. We looked all over for her but couldn’t find her. We were all amazed when we saw her home on 11th and Oak Streets waiting for us. She was always very smart and somehow wandered home by herself.
Aunty Suky and I used our first pay checks to buy Christmas presents for the younger children in our family. We were making $5.00 per month and we thought we were so wealthy.
Nov 8th, 2009 by Steve Sue
Memories by Helen Owyoung…
Alice Sue and son Ed Sue, 1950
After many years in San Francisco, Mom moved to Oakland to operate the grocery store she bought from Uncle Tom. She was able to support my brothers Ed and John attending UC Berkeley by running the grocery store.
My sister, Gladys also graduated from UCB by supporting herself with many jobs through college. She went to Washington, DC to work after graduation and later married there.
My sister, Edy, left after her marriage for Los Angeles where her husband George was attending Pharmacy School. I stayed with Mom and the grocery store until we bought our home near Montgomery Wards.
Henry & Helen Owyoung with first son Brian, 1949
Hank and I had our 4 children at our first Oakland house. I had left my government job in San Francisco to help Mom with the grocery store.
We later moved to the Oakland Hills where our 4 children attended Skyline High School. Now we have 13 grandchildren and the last 3 are now attending colleges. Two of the grandchildren are now married and another will marry in January 2, 2010.
Time has gone by very fast, but memories are with me forever. We didn’t have much then, but Mom always fed us well and kept us in line.
