What a riveting essay! And what a fascinating parallel between the two fathers as they expressed how they missed their respective child. I read both with a pang in my heart as the sentiment mirrored my own father's during the long periods we were living in different countries and were estranged. Your great grandfather's tone was really harsh and gave the impression of a man steeped in misogyny (which was probably true of all men at that time period? Sorry about making this assumption) -- e.g. giving Dolly a spanking and blaming the woman for choosing the wrong man (something my mom used to do!).
I am very curious about the original Chinese letter written by your grandfather to your dad. The photo here shows a cropped part of the letter. Would you mind sharing the entirety of it so I can study the content and the penmanship? The sentence structure and the punctuation are different from the modern Chinese language, but typical of the pre-Communist era.
Hi Louisa. Thank you for this close read! I hear you on the misogyny but I think their relationship was complex as she grew up mostly apart from him, then tended his dying wife in a mining town and wound up supporting herself and springing for my grandfather because she thought he had wealth. Sigh.
I will find the other letter for you! Always eager for translation ♥️
Many thanks, Lisa. Welcome to Substack! Your newsletter looks amazing. Looks like we're on the same wavelength of ancestry study. And, are you in Stamford? I'm from Cos Cob originally.
What a riveting essay! And what a fascinating parallel between the two fathers as they expressed how they missed their respective child. I read both with a pang in my heart as the sentiment mirrored my own father's during the long periods we were living in different countries and were estranged. Your great grandfather's tone was really harsh and gave the impression of a man steeped in misogyny (which was probably true of all men at that time period? Sorry about making this assumption) -- e.g. giving Dolly a spanking and blaming the woman for choosing the wrong man (something my mom used to do!).
I am very curious about the original Chinese letter written by your grandfather to your dad. The photo here shows a cropped part of the letter. Would you mind sharing the entirety of it so I can study the content and the penmanship? The sentence structure and the punctuation are different from the modern Chinese language, but typical of the pre-Communist era.
Hi Louisa. Thank you for this close read! I hear you on the misogyny but I think their relationship was complex as she grew up mostly apart from him, then tended his dying wife in a mining town and wound up supporting herself and springing for my grandfather because she thought he had wealth. Sigh.
I will find the other letter for you! Always eager for translation ♥️
Oh, what a story! Sigh!!!
Thanks for being willing to share the letter with me. Waiting in eagerness.
Beautiful essay. Connecting the universal experiences of parents and children with your own unique and remarkable family.
Many thanks, Lisa. Welcome to Substack! Your newsletter looks amazing. Looks like we're on the same wavelength of ancestry study. And, are you in Stamford? I'm from Cos Cob originally.
Wow! Yes! My first year in CT was in Cos Cob.
Amazing! I grew up here: https://authoraimeeliu.medium.com/return-to-wonderland-lia-fail-d76a500d69d1
We just sold my parents' house last year.
OMG! I used to bike by there all the time and thought both the place and the place name so enchanting I wanted to know more! I love knowing this!
This was really beautiful. I love the way you capture the universal without losing the specificity of your heritage and experience. I’m here for it.
Thank you so much, Seth. I have great admiration for your newsletter, your deep dive into the ways of faith. Bravo!