追思文 （York, Kelly）

Dear Ah Bei:

Thank you for being such a big part of my life. My memories of you start from when I was really young. I remember I had a fascination with your car: a silver Volvo that was just a little older than me. 3 of the first words I learned to say were “Ah Bei Volvo key” and I would repeat that phrase over and over. I imagine I probably giggled over this phrase as I learned to talk with you and that’s why it stuck.

I also remember I was always excited when you and Ah-Mm visited from Taiwan. You always brought arare and other delicious snacks for my cousins and me. And these weren’t the generic so-so snacks that we could find at stores here; you always brought the premium kinds that were packaged intricately and much more delicious. I remember one time watching you open your suitcase and it was full of snacks – it looked like you just opened a treasure chest and my eyes got big. Over the years I tried so many that even though I can’t read Japanese, I can tell which snacks are good just by looking at them since I tried so many from you.

You were special to me and I always knew there was something special about you too. I remember being awed by studying your many commemorative plaques and awards that you won whenever I wandered around your house. I distinctly remember a very nice orca whale trophy and an airplane trophy, among others. I will always cherish the time we spent together. No matter the situation you always had a calming presence, and whenever you shared your wisdom everybody would stop what they were doing and listen. You taught me to be good to people and especially to treat family well, as you took care of all your siblings and my cousins. Thank you for teaching me such important lessons and I miss you dearly.

Love, York

Ah Bei has always been one of Kelley’s favorite people. Every single day she asks the same 2 questions: “Where’s Ah Bei” and “When’s he coming back?” She’s always looking forward to when he and Ah-Mm visit and tries to confirm an answer before she can move to a new topic.

When we were little, Ah Bei took us swimming often and Kelley especially enjoyed these moments. He also knew how to make her laugh deeply and infectiously by making up nursery rhyme songs about our dogs. Kelley would then repeat: “Kelley has a big dog!” and shake with laughter. Ah Bei had a special connection with her and always brought her joy and a smile to her face.

Kelley