On this, my first trip to Korea, I thought I’d seen
all of my relatives except one. Then yesterday,
eating dinner in Busan, although it was very dark–
the lighting in restaurants here is usually quite dim –
I thought I saw my grandfather drinking soju with his friends
across the room. I strained to see, and after nearly going blind,
I simply stood up, went over to the table, and said, bowing,
Grampa, it’s Lanning, from Honolulu. He stared at me,
looked at his group, shrugged his shoulders, and shook his head.
Hal-abeoji, Hal-abeoji, I said, remembering he couldn’t
speak much English, I’m Lanning, from Hawaiʻi.
This time he growled at me as if I were a stranger,
waved me away, light glaring off his glasses.
I think perhaps he wasn’t my grandfather after all.
* * * * *
Today’s word is
relatives
Use it in a piece of writing, or to inspire a piece of writing, and then post what you come up with as a comment below. I’d love to read what you come up with : )
Lanning Lee 