Gramma's "real" 80th

Happy birthday to Gramma
happy birthday to Ama
happy birthday Gramma Pearl
happy birthday to you!

Today is Gramma's "real" 80th birthday (a.k.a. American birthday). Normally, we celebrate Gramma's Chinese birthday but this year, it was especially difficult for all of her grandkids to gather together in July so for the first time, we celebrated her American birthday. Unfortunately, Captain Cousin got called for duty at the very last second so everyone made it, sans him. :(

Bro and I started the birthday day by picking up Genius Cousin from LAX (but missed seeing Captain Cousin). Along the way to Dentist Aunty's house, we stopped by 2 Circuit Citys to find a cordless phone that Gramma's been eyeing.

Dinner was at Empress Harbor Seafood restaurant, where we had 2 large tables (Kids and Adults table; Law School Cousin got promoted to the Adults table. How did that happen?) with a traditional 10-course meal. It was a lot of fun catching up on what everyone has been up to. From the youngest up:

• First cousin once removed: will be taller than me in like 2-3 years. She had a recital where she played her viola (I'm so jealous).
  
• Genius Younger Cousin: took senior portraits a few weeks ago (remind me to ask him for one!); looking for a car. Going through the typical teenage angsty years (or is it called EMO, now?) but he's in denial. ;) I can say that b/c he doesn't read this blog. At least I don't think he does...
  
• Johns Hopkins Cousin: just came back from Taiwan a few days ago, after 6 weeks of teaching 3rd and 4th graders how to speak-uh duh Engrish.
• Berkeley 5'7" anorexic-looking-but-she's-not Cousin: Still not anorexic but looks like it. ;) She just got back from studying abroad in Switzerland for 5 weeks. She shared some lovely pictures of Switzerland, Paris, Monaco, Austria...all those fabulous places that I don't recognize b/c I'm so L.A.-centric.
• Future Teacher cousin: just got back with parents from visiting younger sister in "all those fabulous places"; passed CBEST and CSET (so I've heard through the "rumor-mill") and studying for RICA.
• Genius Cousin: only in L.A. for 24 hours before heading back up to the Bay Area b/c he is quite an important man at his company (or he has led me to believe that he is ;). He may get staffed on a project that will put him over in Sao Paulo in Brazil for a year or Tucson for a few months, or I think one other really cool place across seas for a while, too. He's also deciding on whether to apply for a joint JD-MBA program this year or next.
  
• Me! I'm the "middle child" of the grandkids. 3 years older than the next younger cousin and 2 years younger than the next older one. I am still in school for another year and have began vying for Gramma's attention come graduation time next year. I am competing against Genius Younger Cousin, Berkeley Cousin, and Law School Cousin (she is so coming to mine, suckaz!)
• Doctor Cousin: just finished her first year of residency at Yale. Hooray! She will be in Uganda next February for 4 weeks+...practicing international healthcare. OoooO! She has big career plans after she finishes her residency.
• Bro: flying off first-class to Chi-town tomorrow for business. As a Director at his company, he travels a lot with his boss-man/V.P. to pitch sales (ad time) to large companies. He also gets to travel a lot and fine-dine. I wish he could pack me in his suitcase. I just like the fine-dining part.
• Law School Cousin: just finished her summer internship at a law firm that was "ranked No. 5 on The American Lawyer’s 2006 A-List of top U.S. law firms." =O She has one more year of law school up North. She's still got her mad musical skillz as demo'd through her Nirvana, Elvis Presley, and Smashing Pumpkins guitar-playing, vocal-abuse singing. :D
• Captain Cousin's Wife: Still doing the Super-Mom thing, succeeding in her teaching career and home-life...and balancing it all just perfectly.
  
• Captain Cousin: unfortunately, MIA tonight. I haven't seen him since he got back from Kosovo in February. He's stationed at LAX beginning today...to supervise the people checking for gel and toothpaste and the likes...and to end terrorism! Go Captain Cousin! He is also looking to work in the O.C. P.D. or one of the cities in the O.C.

Wow, aren't we a nerdy bunch! Together, we chipped in for Gramma's birthday gift of helping her stay connected with her grandkids. We got her both a cordless phone and a cell phone. :)

Doctor Uncle also video-taped us and requested that we say something "original" to Gramma, but despite all of our nerdiness, we couldn't think of anything to say except "happy birthday!"

What I wanted to tell her was what an amazing woman she is. Although Gramma only gives us snapshots of her (pre-America) life, I know that she has achieved so much. As cliche as it sounds, she is truly a walking motto of "what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger." We love you Gramma. You are truly an inspiration to us.

Pictures to come (when cousins forward them to me).