Another two weeks in 2025 with Ibuk and Mami

Last year, I brought my mom and my aunty (Mami) to Taiwan. It was only for two weeks, but those days stayed with me like a soft light. It was their first time here. Everything felt new to them, and watching their joy made me feel like I was seeing the city for the first time too.

This year, they came again. It was just before Ramadan, not long after I got back from Japan. I had spent a bit too much on that trip, so I couldn’t take full time off like I did last year. Instead, I worked in the mornings, then met them after lunch to go out together. The pace was slower. We weren’t in a rush. They had already visited the tourist spots last year, so this time we let the days unfold quietly. 

There were still plenty of little adventures. One of the first surprises was that both of them won Lucky Land vouchers from the Taiwan government 5,000 NTD each. We couldn’t believe it. They laughed and said Taiwan really wanted them to shop, so of course, they listened. We did small things that made the days feel special. We played baseball in an arcade in Ximending and took silly pictures in a photo booth nearby. Another day we watched lanterns floating in the evening air at Sanchong Metropolitan Park. We went to Yehliu and walked past rocks shaped by wind and waves. We visited flower fields near the riverside and wandered around the Shilin residence, the tulips were blooming gently. We walked between rows of flowers, stopping every few steps to take pictures. We bought pistachio ice cream from 7-Eleven and sat down on a bench to enjoy it slowly. It was a simple pleasure, but the kind that stays in your memory.

One morning at the traditional market, we found a fresh tuna. It was big and expensive, but we bought it anyway. We cooked it at home and shared it at the dining table. It tasted like something from a good restaurant. More than the flavor, I just loved seeing how satisfied they were. The Lucky Land money, along with a bit of their own, quickly disappeared into shopping bags. Clothes, snacks, souvenirs, they couldn’t resist. By the end of the trip, we realized we hadn’t learned our lesson from last year. Once again, we didn’t have enough space in our luggage. And once again, we ended up paying for extra baggage. We laughed about it as we zipped the overfilled bags shut.

There’s something so ordinary yet precious in all of it. I’ve always wanted to take my mom to places she never expected to see. When I was younger, my parents made so many of my wishes come true, even the little ones. Especially my dad. He always said yes if it made me happy. He’s no longer here, but I try to carry that kindness forward. I want to make my mom happy the way they once did for me. I want to bring her along, even if just for two weeks at a time. I want to send my prayers to my dad and hope he sees how much he’s still part of our lives.

And maybe one day, in a place better than this world, I’ll see him again and tell him all about the tuna, the tulips, the laughter, and the extra luggage we never learn to avoid.

Until then, I’ll keep living simply, trying to make good memories with the people I love.