Cousin Get-Together in Philadelphia

We had planned this reunion months ago, coordinating between Thailand, Jamaica, and the States. On Friday afternoon, AJ and I took the Megabus from 31st Street and Ninth Avenue in New York to the 30th Street Station in Philadelphia. The bus was late getting in because it took us an hour to get through the Lincoln Tunnel. Cathy, Marcy, and Diana picked us up in Philly and we were off again, on our way to see Eddie and Phyllis. We couldn't stay longer than half an hour as we were expected for dinner at Robin's house. Anne Marie was waiting for us when we arrived.

Marcy, Anne Marie, Cathy, Robin, me and Diana, in front

The next day we set off to have a hearty diner breakfast at Effie's Charcoal Chef. However, the gods of travel set up a detour. We had to go around a bad accident on Route 422, so that made us an hour late for Effie's. It was all good because that only made us hungrier. Aunt Myrna, Aunt Colleen's cousin, met us at Effie's. Afterwards, we had a quick tour of Reading. Anne Marie showed us her elementary school, St. Catherine of Sienna, and the building her family once owned. We went to Gethsemane Cemetery to pay our respects at Uncle Jasper's grave. Marcy said a lovely, heartfelt prayer at his gravesite. It's hard to believe it's been nine years already since he passed away.

We stopped at Boscov's, a discount retailer. Anne Marie told us the story of the family's patriarch who started a single store in Reading that he and his descendants eventually built into a chain. But more than than, he gave back to the community as much as the community gave him in support. At Christmas, for example, he closes the doors for one day so that the handicapped can do their Christmas shopping without waiting in long lines. As for me, I got some good deals on kitchen implements, a tablecloth for our dining table in Bangkok, and Christmas gifts for the family.

With Aunt Colleen

We visited Aunt Colleen who lives nearby in a neat apartment complex with her Jamaican nurse-companion, Ruth. Aunt Colleen is frail but her welcome was strong and warm. We had a wonderful hour catching up on the news with her. Anne Marie gave us all necklaces with silver palm tree pendants as a souvenir of our visit. Afterwards, we picked up Sam, who was waiting for us at Aunt Myrna's house. Then it was on to the Hong Thanh, a Chinese-Vietnamese restaurant in downtown Reading. John, his wife Linda, and their son Daniel were waiting for us there. The meal was excellent. The dessert was most unique. Called "apple crème brulée" on the menu it was like no other crème brulée I had ever had. It was like a baked apple with cream in the center.

Crème brulée?

Meals punctuate every Chen-See reunion. It wouldn't be a get-together without meals that are hearty and filling. Food is always important on occasions like these. In Chinese families, sharing a meal with cousins who come from far away shows we honor and esteem them. Now that our family has scattered all over the map, it would be naive to think that getting together will always be as easy as this. It was nice that everyone made the effort to get together. I wish we could do this again sometime soon! Until then, we will enjoy the memories. Until the next time.

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