Jason & Susan

Been back in U.S. for a little over a week and it has been non-stop since the week before we left Shanghai. Research project proposal deadlines for Jason. Making 100 gift CDs for our Boston reception - 100% handmade - recorded in our own apartment (thanks to Ivan), burned using Susan’s T40, printed off our Lenovo printer, cut by hand, etched with the words “Thank You” , stamped with our personalized stamp, and carefully wrapped with home-made envelopes. Thanks to some of the youth girls for helping out. 14 long hours of flight to Washington, D.C. Then numerous shopping trips to Costco, Walmart, Trader Joes, Target, Michaels, Bed & Beyond, and shopping mall to stock up on Jason’s food supply as well as preparation for the reception. Shoe shopping was probablythe most stressful. Next was helping Jason’s parents stage their house for the market - rummaging through 40 years of boxes in the basement, moving our belongings back and forth as not to get in the way, fixing up the backyard and garden, and sifting through what’s left of Jason’s worldly possessions in U.S.. Then packing all the stuff we want to bring back to Shanghai, maximizing every inch of space and pound we can bring with us - 4 boxes at 50 pounds each - and yes, mostly Jason’s “glutten-free” food, super hypoallergenic lotions, OTC drugs, and fun games. Trip to FedEx to send over 400 pounds of stuff, some to SF, some to Boston, some to NJ, and some to Shanghai, including friends’ boxes and books we want to bring back via media rate (cheap but take 3-4 months to arrive) Then 9 hours drive to Boston with Japanese lunch in New Jersey with relatives. Legal Seafood dinner (yummy lobster) with relatives. Hair appointment and makeup for Susan. Lunch with old friend for Jason. Another wedding reception at MIT Faculty/Alum Club House. More family gatherings. More eating with relatives - yummy dim sum. 4 hours drive to New York with Nancy & Peter. Catching up on movies - Mission Impossible III & Poseidon (only $2 per showing!). BBQ. Tug of war between our possessions and Lulu (Nancy & Peter’s puppy). 4 hours train/shuttle ride to JFK airport, 2 hours delay, 6 hours flight, **TAKE A BIG BREATH** …. and NOW in Sunnyvale, California totally exhausted and Jason with fever of 101.4 degrees, bad eye infection, cold sores, and bad case of eczema breaking out.

Quite a trip.

Please pray for speedy recovery…. less than 40 hours until another 12 hours flight back to Shanghai and a busy work week for Jason.