It’s the eve of a new year, a year of the dragon. The cycle repeats every 12 years. Where were we 12 years ago? The last dragon year. I recall it being the year just before I moved back to China. My job was disappeared on one day and the next day they offered me another…in China. It was an offer I couldn’t refuse. Literally. It’s not that I didn’t want to move back to Shanghai. But, with my daughter in the middle of high school, it didn’t feel like the optimum time to pick the whole family up and move halfway around the world. It turned out to be a great time. My daughter successfully navigated the transition, finished high school in Shanghai and then went off to college. Today she is in the final stretch of a PhD degree. Not bad. Not bad. Our son also managed the transition well. He stayed in touch with all of his US friends by playing co-op games on the X-box and slowly built his own network of local friends, started and finished high school and went off to college. He’s now in the final months of his undergraduate program and thinking of going to law school next. Not bad. Not bad.
My wife and I have now fully settled in Shanghai. We even applied for and successfully received permanent residency status. Our home is comfortable – a rare villa in the suburbs that is quickly becoming urban. A metro is being built to join us to the city network and should be up and running in the next couple of years. My job is reasonably stable and gives me the flexibility to continue with my writing and other interests. Not bad. Not bad.
I’m not sure if this year will bring another big transition. A decision that seems hard. But if it does I think I can take it in stride. Things seem to turn out not bad. Not bad.
May you all be blessed with peace of heart and mind. Happy Dragon Year!
新年快乐！
Be well,
Monty
Monty’s Blahg 
Hi Monty – we have a little tradition in our house of going shopping for whichever animal is to be our household charm for the year. I found a lovely brass dragon on Etsy for this years – have to admit I’m feeling hopeful about the dragon 🐉 fingers crossed and good luck to you as well
LikeLiked by 1 person
Best wishes to you and your lucky dragon 🐉!!!
LikeLike
Happy Dragon year to you too, Monty. My daughter and I are both dragons. She turns 24 this year, and I turn 60. YIKES!
I look back 12 years, and I was just finishing up cancer treatment and getting ready for a return to more normal life. In some ways, it feels like a lifetime ago, yet it has flown by. My daughters were 12 and 9 and now they’re both grown up. Time flies.
Have a wonderful weekend!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow!! Two Dragons in the family!! My daughter and I are both ox. Have an awesome year ahead!
LikeLiked by 1 person
My husband is a rabbit and our younger daughter is a sheep. They balance out the dragons. Happy lunar new year, Monty!
LikeLike
Over all not bad, not bad at all!! Happy new year!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful post, Monty!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Stephanie!
LikeLike