I remember playing with all my Japanese imported toys in Taiwan. My brother and I never left our house to play with the other kids on the block. We would always spend the afternoon at home playing with our toys... coming up with games or just watching videos.

But I remember looking over the balcony and seeing all the neighborhood kids playing on the street. It seemed like so much fun. I'm not sure what games they played... or how a broom stick or a washboard became some imaginary weapon they would fight over... but I remember longing to be a part of their games sometimes.

I recall one particular day in which I decided I was going to try to join them. So I grabbed a bag of chips and a very small toy sword and went downstairs. I hid the toy sword in my bag of chips and went downstairs to attempt join the neighborhood kids' games. When i got down to the street... all I could do was stand there and watch while eating my chips... and keeping an eye on my toy sword hidden in my bag of chips... just in case I was attacked and had to defend myself of course.

But i never got to meet them really... I never knew their names... I never knew where they all lived exactly...

When my family and i packed up all our belongings and immigrated to the U.S... my mom brought a big box of our old toys to the kids. I remember them crowding around the box, somewhat shy and taken back at all the nice toys that are being given away for free... I noticed that they couldnt take their eyes off of the box and its contents. I dont know why... but even at that young age, i felt ... sad .... that they would be happy with my old toys... ANd i think for the first time.. i realized... there's just so much I should appreciate in my life.

- posted by Jack @ 1:15 PM