For those interested how a typical U.S. West Coast lifestyle
is like, especially in Los Angeles, we love to entertain in our homes. It does not matter if your place is huge or
not. I always say, you can always
entertain a few close friends even in a closet.
Others say, they live with their parents, so I countered, what's wrong with
inviting your family to join in the fun?
If they don't like it, they can go and watch a double-feature movie in
the theatres or just sneak into another one.
Others would give me cultural reasons not to. To me, it is just an excuse. For me, to entertain in one's home is to show
your warmth and sincerity.
What you see in the movies are either the super-rich or
celebrities throwing lavish parties to impress or to get connections. In the ordinary lives of us mere mortals, the
most common thing to do is a potluck.
This won't put a strain on the host and there will always a great
variety of food, dessert and drinks for all to enjoy. My party started at 1 p.m., we did a potluck
lunch with people bringing Chinese BBQ meats, Jewish quiches, sushi, Indian
samosas, lamb bryani and American staples like baked beans and corn on the cob. Even though I don't drink, there is always plenty of wine and beer flowing around. There is only a friend in the
entire group who normally brings hard liquor such as vodka, whiskey etc. Of course, the Asian group preferred hot
Chinese tea and most would gyrate
towards coffee of any kind. There was so
much to eat that we didn't have to go out or have takeout food in the evening.
As night fell, more friends arrived. The fire pit was fired up and people gathered
around it like a bunch of moths circling a light. As the social atmosphere began to mellow,
everyone started enjoying the warmth and conversations became more interesting. I'm just being nice. Nothing is more salacious than gossip about
people you know! That is what makes any
party swing. This time around, plenty of
people brought dessert. This was what I
told them to bring if they intended to come later in the evening. However, they were free to choose whatever
their favorites were. There was a
symbolic gesture of a small box of moon cake.
After all this is its festival namesake.
Not many people like to eat them anyway.
My new toy, the fire pit, was the main hit at the party,
followed closely by another group with musical talents. They crowded around the piano. People sang and people played. Drinks continued to flow unceasingly and
everyone had a great time. Thank
goodness, my neighbours were also having their parties, albeit not for the same
reason. So everyone is not worried about
someone calling the police because of the loud noises that the neighbourhood is
making. Of course, I was making the most
noise. My voice boomed into the night to
ensure that everything is picture perfect.
I had to make sure that everyone felt welcome and had enough to eat but
not too much drinking! This is because
drunk driving is a serious offence in California and also I don't want my
friends to get hurt or get into trouble.
Finally by midnight, most had left. However a few close friends remained and we sat
winding down by the fire pit for some quiet exchanges. By now the autumn moon had risen high up into
the sky and over the obstructed bamboo skyline. The place was still and a gentle breeze rose,
sweeping the flames of the fire pit. We gazed
into the fire as we were mesmerized by the flickering tongues of the flames. Each of us rocking in our chairs in different
tempos as different thoughts were marching in our minds. One of us suddenly recited,
金風梳月影, The golden breeze brushing the shadows of the
moon,
玉露點秋香. Jade dew touching the fragrance of autumn.
月明心緒寧, The moon is bright and my mood is at ease,
徘徊昨夜夢. Lingering in dreams of last night.
I see someone was in his poetic mood. On the surface, the poem is
innocuous as can be. The "golden
breeze" and "jade dew" are symbols of autumn; a poem describing
an autumn scene with the poet's feelings.
After a while in deep thought, I began to suspect something is
amiss. "Autumn fragrance" can
also be a name of a girl, especially the name of maid in this traditional
Chinese story (唐伯虎點秋香) of
how a flirty scholar is trying to seduce her.
Oh ho! Crouched in poetic
imagery, is my friend trying to brag about his last night's conquest?
But before I could go further, another chimed in a poem of his
own.
春風笑少年, The spring breeze laughing at youth
夏花無限嬌. Unlimited is the beauty of summer flowers.
秋雪豈能有, How can there be snow in autumn?
冬月醉長夜. The winter's moon, drunk in the night.
今宵百花樓, Tonight at the House of Hundred Blooms,
明日水東流. Gone tomorrow, like the waters flowing east.
For a long time, there was silence in the air except the creaking
of the rockers. For a long time I
wondered why the mood had changed even though I
detected a euphemism of brothel in the last poem. Finally 2
a.m. approached and everyone started to get up giving the excuse that it was
time to part and thanked me for a wonderful party. I was tired too and called it a night. The next day, I recalled last night's poems
and began to write them down. As I was
translating the poem, suddenly from the written form, I found the answer to my
last night's question.
Reading the first
two columns from left to right and from the top to bottom, the characters from
the first four lines form two Chinese phrases, "Spring, Summer, Autumn and
Winter" and "Wind, Flower, Snow Moon". The first phrase is just a description of the
seasons of the year but in Chinese can symbolically mean the four stages of a
person's life; his youth, his peak, his declining years and his final
days. The second phrase originally meant
the poetic beauty of nature. However, now
degenerates to a description of having a dissolute life of wine and women!
No wonder last night's atmosphere abruptly
changed. I am sure one of my friend was
laughing at the age of the bragger. I guess those two won't be seeing each
other for quite a while.
Jeff, Jeff, Jeff… You are too slow in catching on things of this
calibre. Now you know the reason of this
notebook entry.
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