In the Time of the Butterflies

There’s a mall in Hong Kong with several displays of red spooled thread attached to butterflies. I pointed them out to Mini Me because I have a strong affinity to butterflies, ever since I had Macy. But I also morbidly pointed out to Mini Me that the butterflies look like they are being held back or trapped. Or like kites.

Mini Me being Mini Me explained to me about the red threads of destiny/fate. About how the lines lead you to someone else until they intertwine. That it was a Chinese proverb? Myth? Belief? She read all about them in Grace Lin’s books.

It’s fitting as we have a super intertwined family here in Hong Kong. And after spending a week here among all the love, generosity, and kindness that is my extended family, I can see how all these threads of us intertwine, and how my parents and my dad’s siblings (and all my lovely cousins etc) work hard to keep us intertwined even thousands of miles away. My dad moved to the U.S. when he was eighteen, but he has always maintained his ties to our family here in Hong Kong and all over the world.

And now as I’m leaving, I feel like the photo of me above is like my family, giving me wings.

Thank you to all my cousins and aunts and uncles, and especially to my mom and dad, for ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS putting family first. I love you all.

P.S. If my interpretation of the red threads is incorrect, I hope my family will forgive my interpretation of the metaphor. :D

Do you have a favorite cultural belief? Let me know in the comment section.