There are 6 elevators in the Renaissance Harbour View Hotel; we were only 4—me, Evelin, Kris, and Michael. The game was quite simple: 1) Pick one elevator and stand by it. 2) If your elevator had my parents, you WIN!Guess what? I WON—BIG TIME too!
I only had a 1 out of 6 chance of winning, but after a few minutes of trepidation, the glory would be mine. It better had not been anyone else…they are after all MY parents, sheesh! The thing was though, as the elevator pinched open down the middle, my jaw dropped and heart hardened NOT because I finally saw my parents (sorry mom and dad)…
THAT DARN ELEVATOR CARRIED MY BROTHER, who came all the way from LA!
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
O God just thinking about this makes my heart flutter with that same discomposure of excitement as I struggled to comprehend the very being of my brother, as if it happened moments ago. I didn’t expect him, I couldn’t expect him (he had 4 exams they told me)—I was stunned, in disbelief, happy, screaming, I was Oh so happy, I could not believe my eyes, my heart literally stopped, my face turned blood red, and my hand shook like a wobbly old woman. I grabbed him, more like jumped on him, hugging him, repeating his name over and over and over… It didn’t even cross my mind to dream of this perfect birthday surprise, my 20th birthday gift in Hong Kong—the best ever—was Mody, habib albyyy!
This family of mine is God’s greatest gift to me; I am such a blessed and spoiled little brat to have them. Sometimes I wonder why I have become so lucky, other times I wonder what a perfect person I would be if I had 20% of the qualities that each possessed. Please mind my bias, but my dad is the kindest and smartest person in the whole wide world, my mom the sweetest, most gorgeous and loving friend and sister, and my brother the wisest, most incredible little cutey ever! I love them beyond the depths of the seas and more than all the grains of sand on the Earth. If they ask for my eyes I will give it to them, as an Egyptian saying goes.
Their arrival was a personal and intimate celebration to my heart, their departure a disaster. So what didn’t we do?
Strolling through Tsim Tsa Tsiu from the Renaissance to Hard Rock Café the very first night, our big group dispersed to littler ones. As my dad and I took the lead, my brother and Kris were having some quality time. I still need to figure out all the things they said! I remember passing by the Peninsula with my dad’s eyes glaring down the hotel, as if it is a long lost friend. And sure it was. My dad, recalling his previous time in Hong Kong, would point out the Rolls Royces, ultimately realizing he stayed there before, and insisted to go there “instead”. What I’m really trying to say is that—da—he did not like the Renaissance too much and after 2 nights at the Venetian (absolutely magical!), another 2 at the Shangri-La (simply fantastic!), we would be spending a 4 nights at the Peninsula (Oh YEAH)… some heavy-duty business with luggage for sure.
Every place had its own memories, special jokes, crazy moments, unexpected confessions, baklava eating, and a printer and a fax. So, at times I did end up slaving in the hotel as my parents went out for their daily excursion or tour, TRYING to get something (just anything) done. I think I did quite well for not spending any nights in HKBU for the duration of my family’s stay.
We went to Hard Rock Café which was, among other things, another birthday celebration for me. We went to Macao and did I know they will love it so much, I would have reserved the extra day we ended up staying for anyways instead of paying the cancellation fee of a one night stay at the other hotel. We went to the Avenue of Stars, Mody Road (of course), the Martini Bar for a chill night out, the Grand Hyatt for a lobster buffet 2 nights is a row, Ocean Park for some of the best views of Hong Kong (none of which my dad actually saw-he kept his eyes pinched shut for his fear of heights), Indian restaurants, Thai cuisines, Wan Chai, Lan Kwai, all the malls, every
market, the Peak and bays… it was absolutely ________! Just can’t find the word, damn it!
Oh, I watched them leave in a Rolls Royce. I rode with them to the airport. I was crying.
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