My 2019 Holiday Letter

December 2019

5 Alban Mews
New Albany, Ohio 43054
Email: roderick.chu@att.net


A holiday note to my family, friends, and colleagues —

This 2019 recap letter starts with my trip to England last December to celebrate a friend’s birthday. Then a week’s vacation in Paris with two objectives: having one fabulous meal and seeing much of the art I learned to appreciate since my last visit there as a teenager. I was delighted that my niece Karen flew over to join me there for a few days and helped me achieve both.

I’m so happy that Mom enjoys life in Ohio with me, where she gets some exercise walking amongst her favorite slot machines at Hollywood Casino about twice a week. We eat very well here, often with friends, and her favorite eateries nearby–Asian Taste Restaurant and New Albany Country Club–cook to her particular dietary preferences. It’s also comforting having outstanding doctors here who have gotten to know her so personally and care for her special needs. Despite coming down with pneumonia again this year, she has bounced back thanks to great medical care and Laura’s & David’s visits. I’m glad they were able to enjoy some of the many hidden treats around Columbus, as I continued to do all year.

I took just a few other trips to NY, Boston, and Chicago for special events, but somehow I’ve had to leave so many activities out of this letter because of lack of space–particularly: my Peace Lutheran Church mission group work; the many local TEDx, Creative Mornings, and Crichton Club presentations I attended that engaged my polymath aspirations; and my hands-on woodworking activities at the Columbus Idea Foundry.

I’m grateful that I continue to be blessed with having such loving family members and friends and that my health continues to be good. We just need to keep the current political situation in the U.S. as well as in the U.K. and H.K. from submerging our positive attitudes.

With all best hopes for the future, my family joins me in wishing you joy, fulfillment, and good health throughout this holiday season and throughout 2020!

Sincerely,
Rod

My blogs: http://rchu.wordpress.com 
                  http://www.choosygourmand.wordpress.com 

Ended 2018 celebrating a big birthday in Oxford

DEC 8-10, 2018: After driving to Laura & David’s with Mom, I flew from Boston to London, joining Michael Richardson to celebrate Sally Craddock’s 90th birthday in her St. Frideswide’s farmhouse in Oxford with her daughters Sacha & Dominie and many friends. I surprised Sally with my gift of 200 pairs of clip-on earrings, adding to the 100s I gave her on her 80th. We celebrated with over 100 friends in a large pavilion set up on her lawn whence the next day granddaughter Augusta Riddy and first-lodger Michael offered their tributes. Adassa Richardson also flew across the pond for the celebrations (though her twin Amina couldn’t, having lost her passport). Wonderful to stay with Frinny Grant and to catch-up with prize-winning author Meg Rossoff and many other friends I’ve made in 30+ years of visits, sharing my photos from those visits, and a concluding St F’s dinner before a night’s sleep and going off to London for my train to Paris.

Recognized another big birthday in Chicago

FEB: Adassa & Amina called family & friends together to celebrate their Daddy’s 70th Birthday in Chicago. After breakfast in his Oak Park home and brunch at Delia’s Kitchen, Michael called his personal shopper at Saks Fifth Avenue, bringing cousin Paul and me along. Dinner at Maya del Sol. Birthday day at the Art Institute after brunch and then birthday celebration at Bibliophile with toasts by sister Ann, me, & others. My honor to treat all to this big dinner for my dear friend of 55 years, good friends having stepped up to treat at the other venues. 

Visited Paris for the first time since 1963 (when Mom had me accompany her on a business trip)

DEC 11-13, 2018: Took a coach from Oxford to London to catch the Eurostar train to Paris. Taxi passed the Opera Garnier–where my Mom took me for my first opera in 1963–to my AirBnB in the 1e Arr. near the Place Vendôme where Karen awaited me, having flown overnight from Boston to keep me company. Classic bistro dinner at Aux Petit Riche–delicious razor clams. Next morning, walked to the enveloping installation featuring videos of Klimpt’s art, after a wonderful lunch at Le Servan. Strolled on to the Bastille Opera, through the hip Marais district, back to the AirBnB past the Louvre, the Jardin Des Tuileries Xmas fair, and Le Soufflé for dinner. Began my quest to see the great art museums I missed in 1963, walking to L’Orangerie and the magnificent Monet water lily murals and other great impressionist works by Picasso, Mondrian, and many others. Having loved my art history humanities courses in my UofM undergrad years, this was a huge treat.

DEC 13-14, 2018: Thanks to Pat Shiah’s suggestion, I made a reservation for the 7-course tasting lunch with wines at Guy Savoy (which I later learned was rated #1 in the world by La Liste). Truly memorable setting, cuisine (beautiful lobster timbale), and service (a gift course of salmon “cooked” on liquid nitrogen table-side). Chef Guy stopped by for a photo. On to Musée d’Orsay and their art by Monet, Manet, and other Impressionists. Shopped at Gallerie Lafayette with their huge indoor Xmas tree. Karen introduced me to her favorite Angelina with sinful pastries and unbelievably rich hot chocolate. Finally explored I.M. Pei’s pyramid at the Louvre and their magnificent works.

DEC 14-16, 2018: Shopped for tea at Mariage Frères and macarons at Ladurée before Karen returned to Boston. I toured alone the next day,  with my travels hampered by the reasonably peaceful but transportation-disruptive Yellow Vest Protesters. (Throughout my stay, I had to walk over 5 miles/day–tough now that I drive everywhere in Ohio!) Enjoyed Centre Pompidou’s modern & contemporary art. Found an open metro line to Sacré-Cœur, but my poor knees had to carry me up 500 stairs to get to the surface! Fortunately, I found a bus to Pigalle and metro to Notre Dame. I learned that Christ’s Crown of Thorns is there. So glad to have seen the Rose Windows and cathedral again before the tragic April 15, 2019 fire. Worked my way to the Champs-Élysées and the Arc de Triumphe–where I was awed by the spectacular Christmas lights–and sipped a cocktail at the remodeled Hotel Prince des Galles, where Mom & I stayed for a week in 1963.

Returned to Massachusetts for our family Christmas and to Ohio for NACC’s Family New Year’s Eve Party

DEC. 25 & 31, 2018: Christmas in Bolton with piles of gifts and Laura’s sumptuous dinner. Then Mom & I drove back to Ohio and celebrated at New Albany Country Club ‘s Family New Year’s Eve Party with S. L. & Theresa Lee and many neighbors and their kids.

Rejoiced eating with friends in and around New York City

JAN: Mom invited Edmund & Margaret Chan, Sulia Chan, and Chester Mah for dinner at Central Seafood in Hartsdale; had a delicious  Vancouver Crab on Ho Fun. FEB: James & Elizabeth Wong invited Mom & me and Chester to join their family for a lavish Chinese New Year’s Eve dinner featuring a Roast Suckling Pig and several other dishes, each with auspicious meanings, accompanied by lovely wines.

JUN-JUL: Mom sponsored a table at the Friends of the Rockefeller State Park Preserve Gala at the Rockefeller Playhouse honoring Pres. Bill & Secretary Hillary Clinton. Glad Chester Mah & Kaity Tong could join Mom & me, Laura & David, Karen & Gian, and A.J. & Alexandra for the festive evening. Two weeks later, I caught 3 largemouth bass at RSPP’s Swan Lake that I cleaned & cooked for Mom & me to Pop’s recipe.

JUN-JUL: Mom & I joined Harriet Snyder as Sharon, Tony & Teddy Lee’s guests to savor the house-made Xiao Long Baos at Mister Chan in Mamaroneck. Also Lilian & Leo Fong’s guests for a fine Italian dinner at Cafe Silvium in Greenwich. After showing us the new Hudson Yards, James & Elizabeth Wong had us join Daniel & Ada Chow in Chinatown’s Oriental Garden for yummy Roast Squab & other classics.

Savored Performing Arts around Columbus

Wowed by performances around Columbus. MAR, APR, SEP: Edwaard Liang’s choreography and artistic direction of BalletMet’s world-class performances in Don Quixote, Cinderella, and Tributary. Church friends’ performances: APR: Dominic Catrone’s lead–using my British-made umbrella–in New Albany Middle School’s Singin’ in the Rain, Jr.; JUN: Opera Project Columbus’ Rigoletto with James Hopkins; SEP: Keyona Willis in Opera Columbus’ Gianni Schicchi. MAR: Refectory’s Dinner Music Series’ guitar virtuoso Joe Robinson, with Susan & Rich Petrick. 

Participated in three big Cornell events

FEB: With my host Henry Shum for the Cornell Asian Alumni Assn’s Pan-Asian Banquet in NYC. At the Cornell Alumni Leadership Conference in Boston, caught up with Kelly Brown. Back to campus in OCT for the Trustee-Council Annual Meeting as a Life Member of Council. Again appreciated the overwhelming hospitality of Joe & Marney Thomas. Celebrated the newly-named recipients of the Frank H. T. Rhodes Exemplary Alumni Service Award with Trustee Emeritus and fellow prior recipient Martin Tang, our photos projected at the TCAM Dinner.

Enjoyed Laura’s & David’s visits to Columbus

AUG: When Mom came down with pneumonia, Laura flew in to help. Thanks to the talented and dedicated medical professionals at the Ohio State University Medical Center, Mom got outstanding care and diagnostic services–and beautiful hospital rooms with terrific views– and she was out within two weeks. We had delicious handmade noodles at Chinese Beef Noodle Soup and Columbus’ top chef Avishar Barua’s plates at Service Bar. OCT: Laura returned to keep Mom company while I was in Ithaca for my Cornell meeting. On my return, we dined together at Min Ga and Asian Taste, then David flew in for a family dinner at NACC and lunch at Hot Chicken Takeover before joining us, Cherie Nelson, and 100s of other neighbors at the Club’s Fall Wine Expo’s tastes of 200+ wines, including some high-end French Burgundies. David was in pig heaven at Schmidt’s sausage buffet. Then we were entranced by the captivating art rooms at Otherworld.

Dined with friends in Ohio

Mom & I ate with many friends around New Albany. A sampling. JAN: At NACC with Herb & Janice Wolman, Bob & Linda Gorman, and Don & Lisal Gorman for Sherran Blair’s visit back to New Albany. AUG: Sunflower’s dim sum with Jim Miller & David Glisson and past exchange students Janish & Martin. Tom & Marby Senker stopped by for dinner at NACC & overnighted with us on their way from vacationing in Canada to their South Carolina home. Pot Luck dinner at my home with Ping & Virginia Chen, S.L. & Theresa Lee, Stella & Warren Woo, and Ambrose & Irene Ng. Mom & I were among their family and close friends for Vivian Davis’ birthday dinner for Jack at Rocky Fork C. C.

Delighted by flora & fauna around home

JAN: We were happy to see & feed Billy & Bobbie the swans out on our #2N NACC pond. Didn’t see them much the rest of the year, but in MAY, with the swans away, Canada geese & goslings took up residence for awhile. AUG: We missed one flowering of Mom’s Night Blooming Cereus while we were in NY, but it bloomed for me again on Aug. 21st. With 8 more buds ready to open on the 22nd, I invited neighbors over to enjoy them that evening. A lucky toad greeting them on my doorstep. Delighted that Kathleen Trafford, Midge & Tally Krumm, and others got to enjoy the flowers & aroma, and that it kept one blossom to open on Aug. 23rd celebrating Mom’s return home.

Printed 2019 Letter

I fit all the above into one double-sided legal sheet to include with my Christmas cards. Since Adobe stopped supporting its InDesign app except on a monthly subscription basis, I bought Affinity Publisher at a reasonable one-time purchase cost and made the easy switch to it to lay out this year's letter. If you'd like a hard copy, I'd be happy to mail you one - just send an email with your mailing address to me at roderick.chu@att.net.