As we wind down the Year of the Dragon, I find myself a bit sad to see it go. Thinking back over the events of this year, I see that it was indeed filled with dragons.
It started about a year ago with Cathay Pacific’s Year of the Dragon discounted airfare. I not only booked two tickets, but also received this special stuffed dragon. My kids have been great about sharing.
In Hong Kong I saw dragons everywhere. This statue is in Causeway Bay.
My friend Rita bought my two younger kids these handmade dragons that surround the Cathay dragon. We found them at the art museum at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. They had a special exhibit about dragons in Chinese art.
My youngest son, Martin, loved his dragon shirt. I bought it from an alley vendor in Central. The thing either shrank a few sizes or Martin grew a ton. Or maybe a bit of both.
I bought my daughter, Rachel, a string of Chinese zodiac animals, including this dragon (and snake). She hangs it proudly in her room.
For myself and some friends, I bought Chinese cutout cards. I kept this dragon one.
After the dragon extravaganza in Hong Kong, I thought my dragon sightings would stop. Not the case. This is one of the kids’ favorite books. I read it to them often (they got it for Hannukah just a month or two before the Year of the Dragon started).
To celebrate the start of the school year, I bought the kids this dragon fruit.
In the fall, I escaped with my husband Tom’s sisters to Montreal for a long weekend. Here I am with a dragon at the botanical gardens.
I took my oldest son, Jake, to the Hong Kong film fest in Chicago in November. Here’s my name tag with the dragon logo of the Hong Kong Trade and Economic Office, the sponsor of the fest.
For the holidays, I bought Tom a pair of cufflinks created for the Year of the Dragon.
The little kids received this amazing book about colors and Chinese culture on one of the nights of Hannukah.
And in the last month of the Year of the Dragon, the kids and I made this dragon. I’ll bring it to my Chinese New Year presentations at Martin’s and Rachel’s schools next month.
As much as I’ll miss the Year of the Dragon, I have grand hopes for the Year of the Snake and can’t wait for it to begin! Happy Lunar New Year!
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