First Full Moon of the Dragon Year

Did you see the bright moon last night? It was the First Full Moon of the Dragon Year, the finale of Chinese New Year celebrations which used to last for fifteen days when I was growing up in Hong Kong, but, according to my sister, work resumes on the eighth day nowadays in , perhaps because the number eight is homonym for prosperity or growth? My mother was born on the First Full Moon and very proud of it, which is why in our family, it is almost a holy day. Now that she is no longer with us, it is a day of remembrance, and I make it a point to address the moon and wish her Happy Birthday every year wherever she may be! Eight years ago, I started celebrating her birthday in earnest, and threw a big party in her honor. I also started writing about her in earnest. I am still working on a memoir with her on center stage.