Two weeks ago, we wondered whether our new born son would be a Rat or an Ox. See, our midwives sometimes referred to a January 25 due date (Asian Rat Year ends) and other times January 26 (Asian Ox Year begins). 
On the cusp of the lunar New Year (first new moon, post-winter solstice), we followed a lunch recommendation to Zien Hong Chinese Restaurant. Sitting next to a Latino family who also had an expecting mother, we compared the personality traits of Rats vs. Oxen over salt&pepper shrimp and claypot seafood. Meanwhile, the staff was setting up for the restaurant's family celebration and schooled us on ancient traditions.
From the restaurant, we headed downtown to Portland's Classical Chinese Garden. It was a bright sunny day strolling along the reflecting ponds. For the next two weeks, the garden will be filled with New Year festivities. But today, it was calm and quiet with nary a visitor besides us, AND the Latino family from Zien Hong who became deeper acquaintances with every passing.
At the Tao of Tea house, we shared mooncakes and peppermint/licorice tea, waiting for baby and listening to live Chinese traditional music. After a month of last-minute nesting, it was a sweet time soaking up the sun and relaxing with the family. When the sun set, we said hasta luego to our new friends, and headed home for own Asian New Year dinner celebration.
In Chinese mythology, Rats
are resourceful winners and inventive while Oxen are patient listeners and hard-working. Bunny is an Ox, and I was secretly hoping for another calf. But now that we're two weeks late, a Rat sounds great in retrospect. After all, Ratatouile was a tres bien film a la 2008, and our little guy would be in my arms right now instead of this computer.
We returned to the Chinese Garden two weeks later on another bright, sunny and warmer day. More mooncake. More tea. More family sweetness. But this time, the festivities were rolling with Lion Dances, Shaolin Monks and a variety of vernal performances. China, must be a lot warmer than Oregon, because the New Year is also the official start to Spring. Although 6 more weeks of winter in Portland are imminent, there were a few floral signs of Spring today: blooming forsythia and camilia buds blooming with the sweet scent of saracocca.
The full moon is a day away. Bunny and Buddy are ready and ripe, too.
Chuc Mung Nam Moi! (Happy New Year!)
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