4 x 4

The project that has been languishing for five years on the backburner has been the gathering and documentation of my father's family's stories. I have always pictured this project as an unfolding structure, like a field plowed by an ox - the ox plow book. There are 16 sections in an ox-plow book - 4x4. I've got about five sections written. Eleven to go? Here are two:


On the day he was born, swarms of snakes invaded the sod house on Ta Chieh Road. Out they came from dark holes underground, slithering forward from rice fields. Coral and king snakes, grass snakes, and rainbow-hued vipers. Snakes under the kitchen table and snakes slipping under the bed where grandmother gave birth to the ninth of her children. Welcomed into the world with spits and hisses. Born in the year of the Snake, November 30, 1941.

*****

Great Aunt lost the tips of her fingers gambling. Not the punishment of an unpaid debt, but a self-inflicted amputation to control addiction. When she lost the family plot of land in a game of hearts, Great Grandmother laid down the law, forbidding the children to gamble or ever play games. This tradition was honored for three generations. If you haven’t fingertips to hold up your hand, you can't play the game.