A Memorial Tribute to Sun Zi Xian

My Father-in-law died a year ago (10/11/07) and I thought it appropriate to remember him with a message at this time.

I wrote the following comment in my journal circa 1998 after taking this photograph at his request.

"Lao Ba ('ole dad') scarcely lifts his head from his ancient world filled with the knowledge of a long life, memories of a lost wife and the echo and shadows of the billion black characters he silently painted over the years. Beneath his wife's stunning black and white portrait lay an inscription which he brushed: 'Life is fleeting but virtue is immortal.' "

This bare, elegant image of him
beside the wife he honored with such a soft and certain brush has directed my consciousness and focused my spirit over the years.

I never met my mother-in-law. I dreamed of her only once, soon before my father-in-law was to pass from this world. She was waiting for me to bring a message from my father-in-law which turned out to bear a passage written by Abdul-Baha himself mysteriously purposed outside of time for her eyes.

For me it is no small disappointment to watch such a distinguished generation of Chinese as he was a member of, symbolically receding into the horizon of it's evening. It is a daily and a serious reminder for me- to do my part in distinguishing my own generation by illumined conduct; and lofty, courageous sentiment and vocation throughout life.

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Here some photos of my father-in-law and mother-in-law:

A Vote is cast for Obama by my wife Sunray Crofts

Yeah yeah big deal right? Well this one is unique for a few reasons. Here's a list:

• At no other time in her life could she have voted for America's president. She is eligible to vote because she is now an American citizen.
• In China, when she was a Chinese citizen she could not have voted either for China's leadership. It's the first time in her life she will have been able to vote for her country's leader.
• A few months ago (a little too early in retrospect) we bought the pictured educational placemat for our children's mealtime study. Notice anything missing? Yeah- me too: any faces of someone who isn't male and or white..(click photo to enlarge)

So we figure if Obama wins, it could be an historic memory to have a picture to show our grand-children of Sunray casting her first vote ever for the first minority president in American history. Go wife!!

All trying hard not to squint in the bright sunlight getting ready to go to the poling booth (Ethan trying perhaps a touch too hard).

Sunray and kids (Eli about to die of boredom apparently) in line to vote at Brentood Public Library.

Talking to Poling Assistant.

They told me just before I snapped it that I wasn't allowed, so I took the photo before the camera had a chance to focus.