Somewhere only she knows!

Early September 2011, we joined the Rodgers' for dinner at our favorite Chinese restaurant (Fu Wing Lo) or as we call it "Kenny's". The owner; Kenny, has been a friend of Iris' family for many years, ever since the family began dining at Kenny's father's restaurant in the Los Angeles area. Both Diane and Kenny are very kind and have a special bond with Tanith, who is not only Chinese but also became a part of our family in the same city as the two were born.

As it is customary after dinner, we sit around for a few minutes and converse a bit with Kenny and Diane.  While talking to them and waiting for the bill, Tanith stood on one of the restaurant chairs, against her better judgement and just as I decided to talk her down, it occurred to me, that it had been a little over a year since we came back from China and Tanith had not been exposed to much Chinese aside from the occasional Ni-Hao-Kai-Lan TV show.

I asked Diane to instruct Tanith in Chinese of the dangers of standing on a chair and to please seat down. What followed, was not only amazing but it revealed to me a very important detail of my daughter's identity.

Upon hearing Diane's commands in Chinese, Tanith immediately paused, fixed her eyes on Diane's and the sweetest, most endearing smile slowly formed on Tanith's lips. Tanith was happy and without loosing sight on Diane, she grabbed onto the back on the chair and slowly proceeded to sit as instructed.

The amazing part is not only that she understood her native language, but the fact that I was able to see that my little girl had traveled back in time to a place that is perhaps full of friends and wonderful memories of her very short past...a place that only she knows!