I sit waiting patiently for my plane that promises to take me from San Francisco, USA to Da Nang, Vietnam. As I mentally prepare for what lies ahead, I feel deeply grateful that I have the time, resources and family support that make the telling of this tale possible.

My Granddaughter Lynda Huynh is in the air from Dallas, Texas, USA to Seoul, South Korea.  We will meet in Seoul and continue on to Da Nang together, where we will be met at the airport by Vietnamese family. I am so delighted that Lynda had the time and interest to accompany me as interpreter and researcher.

Lynda started a great new job recently.  When she was hired she told her new employer there was a slight catch – she was going to have to go to Vietnam for 3 weeks with her grandfather to help him with his book.  Any job I ever applied for this would have been a deal killer – Not so with Lynda.  It’s a testament to her value as a prospective employee that her new boss readily agreed.  Thank you Lynda and your boss!  Let’s make your mom’s story come alive so we can all be proud of the effort…