And then World War II happened

Several weeks ago, I wanted to record my grandfather’s life story. So with my mom in tow, I recorded his life in Cantonese—his voice strong despite being in a body nearly a century old.

But the most interesting part?

Why did you marry your second wife? I asked without any judgement—everyone was old, sickly or already had passed away.

Without hesitation, he waved his wrinkled hands in the air, Because World War II happened. He laughed, I thought everyone was dead! I didn’t hear from anyone for three years.

Relationships, love…those things are complicated, I said telling my long lost cousins yesterday under the din of a popular San Francisco bar.

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