Dinner with Neighbors #4

Weeks ago, after losing my home, I posted online asking if I could have dinner with neighbors. Neighbors answered, and it's changing my life: DINNER WITH NEIGHBORS #4 - The Wongs

Gordon and Shirley Wong opened Knoll's Pharmacy over thirty years ago, and found purpose working six days a week to provide medicine to the community. Shirley used to personally deliver prescriptions to save customer costs, and she never threw away a holiday card (and they got a lot!).

The dinner was simply fantastic. Steak. Tofu. Vegetables. Egg rolls. Tofu. Some of the best fried rice I'd ever had.

Gordon enjoys a mug of milk and Shirley shares how important traditional food is to her. And she wishes that there were a way to connect with homesick Chinese college students to give them a meal that reminds them of home.

They also sent four kids from Marquez to Pali, and I found out I was classmates with one of their sons. I recognized him from a picture on the wall. He just got married last week. Mazel tov!

Without Knoll's, Shirley finds herself overwhelmed by unscheduled time, feeling busy but doing nothing. Gordon wonders if it's even possible to overcome the obstacles ahead and serve Palisadians again... and if so, when?

Neither were ready to retire, but they aren't to start a whole new business either. Losing the holiday cards was one of the more heartbreaking parts. They mentioned a plan to make a giant scrapbook when they did retire, so they could see the families growing up through the years.

Although the dinner discussed sadness and anxiety, the table was filled with laughter and jokes. I'll leave you with my favorite.

"Why can't a Chinese couple make a caucasian baby?" Shirley asks. "Why can't they?" "Because two Wongs can't make a white!"