April

tulip town

The warm weather did not last. Spring rudely did an about turn and sent winter back to us. There was more hail and rain  than sun. The electric blanket we were packing away went right back into the bed again.

YK was engrossed with preparing his Singapore and US taxes, but on the first day of April, he suggested an excursion to Skagit Valley for the Tulip Festival. It was no April’s Fool joke! Going by the weather report, that was the driest day in the week for such an outgoing. Even then it was a cold and windy day and I needed my ear-muffs to keep away nasty earaches.

The tulips had bloomed early this year because of the warm spells in the previous months. The tulip fields were gorgeous with swathes of colors that stretched endlessly. Not only was it a feast for the eyes, I could almost hear the thousands upon thousands of tulips singing the praises of God. My soul happily sang along too. Parents with strollers and oldies their walking aids joined the rest of us, trudging through the uneven muddy acres. It was a long but exhilarating walk. We don’t need to go to Holland, this is good enough.

The bulbs in our backyard were no less magnificent. Our first lot were like tulips gone crazy on steriods, much taller and bigger than those in the fields. The tallest, at almost 3 ft, YK nicknamed Jim. The next lot in nice pink shades was ladylike in contrast. The daffodils, just as beautiful joined in the show too. Everyday when we pulled up the window shades, they were there to greet us a cheery ‘good morning!

The tulips may enthrall us but what obsessed us  was Victor’s application for his work permit and social security number, both required for his summer internship. Day and night it was on our minds and in our prayers. It became a long drawn process that tested our patience and faith. It was hard enough to get an internship and the thought of losing it was too painful. After some problems, he managed to get his work permit but he was denied the social security number. The latter needed by his employer, LM for security clearance. Who can one turn to?  Cannot see MP. Cannot hire a lawyer.  Can only turn to God.

In Singapore we have it easy. Most of our official applications are pre-filled for us, if possible. Just think of our passport application or our kids’ P1 school registration. How hard it is to be weaned from such efficiency and spoonfeeding. How hard it is to be an alien in a strange land. We reminded God that he cared about the alien (Deut 10:18). We remembered that all earthly authorities are subject to him. Like the persistent widow before the unjust judge, we made ourselves a nuisance before God, crying out to him: Give Victor justice!

I believed God had said to me that LM was an open door that no one can shut but here we were blocked and feeling so helpless. So close to getting the internship and yet one piece of paper short. Our friends and families were praying fervently for Victor. We needed a miracle and we needed it soon. April came to a close and we crossed LM deadline, still no social security number in hand.

daffodils in our yard

behind tulip Jim