A Never-to-be-fogotton Hong Kong Birthday

 So our sweet and sassy Abigail Kate turned five years old yesterday.  I find it hard to believe that she is already five, and yet, many days she acts older than she is.  Abby, out of all my children, has probably had to adjust the most since moving here.  Instead of going to school two days a week for two and a half hours a day, she goes to school everyday for three hours...not to mention the fact she is up by 6am with the olders and has to take a bus and a train just to get to her school bus...and she doesn't get home until after noon.  But, she is really a trooper.  Andy usually takes her on the way to work, which gives them some great bonding time. And Marina will often pick her up from the stop, especially if I have to be somewhere, or if I took her in the morning.

This week, Andy is in Japan, so we are delaying her celebration until Saturday.  Mind you, the girl has already had two other birthday parties this summer with family, so she is not hurting for attention. But, I also felt that we had to at least make a big deal on her special day. One thing that Abby has been waiting for is the opportunity to chew gum.  She has been aware for the last two years (since Josh turned 5) that the rule in our family is you must be five years old to chew gum.  So as soon as she brushed her teeth after breakfast, that girl got a fruity piece of Trident gum...and she definitely enjoyed it! Of course, we then had to discuss how to chew with one's mouth close, that gum stays in your mouth, and that you never go to sleep with gum.  But she accepted all the rules and smiled!!!

I decided that an easy way to celebrate her birthday was to take her out to lunch.  On my way to pick her up, I was brainstorming restaurants I thought  would be fun and that I had the energy to get to.  Then I realized that it wasn't about me...so we went to McDonald's.  She enjoyed her happy meal, go a Smurf figurine (a little behind the times) and finished it with a hot fudge sundae.  Then the real special treat was shared...I told her we would take a taxi home instead of the shuttle bus.  She LOVED that idea.  When it is 90 degrees, and 99 % humidity, no one likes to be outside.  So Abby greatly appreciates it when we take a taxi, albeit a short five minute ride, from the MTR station to our doorstep instead of our shuttle, that drops us off  five minutes from our house. Yes, this was more exciting to her than McDonalds.

We get into the taxi.  Our train station is so close that I have never had to explain where we live.  As we are riding along, Abby is asking to play my phone.  I told her no since we were almost home...then I checked my purse just to make sure it is there (a fear of mine...but it was) As I was in my purse, our driver had missed our turn into Hong Lok Yuen.  Actually, it was completely understandable because there is SO much construction...it is very confusing.  He got his bearings quickly, confirmed with me where we needed to go, then proceeded to correct his mistake. He went left around the barrier and then a sharp right so that he could go straight at the intersection into our development.  Unfortunately, he did not stop at the intersection, nor did he look.  Of course, by now I am completely focused on what he is doing.  As I realized he was not stopping, I was able to get a glimpse of a cement truck barreling through the intersection from our left.  He was not stopping either.  I then screamed at the top of my lungs "STOP, STOP!!!" while bracing myself and Abby...neither of us were wearing seat belts (yes, stupid and lesson learned). I believe that our driver slowed just enough and turned his wheel right that only our front left got struck by the truck.  Abby did fall to the floor...slow motion...but she was behind the driver, so there was little impact and she was fine.  When I asked her if she was ok, she said yes...and that she wanted to put on her seat belt now.  I laughed and helped her...then we prayed and thanked Jesus for His protection. 

The driver asked us if we needed medical assistance.  He said it was his fault, gave me his name and number, and then got out of the car to assess the damages, wait for police and talk to the other driver.  Abby and I just sat there.  I really was at a loss for what to do.  We were close enough to walk home, but I was pretty sure that I should stay until the police came...I just didn't know how long that would be and I wanted Abby home.  Finally, I called my Aussie friend and asked her what the protocol was in this circumstance, and she said that I should wait for the police.  Then I called a few people, and finally got in touch with Marina to come and pick up Abby.  Abby was very calm...just tired and wanting to get out of the heat.

As I waited for the police to come, I assessed the situation. We were incredibly fine.  The two drivers weren't even using heated words with each other...they were calm.  Our driver was very apologetic and kept asking us if we were ok.  Then looking at the car, I couldn't help but be overwhelmed with gratitude. It's easy to play the dramatics of "what if?" I decided right then that I didn't want to go there.  I simply wanted to thank my loving God for keeping His hand on us and getting us through this situation.  Then, the police came, asked if I needed medical attention, asked for my HK ID, and I was on my way and walked home.

When we shared with the other kids at dinner, the funniest question came from Josh.  He asked if I paid the driver. "Um, no," I told him...then we all started to laugh. Just another day in Hong Kong:)