Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Leah's Pantry Cook-It Kits Distribution at SROs
For the past couple months, I had the pleasure of becoming the photographer for Leah's Pantry, practicing what I also love beside nutrition. Here are a few images which I have captured participants, who lives in SROs, receiving our Cook-It Kits (kitchen in a bag) in the Tenderloin.
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Renee & Will
I was very honored to assist Jessica Kay Photography this past weekend and met Sara. It was also my very first time using my camera as an assistant. The intimate wedding was taken place in Murietta Wells, a beautiful venue. I loved the wedding colors and the bridesmaid dresses! Last but not least, the bride and groom was such a beautiful couple. I was so fortunate to be able to witness the couple celebrating their love and commitment to each other, which reminded me so much of my own wedding. Thank you, Jessica, for allowing me to be part of your team!
Thursday, May 23, 2013
A Tribute to Ruby
Yesterday, May 22nd, was yet another sad day. My very first dog in the United States passed away. It was expected at old age, as she was 16.5 years old, but unexpected since I was expecting her to outlive Bok, her daughter, diagnosed with Lymphoma back in February.
At around 4 o'clock, I received a phone call from my uncle's wife that Ruby was having difficulty breathing and that there was liquid coming out of her nose. I was horrified. Quickly, I grabbed my wallet and keys and drove to Pacifica, where she has been residing for the past 2 months. I usually can adapt to change quickly. Having my dogs move to Pacifica was not a change that I think is positive nor it is good for them at old-age. As I was driving to Pacifica, I was shaking and tearing. I called my uncle's wife again to ask how Ruby's doing. She said that Ruby is no longer breathing, her neck is loose, and her eyes are rolled up. Those were her exact words. I knew that I could not have saved her at that very moment. She was already gone. How did I know that? When Boba was leaving us 5 months ago, he also displayed the same sign. Knowing she has passed, more tears came down to my check as I was speeding to my uncle's home. While I was driving, I also was on the phone at the nearest vet office about bringing her in. They were very nice and said yes. Once I arrived at my uncle's place, I ran inside and found Ruby unresponsive. I held her in my arms. Her head was hanging loose and more liquid was coming out of her nose. At that very moment, I knew she had left us. All my positive thoughts and everything else shattered. Ruby is gone.
I drove my uncle's wife, Ruby and Oh to the vet. The ride seemed so long and miserable. Ruby's stool even came out naturally, which reminded me of how Boba's stool came out too when I was giving him CPR. It brought back a lot of unpleasant memories. I was shaking and panicking and accidentally hit someone's bumper as I was parking. My head was not thinking straight for obvious reason. We attempted to enter both of the doors, but both were locked. I later realized that we have entered from the back. I rushed into the front door and handed Ruby to one of the vet techs. They look her into the back for about 5 minutes and brought her back out. They laid her on the metal board with white and purple daisies. I spent about 45 minutes crying and petting her. I gave her many kisses and asked her to forgive me for not visiting her. I also wished her the very best at the rainbow bridge, where Butter, Boba, To Lia, Cua Tin, Baby, and Be Map were waiting for her. My uncle and aunt left. Then, I left. I wanted to be the last one to be by her side and give her the last kiss. I told her that I will meet her at the rainbow bridge one day.
Ruby came to us in 1998, when one of my aunt's friend could no longer care for her. She had two other dogs, and three would be too much to handle. I don't remember if we knew she was pregnant, but she gave birth to four beautiful puppies two months after we had her. I remember how excited I was after school to come home to a dog that I could call my own. I've grown up with dogs all my life. Not having any dog companionship for the duration of three years was unbearable. I persistently beg my family for a dog, but my grandpa disapproved. We came so close once by going to the SPCA. We even acquainted with a dog named Koko/Coco. She or he was a chow mix; and it knew how to fetch! We never came back to adopt her. I don't remember why. As for Ruby, she just came to us. Grandpa yelled and disapproved, but we all promised we would take care of it. She was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. Her fur was white and long. She even had a bow! All my dogs in the past had short or medium-length hair, but never long. We loved her a lot. I remember that my aunts and uncles had to help her deliver because she did not know how. Not sure if I mentioned, but Ruby was a teenage mom. She delivered three girls and one boy. We decided to keep the boy, which was later named Oh (meaning "blackie" in Teochew). Bok was given away to my other aunt's friend, but she was returned in a couple weeks and eventually became ours. Oh was uncle Kirby's, and Bok was mine. The other two were given back to my aunt's friend, who was a drama queen that called a cop because we refused to give her the puppies just yet. My aunt stopped talking to her, and we never saw the two puppies again.
Unfortunately, once Ruby delivered, the attention was shifted to her kids. We still loved her, but I felt that everyone loved her kids more. Who could resist puppies? I felt bad for her. All her life, she seemed like a shadow. The attention was always on Bok and Oh. She was very attached to one of my aunt's friend who was living with us. My aunt's friend moved and Ruby no longer had someone that she could love. I remember we moved to Silver avenue in 1999, and Ruby was lost for 4 days! She was eventually found, but in a different color. Apparently, she was hiding under cars and became grayish black. My aunt gave her a shower, and she became brand new again. I remember thinking about her every day at school when she was missing. I can still taste the bitter and unpleasant feeling. I don't remember much in between. Nothing significant happened. We were a happy family with three loving dogs. She went into an emergency once for scratching something that eventually bled. I remember I would walk them around the block in 32nd avenue.
I went to college in San Luis Obispo, came back, moved to Fresno, and came back. I only became an avid walker when I met my husband, Alex. Once he moved to California, we have been taking them out every week to Fort Funston or Foster City. That was when my dogs were already 9-10 years old. I knew they were growing old and wanted to do the best I could to improve their quality of life. When I moved to Fresno for my internship, I would come and pick the trio and bring them to Alex's place for the weekend. Leaving them was always the hardest thing because I would always fear something would happen to them when I am away. Even when I moved out of my home, I would still stop by Elmira home to walk them a couple times a week. Walking our five dogs was the most happiest, rewarding and uplifting feeling. I felt very happy because they were happy.
I finally tied the knot after almost six years of dating. We love our dogs like our own kids. Without a doubt, all five dogs were at our wedding. I selected an outdoor venue that allowed dogs. It was such a coincident that we had five groomsmen and bridesmaids. Each couple was paired with a dog. Our photographer was a dog lover and took so many wonderful pictures of them.
After the wedding, everything sort of went down hill. Our car got caught on fire and our basement flooded after our wedding. Boba passed away after our honeymoon. It was hard and is still hard, but I am trying my best to cope. I thought every bad luck things were gone and over, but it hasn't. Bok was diagnosed with chronic lymphoma in February. Fortunately, she is still with us. I would expect her to leave us first, but Ruby did.
There will always be regrets in everything we do. Here are my wishes:
-I wish I had come and visit her more often
-I wish I had given her more love and care
-I wish I had taken more care of her
This is a story of how I remember Ruby and how she has changed my life. She taught me how to love unconditionally. She will always be in my heart, as I will always love her. This is not the last goodbye. I will meet her and my other dogs one day in heaven. For now, I plan to live and cherish all the good memories. Though I could have done more, but I feel that she has lived a good long life. I will always love you, Ruby!
At around 4 o'clock, I received a phone call from my uncle's wife that Ruby was having difficulty breathing and that there was liquid coming out of her nose. I was horrified. Quickly, I grabbed my wallet and keys and drove to Pacifica, where she has been residing for the past 2 months. I usually can adapt to change quickly. Having my dogs move to Pacifica was not a change that I think is positive nor it is good for them at old-age. As I was driving to Pacifica, I was shaking and tearing. I called my uncle's wife again to ask how Ruby's doing. She said that Ruby is no longer breathing, her neck is loose, and her eyes are rolled up. Those were her exact words. I knew that I could not have saved her at that very moment. She was already gone. How did I know that? When Boba was leaving us 5 months ago, he also displayed the same sign. Knowing she has passed, more tears came down to my check as I was speeding to my uncle's home. While I was driving, I also was on the phone at the nearest vet office about bringing her in. They were very nice and said yes. Once I arrived at my uncle's place, I ran inside and found Ruby unresponsive. I held her in my arms. Her head was hanging loose and more liquid was coming out of her nose. At that very moment, I knew she had left us. All my positive thoughts and everything else shattered. Ruby is gone.
I drove my uncle's wife, Ruby and Oh to the vet. The ride seemed so long and miserable. Ruby's stool even came out naturally, which reminded me of how Boba's stool came out too when I was giving him CPR. It brought back a lot of unpleasant memories. I was shaking and panicking and accidentally hit someone's bumper as I was parking. My head was not thinking straight for obvious reason. We attempted to enter both of the doors, but both were locked. I later realized that we have entered from the back. I rushed into the front door and handed Ruby to one of the vet techs. They look her into the back for about 5 minutes and brought her back out. They laid her on the metal board with white and purple daisies. I spent about 45 minutes crying and petting her. I gave her many kisses and asked her to forgive me for not visiting her. I also wished her the very best at the rainbow bridge, where Butter, Boba, To Lia, Cua Tin, Baby, and Be Map were waiting for her. My uncle and aunt left. Then, I left. I wanted to be the last one to be by her side and give her the last kiss. I told her that I will meet her at the rainbow bridge one day.
Ruby came to us in 1998, when one of my aunt's friend could no longer care for her. She had two other dogs, and three would be too much to handle. I don't remember if we knew she was pregnant, but she gave birth to four beautiful puppies two months after we had her. I remember how excited I was after school to come home to a dog that I could call my own. I've grown up with dogs all my life. Not having any dog companionship for the duration of three years was unbearable. I persistently beg my family for a dog, but my grandpa disapproved. We came so close once by going to the SPCA. We even acquainted with a dog named Koko/Coco. She or he was a chow mix; and it knew how to fetch! We never came back to adopt her. I don't remember why. As for Ruby, she just came to us. Grandpa yelled and disapproved, but we all promised we would take care of it. She was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. Her fur was white and long. She even had a bow! All my dogs in the past had short or medium-length hair, but never long. We loved her a lot. I remember that my aunts and uncles had to help her deliver because she did not know how. Not sure if I mentioned, but Ruby was a teenage mom. She delivered three girls and one boy. We decided to keep the boy, which was later named Oh (meaning "blackie" in Teochew). Bok was given away to my other aunt's friend, but she was returned in a couple weeks and eventually became ours. Oh was uncle Kirby's, and Bok was mine. The other two were given back to my aunt's friend, who was a drama queen that called a cop because we refused to give her the puppies just yet. My aunt stopped talking to her, and we never saw the two puppies again.
Unfortunately, once Ruby delivered, the attention was shifted to her kids. We still loved her, but I felt that everyone loved her kids more. Who could resist puppies? I felt bad for her. All her life, she seemed like a shadow. The attention was always on Bok and Oh. She was very attached to one of my aunt's friend who was living with us. My aunt's friend moved and Ruby no longer had someone that she could love. I remember we moved to Silver avenue in 1999, and Ruby was lost for 4 days! She was eventually found, but in a different color. Apparently, she was hiding under cars and became grayish black. My aunt gave her a shower, and she became brand new again. I remember thinking about her every day at school when she was missing. I can still taste the bitter and unpleasant feeling. I don't remember much in between. Nothing significant happened. We were a happy family with three loving dogs. She went into an emergency once for scratching something that eventually bled. I remember I would walk them around the block in 32nd avenue.
I went to college in San Luis Obispo, came back, moved to Fresno, and came back. I only became an avid walker when I met my husband, Alex. Once he moved to California, we have been taking them out every week to Fort Funston or Foster City. That was when my dogs were already 9-10 years old. I knew they were growing old and wanted to do the best I could to improve their quality of life. When I moved to Fresno for my internship, I would come and pick the trio and bring them to Alex's place for the weekend. Leaving them was always the hardest thing because I would always fear something would happen to them when I am away. Even when I moved out of my home, I would still stop by Elmira home to walk them a couple times a week. Walking our five dogs was the most happiest, rewarding and uplifting feeling. I felt very happy because they were happy.
I finally tied the knot after almost six years of dating. We love our dogs like our own kids. Without a doubt, all five dogs were at our wedding. I selected an outdoor venue that allowed dogs. It was such a coincident that we had five groomsmen and bridesmaids. Each couple was paired with a dog. Our photographer was a dog lover and took so many wonderful pictures of them.
After the wedding, everything sort of went down hill. Our car got caught on fire and our basement flooded after our wedding. Boba passed away after our honeymoon. It was hard and is still hard, but I am trying my best to cope. I thought every bad luck things were gone and over, but it hasn't. Bok was diagnosed with chronic lymphoma in February. Fortunately, she is still with us. I would expect her to leave us first, but Ruby did.
There will always be regrets in everything we do. Here are my wishes:
-I wish I had come and visit her more often
-I wish I had given her more love and care
-I wish I had taken more care of her
This is a story of how I remember Ruby and how she has changed my life. She taught me how to love unconditionally. She will always be in my heart, as I will always love her. This is not the last goodbye. I will meet her and my other dogs one day in heaven. For now, I plan to live and cherish all the good memories. Though I could have done more, but I feel that she has lived a good long life. I will always love you, Ruby!
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