It's full moon outside.  In Korea, everyone is going back to their home town to celebrate Choosuk, Korean Thanksgiving of sort.  For my family, there is no hometown to go back to.

My family is from northern part of Korea which is now North Korea.  I was born in Seoul which is nowhere in people's hearts.  There are just too many neon signs, asphalts, and endless rows of characterless buildings to give it a sense of place to long for.  Our family never went anywhere on Choosuk and I thought Choosuk was just a holiday of sort until I grew up and started reading Korean newspapers.

I suppose I could visit North Korea, but there is no one to go home to.  My father's younger brother supposedly lives there and I am sure there are many relatives, but they are strangers to me.  Yes, they will look like me and I am sure we share some of the strongest family traits like frequently forgetting to zip up.  Still, the place feels like wet cloths.  I don't want to put it on.

Speaking of forgetting to zip up, I did it again today although my son's zipper was proper.  It saddens me that my wife has been rather lax at inspecting my zipper ever since my son has gotten old enough to wear pants.  My father, my son, and I have yet to simultaneously forget to zip up at the same time but I am sure it will happen someday, a family event to remember.

For my son, I guess Redwood Shores is his hometown.  Did you know there are no redwoods in Redwood Shores?  My son and I corrected that mistake by planting one a year ago in our backyard.  In another couple of years, we'll have to move it somewhere else, a hidden spot where it can grow as tall as it can be without nudging disgustingly expensive houses aside.  In about a hundred years or so, everyone will be able to see it, hopefully even from the 101.