04/05/2026
This photo is of me helping my A Ma with her knee pain.
It was not the first time I treated her, but she was the person who trusted me early, back when I was still learning acupuncture in medical school 24 years ago. Her trust meant everything to me.
My A Ma was one of the kindest people I have ever known. She loved her neighbors so much. She lived in Anping 安平 in southern Taiwan, the oldest city in Taiwan, in a beautiful old community where people would always stop by to say hi. In the afternoons, she would often leave her door open and sit in her little yard, sharing Taiwanese snacks with neighbors.
She was strong, generous, and full of warmth. The kind of person who made a place feel alive just by being there.
Qingming is a time to remember and honor our ancestors, to visit graves, and to stay connected to where we come from. It is also a seasonal turning point, a moment of clarity and transition.
In Chinese medicine, this is when spring energy keeps rising. Qi moves upward and outward. The world looks more alive, but the body can also feel dry, tight, tired, or a little more short fused.
During Tomb Sweeping Day and New Year, I always think of going to visit her, where she rests under a patch of grass. I miss you so much, A Ma.
You are still the strongest and kindest woman I know. I am still learning from you.
In our family, we believe you come back as a dragonfly, and that you and A Gong still return to visit the old family house.
I miss you.
And I still feel you near.
#清明
