"Happy New Year!"
 from the newly enlarged Koo family

Recently a Lighter wrote to me saying that, "You must be living in a dream land with no recession, stock market crash, terrorist threats, serious illness of family members, and always talk about celebrating life and counting blessings." The reality is that I suffered all of them in 2001.

Twice this year my mother fell, broke her hip and went through surgery; my father fell once and is confined to a wheelchair. Their home is like a nursing home. The worst part is they are in California, and I am in Hong Kong.

Heavily concentrated in semiconductor and hi-tech stocks, the value of our stocks plunged over 90% after 911, or just got a zero removed from it.

I joined a hi-tech start up a little of a year ago. With the hi-tech melt down and September 11, nobody is investing in hi-tech startups. The company has stopped paying other officers and my salaries and expenses since Aug. last year. My time, effort, investment and ego are all in jeopardy. 

Should I wear my troubles on my sleeves? No.

I am happy that both my parents are still with us. My financial status is still OK, and the stocks have recovered some. We are still trying very hard to make the startup company survive and prosper. 

All these adversities, like others in the past, are just bumps in the road of life, and they are character building and will make you appreciate more the beauties of life. Without rain, there will be no rainbow; without winter, the spring will not be as pleasant. I have been very lucky all my life; yesterday has been great, and tomorrow will be better. We will enjoy the family, cherish the friendship, appreciate the sunrise, smell the roses, listen to the birds, admire the sunset, count the blessings, celebrate a beautiful day as each one concludes, and eagerly awaiting the new ones to come.

Looking back, year 2001 was still a good year for us. Last November, at the peak of terrorist's threat of attacking Golden Gate Bridge, my daughter Jackie got married in San Francisco. Love prevailed, and we have a new addition (Ed, our son-in-law). Now from the newly enlarged Koo family, would like to wish all the Lighters A Healthy, Happy and Prosperous New Year! See you in Hong Kong for the reunion.