Thanh’s Birthday Party

December 30,1989

In early December 1989 I went to Costa Rica. Thanh took care of my cats. I had given her the spare key to my apartment that spring she could have a place to go when her boyfriend Hai was drunk & abusive, which seemed to occur an a weekly basis.

Shortly after my return Thanh invited me to her birthday party. It was being held at her friends’ house on Oxford Street. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I arrived that night. I was the only non-Asian person there. Hai was present, drinking but jovial. Thanh had told some of her girlfriends about me & how I had encouraged her to break up with Hai & seek help from HAWC, the local domestic violence shelter.

I didn’t know what her friends thought & how I would be received. As it turned out everyone was nice or at least cordial. I was given some kind of alleged shrimp chip. It was so nasty I thought i was going to hurl. Fortunately there was plenty of Heineken to wash it down. Thanh was excited like a schoolgirl enthusiastically welcoming each guest, gift, in new event in her evening. She had selected 5 dresses to wear that night  couldn’t decide on which one to wear, so at 40 minute intervals Thanh would disappear & re-emerge wearing another dress. She wore all 5 that night, and a splendid time was had by all.