Akwong’s sister Susie lived in the Alamo District of San Francisco. She was an oncologist and a professor at the nearby University of California at San Francisco (UCSF), a premier medical school. Her husband Joshua was a carpenter, specializing in the restoration of Victorian houses. A Victorian house generally has a certain architectural style belonging to the era of Queen Victoria of England in the latter half of the 19th century.
Susie and Joshua met at UCSF more than 20 years ago when they were both medical students. Joshua’s Jewish father came from Europe through Russia after WWII. His mother was an 8th generation American. She was a mixed breed of Native American Indian, Spanish, African, Italian and “everything in between,” according to her own account. Joshua grew up in New York State. His father was a building contractor and his mother managed the office of their small but successful construction business. Ever since he was a young boy, Joshua was interested in architecture and had helped his Dad with construction work during school breaks and summers. By the time he graduated from college with a degree in engineering, he was a skilled all-around construction worker and carpenter, and that’s what he wanted to do: an arts and crafts carpenter. But his parents really wanted him to study medicine. Being smart, somewhat aimless, and out of respect to them, he applied and was admitted to UCSF.
Susie’s parents emigrated from Hong Kong when she was 15 years old. She was also 15 years Akwong’s junior. When they left Hong Kong Akwong was already married and had his own family, so he did not come to the United States with Susie and their parents.
Susie and Joshua had been dating steadily for two years. One day they had the following conversation.
Susie: You really want to be a carpenter, don’t you, Josh?
Joshua: Yes, but I am too deep into medicine now. Mom and Dad really want to have a doctor in the family.
Susie: They will get a doctor in the family.
Joshua: What do you mean?
Susie: I said they will have a doctor in the family if …:)
Joshua: If …. Josh marries a doctor? Oh, Su, but wait, you don’t mind marrying a carpenter?
Susie: I love having a carpenter in the house. And I want you to be happy.
Joshua: Susie Wong, do you take Joshua Rachmaninoff as your wedded husband?
Susie: I do, as long as I get a Painted Lady in 10 years.
Joshua: You will and I promise, Mrs. Rachmaninoff.
A Painted Lady is another name for a Victorian House in San Francisco. Joshua’s parents did not want him spending his life restoring old and smelly houses. “You are too smart for that,” they admonished him. Susie’s parents were flabbergasted at the news. “Our doctor child is going to marry a …. black carpenter?”
Joshua’s mother was 1/32 black African and he inherited her beautiful copper skin and some great grandparent’s jet black curly hair. Because of those features he was usually perceived as “black.”
It’s interesting to note that, in the United States, it is a lot easier to become black than to remain bland. If you have dark skin and you look kind of African, you are labeled a “black” person, although it’s obvious that you are so much more genetically. At this writing, a lot of people call Barrack Obama a “black” president. It’s rare, if ever, that he’s described as a “white” male, although he is exactly half and half.
Hence Joshua, who was 1/64 African, was “black.” But that would be too much to explain to her Chinese parents, Susie figured, plus she’s very proud to be married to a very handsome “black” man.
Ostensibly scholastic, gentle and mild-mannered, Susie and Joshua were true pioneers inside: adventurous, independent and stubborn. They got married while Susie was still a resident in medical school. She went on to become an oncology specialist and a medicine professor. He went on to become one of the most respected historians and restoration experts of Victorian houses in America. He was also the most popular consultant among the UCSF faculty and staff whenever they needed help locating and renovating a Victorian. They did buy their own Painted Lady, which Joshua meticulously restored, about 5 years ago. They still live in that beautiful house.
*** To Be Continued ***
(The dissemination of this writing is for non-commercial enjoyment only. The author reserves the copyright for himself)
Note: Click here to continue browsing other writings and works of Camillus Chan within this site
