Have you ever wished you had a second chance? Much of the world enjoys a second New Year. When the New year resolutions become old you get a chance to renew during Lunar New Year.
As I was walking through the park to the train station this morning I remembered the first time I saw the tiger in the zodiac. It was on an oriental restaurant place mat. This zodiac has been around for thousands of years. The animals repeat in a twelve year cycle with each animal representing one year. This year is the year of the tiger.
The tiger, being a courageous and intense animal should have found his place in the front of the zodiac, but somehow he didn't get first place.
According to legend there was a great river to cross. The ox was the first to cross and as soon as he crossed the rat on his back quickly scrambled for first place.
The tiger was knocked off course by the current of the river so he came in third.
The next were the rabbit and the dragon. The dragon got fourth place because it took a detour to save a burning village and then saved the rabbit who was struggling to cross the raging river. The mythical dragon of the east is more similar to Kungfu panda than Smaug.
After the dragon came the snake wrapped around the horse's leg. The snake was attached to the horse until right before the finish line. As soon as they got to the finish line the snake stretched out and beat the horse.
After the horse came the sheep, monkey and rooster. They found a raft and crossed together quite cleverly. As soon as they got across the river the sheep (or maybe goat) took off followed by the monkey and the rooster.
The dog and pig were left. When the dog got to the river he was more preoccupied with splashing and playing in the water than crossing the river and finishing the race. The dog ended up getting second to last place.
The pig was more interested in eating than finishing the race. It's said that he had a bad case of the "itis" and fell asleep half way into the race. He did somehow manage to finish the race but in last place of the Zodiac.
Well at least he made it. A lot of animals were not even included. The cat for example is a nocturnal animal. The day before the race the cat had asked the rat for a wake up call. But the rat being so concentrated on making it to the race had completely forgot to wake the cat.
Perhaps those born on February 29th of leap years are actually carrying the year of the cat.
I've been thinking about this tiger while eating rice cake soup and crunching on a traditional moon shaped cookie for lunch...
Why couldn't the tiger be the one who with persistence makes it across the finish line like the ox or clever like a rat? Why couldn't the tiger be kind like the dragon and rescue some friends? Why couldn't he give a little to help others or give a little time to consider where he was heading? What kind of animal is this massive and courageous creature who jumps in the water and swims across a rushing river to just get washed upstream? What an enchanting creature is this tiger!
I see a Siberian tiger dripping wet from the river as I finish off my rice cake soup. The tiger shakes off his mane and runs off to the finish line passionately just to find that he was off course. Don't blame the tiger. It's just the way the river flows.
My son reminded me of how old I actually am.
I laughed.
He said,
"Don't worry I won't send you to an old folks home."
In Korean tradition, a person gets one year older as they eat dduk-gook... that is rice cake soup.
It looks like I will be served dduk-gook about three times this weekend.
Does that mean I am three years older?
What the Dduk-gook!!
This is a Looney Holiday.
