The Trip We Never Took
I had always imagined that 2020 would finally be the year we pushed through with our long-awaited trip to Taiwan. It felt like the perfect place for us—a family of proud foodies whose love language has always been shared meals, curious taste buds, and the thrill of discovering new flavors. Taiwan’s night markets, steaming bowls of noodles, and endless snacks felt like they were calling our names. The trip was meant to be even more special: a joint birthday celebration for my parents and me. We planned it carefully. My dad and I renewed our passports together. I even bought him a comfortable pair of Cole Haan sneakers—something he could use for long walks as we explored food stalls side by side. We were ready. But fate had other plans. That was the year the pandemic happened, and the world stopped. And now, the part that breaks my heart the most is knowing I will never get to take that trip with him. Our dad left us more than memories—he left us a gift. His blood blessed us...
