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When Friendship and Middle Age collided ... Friendship and Middle Age collided bombastically last Independence Day weekend in Anaheim , California . As a result, solar sparks and magnetically charged particles erupted all over this little town in Southern California, home of the magic world of Disneyland . Although meteorologist affirmed emphatically for years that atmospheric changes do not alter human behaviors, some sort of laughing gas was nonetheless emitted to drive this town into anarchy. This powerful gas converted the Huntington Beach Park (around the lifeguard station 4) into blasts of acquaintances, remembrances, nostalgia and fireworks and the Ballroom of the Marriott Hotel into razzle dazzle, melodies and boogies. Early morning July 4, bystanders deliriously called their local radio stations to report that some Vietnamese players of -the Williams sisters and Agassi- caliber were in heated competition on their public tennis courts at the intersection of Edinger and Brookhurst. Disneyland itself was not spared as Thunder Mountain and Indiana Jones rides were malfunctioning and came to a complete halt. The media was buzzing, what is this contagious hubbub in the air? CNN rapidly came to the scene and got hold of Mr. Nguyen Hung Viet, an illustrious Vietnamese American engineer, who elucidated earlier with Homeland Security about a certain Organizing Committee in Orange County being the cause for this unspecified OC2 gas, creating mayhem associated with potential terrorist threats. “Unlike CO2, this OC2 is absolutely not harmful, only Ecstatic in nature and Jubilant in texture”, asserted Mr. Viet in a calm and professional manner. He went on to reassure the distressed public that: “One can only benefit from OC2”. Indeed, the benefactors seem to be so happy and enjoying every ounce of their beings: the ladies were dressed to kill, ravishing, giggling, whirling and enchanted; the men elegant, gallant, polished and forever charmed by their female classmates. A colorful evocation of flora and fauna! Digging deeper, CNN was able to garner seven culprits who single handedly turned upside-down this little Californian bedroom community. They consisted of a small bunch of 4 sweet flowers and 3 spicy thorns which injected a glorious aroma into a wilting 50 year-old bouquet. Those unusual suspects are:  Tuyet Ngoc: Ta’o Ba`, as they call her in the community, is famously cherished for her eloquence, talent, efficiency and dedication. Ta’o Ba` can move heaven and earth and once again she excelled as her celestial capabilities transcended us all into the fantasy land of friendship and remembrance. Ta’o Ba` wears Prada but the devil could not lure her into South Coast Plaza with our checks and our MC 76 fund was not embezzled! And what royal treat for MC76 it was! Bich Nhu: Classified as “sweet and attractive as Carla Bruni- Sarkozy” but “as computer savy as Bill Gates” by a certain Bui An Khang, Bich Nhu is one of the principal chemist of OC2. This French Italian beauty &first lady/ the Seattle CEO analogy, though paradoxical, is right in the money, as her singing talent and her magical IT strokes parallel the world’s most famous. Her relentless efforts and her meticulous attention to small details produced yet another perfect event. She prepared, she planned, she updated, she exhausted herself and she delivered a Magnum Opus.... Ngoc Tram: Sparkles of joy and X-large doses of energy define this very uniquely youngish woman, Nguyen Cao Ky Di, who can galvanize crowds of all ages with her comical character and tennis tour de main. Behind the scenes, she worked so hard to ensure a seamless delivery a` la Thuy Nga cache’. Also renowned under the nickname of Qua^.n Chu’a, she can tickle you into the depths of laughter, delight and bliss. For a dashing moment, one believes that her bountiful joie de vie makes a miraculous fille de joie! Whatever your fantasy, a blown out performance it was, last weekend. Thuy Lieu: Rejuvenated, recharged and retooled, Chu Tich D.M. cast a spell on the crowd with her splendid one- of-a kind evening dress and an abundant repertoire of special cursing words. Her priceless and extensive contributions to the making of OC2 could not be ignored. She carefully planned and organized our Party food and the sweet and super juicy “watermelons” that she picked, whether on the picnic table or “behind her tank top” satiated the eater to the very last bite. Chu Tich DM lost sleep, appetite, energy and many other unmentionable things organizing this memorable event. Khai: Appearing low key and under the radar but his attack ferocious, his mustache killing you softly and his smile undressing. A little wink from Agent K-007 and all bazookas and MI16’s go into obsolescence. Agent K-007 did a gigantic share of hard work and sacrifice to make CO2 as intoxicating as possible. Rumor has it that AgentK-007 is under negotiation to sell OC2 secret formula to Bill who is looking desperately to experience yet another blissful moment without Hillary. Khoi: Anh9 Bonsa talks and people listen, even without the Platinum American Express. Alpha male, flamboyant and high-flyer pension consultant in his day job, Anh9 served as the Senior Project Manager of OC2. He entertained us, teased us, moved us to tears with his wonderful video, transfixed us with nostalgia, and paralyzed us with his collection of meaningful childhood images coupled with our own stories, trials and triumphs. Anh9 went out of his way, his work and his routine to orchestrate yet another wonderful gathering… of emotions and feelings that never completely disappear, and probably never will. Anh Dao: Anderson Cooper had a bit of tongue twisting when he reported on AC 360 about the elderly physicist of Project OC2, Mr Da.o u` u`. Although the American Press is still busy at work, deciphering this strange sounding name, his friends all nodded approvingly to a brand name which fits him to the tee and whose nocturnal rhythm empowers Ta’o B`a with celestial powers. Anh Dao is MC76 leader, messiah and guiding light but your u` u` can stay stay at home. Special thoughts are for all Fallen Friends of MC76, and especially for my dearest cousin Phan Minh Hoan, whose fate completely annihilated the chance of experiencing quintessentially human and warm moment like this MC76 Reunion. Nguyen Vy Toan and Diem Hang really reached out and touched us all with their presentation of humbling anecdotes and pictures of our departed classmates at the Gala. So, tell me truthfully, “How Was It Really?” OC2, you shined brilliantly last weekend and left us with a flurry of sparkles, old or new, real or imagined…..still FABULOUS memories for a long time! Bravo CO2! We are thankful for our past, present and future moments of sharing, remembering, reminiscing, and celebrating our friendship. Orange County, CA - July 5th, 2008 |