Remembering Brother Simeon
By: Nami Lee
Translated by: Philip Lee
The humid subtropical air hit my face as I walked out of the airplane that has just landed in Taiwan. I felt a fine mist lacing over my face which moisturized the parched skin that was affected by the dry cabin air.
The changes in the weather in Taiwan can be sudden and unpredictable. Hot and humid days gave way quickly to overcast and cool ones. It was a cool, rainy day when I received the news that Simeon was hospitalized. On the very next day, I headed to Taipei from central Taiwan where I was. I telephoned ahead to MacKay Hospital and inquired about Simeon’s room number. A soft and gentle voice typical of Simeon’s wife Ai came over the line. She had come to Taiwan after Simeon’s hospitalization. She told me politely that I should not bother with the trouble of coming all the way to the hospital. As I told her that I have already arrived in Taipei I heard Simeon’s strong and discernable voice in the background. At hearing that, I felt a sense of relief and proceeded to set-up the time for my hospital visit.
The hospital room was filled with flowers given to him by well-wishers. Simeon was blessed to have all his children next to him by the bedside. He greeted me with a peaceful smile and held my hand enthusiastically. He said to me: “Thank you. I am much obliged for your visit. Please send my regards to your husband when you return home.” He was polite and courteous as usual. I replied: “You are welcome. I am glad to be here.” After a brief conversation about his condition, he sighed and said: “Alas, there is so much work to be done, yet God wants me go now!” He said that with a smile and closed his eyes somewhat despairingly. I tried to lessen his anxiety by saying: “Perhaps in His compassion God wants you to rest a while after watching you running around and working non-stop. Take this hospital stay as an opportunity to get some rest and prepare yourself for the final push.” He replied in an apologetic tone of voice and said: “I am still indebted to Pacific Times.” I quickly replied and said: “I will wait for your return in Los Angeles. And we will work together again when you’ve recovered. Don’t worry about a thing right now. Just focus on your treatments.” He shut his eyes once again, perhaps exhausted from having too many visitors the day before. I chatted with Ai in the hallway for a while after I said my good bye to Simeon. Ai reiterated the importance of having regular physical checkups. She described how Simeon had been flying back and forth between Los Angeles and Taiwan. He was feeling unwell in the midst of his busy schedule and frequent travels. Despite the urging of Ai on many occasions, Simeon just could not find the time to do the examinations. Right before he came to Taiwan, he had been busy with the radio station and other things; he was unable to find time for doing the checkups. However, he did promise Ai that he would go to the doctors once he arrived in Taiwan. While in Taiwan, his condition took a turn for the worse and he had to be hospitalized. By then it was too late, an unfortunate and heart wrenching event.
I still remember the time we sat next to each other during a luncheon two months ago. He was looking rather energetic. I said to him: “Brother Simeon, you look well. You are so full of energy. I envy you.” He replied with a lowered voice: “Little do you know that I’ve just come off a flight and my head is very dizzy. My heart is beating irregularly from not having a good night sleep. I am afraid my body is not well.” I said: “Then you shouldn’t overexert yourself. You should take time to rest.” He smiled and said: “How could I find time to rest when there isn’t enough time to do all the work? My doctor gave me the verdict three years ago. I am on borrowed time. I need to hurry up and get the work done because there is no telling when God might want me to go! So, this is not the time for resting.” He then turned and asked me about my current situation: “I heard you have moved to the countryside, far away from the city. Are you still painting?” To that I replied: “Yes. The countryside is nice and quiet. It’s suitable for painting.” He said: “Please continue to paint. I am still very fond of your painting “Melting Pot”.” Melting Pot was one of my paintings he had purchased during a fundraiser by the Taiwanese American Citizens’ League. After that fundraiser he always encouraged me to paint whenever we ran into each other. Thanks to his continuing support I was able to gather enough courage to carry out my first solo exhibition in 1994. He even took time out from his busy schedule to visit my exhibition.
He continued to say earnestly: “Move back to the city. Live closer by. Let’s put our efforts together to make Pacific Times a better newspaper.” I didn’t promise him that I would move. But I agreed to put our best efforts into the project. He reiterated and said: “Running a newspaper is hard work. It requires total dedication. Are you willing to commit yourselves to such an enterprise?” It was a new kind of challenge for me and my husband to be involved in the newspaper project. But with Simeon’s encouragement and his faith in us, we decided to commit ourselves to it. Simeon’s sincerity went so far as kneeling before the audience and pleading for their support of the newspaper during one of the Taiwanese American events.
Brother Simeon was a man of action. He saw the needs of the Taiwanese American community and set out to establish the Pacific Times. Initially it was set up as a weekly publication but he wanted to turn it into a daily newspaper. He thought the newspaper would be a vehicle by which Taiwanese Americans could truly voice their views. In the same year he also launched the Taiwanese United Fund (TUF) which was for the development and safeguarding of Taiwanese arts and culture. Under the leadership of its chairpersons and executives, TUF has presented numerous cultural events, concerts, and art exhibitions that were well received and deeply appreciated by the Taiwanese American community. Currently, Pacific Times remains a weekly publication due to funding and staffing limitations. Despite its weekly format, though shear hard work and dedication, the co-workers of Pacific Times have made it into an effective platform for Taiwanese Americans to voice their views. With the persistent efforts of its supporters, it has attracted more and more funding and talent and continues to strive for achieving higher goals. Brother Simeon did not live to see the day of its completion, but we can honor him by putting together our resolve to protect and nurture the platform that is dedicated to Taiwanese causes. May the God who gave him strength also safe-keep us now and forevermore.
Source from Nami Lee
Posted on 11/15/2018
