Goddess, that was beautiful! My mother had Alzheimer's for five years before her death but she always loved having her hands massaged with lotion. I look down at my 67 year-old hands now and realize that they're her hands. She sacrificed for all five of us in countless unglamorous ways and I miss her every single day.
Beautiful essay by Alice Liu. Thank you for addressing the sexualisation of Asian women in America and the exploitation of many in illicit massage places, carefully woven into such a poignant family story. My aunt who raised me used to rub my back every night, something I missed terribly as an adult and miss to this day. This was a great comfort to me, so I related well to your essay.
That was one of the most phenomenally, viscerally moving reads I've had the pleasure to come across in a while. So tender and so relatable. Made me think about very similar experiences and thoughts around mothering and the female lineage in my ancestry. So beautiful, thank you Alice for sharing your story. It will stay with me for a long time.
I believe we are all inherently & individually comprised of the tenderness of family who came before us. I too yearn for that familiarity from my parents, and grandparents whom are now long gone. Their ways, and remembrances remind me of what they sacrificed to help me learn how to be kind. You are a sensitive, and thoughtful observer in your entire being Alice. Thank you for this beautiful piece of writing that transported me back to the touch, and comfort of my family too.
Beautiful story. Moved me to tears. It also points out hard truths about what we think about Asian massage establishments -- I had the same experience and thoughts the one time I visited a similar place in my city.
Goodness, this brought me to tears. Such a powerful essay uncovering so many themes, loss, grieving your loved ones before they're physically gone, exploitation of immigrant women, the horrible ways people respond to their own messed up ideas of what they are "owed" by society. It is frightening as a woman, for even going about your day to be deemed "tempting" by a sick man unable to control himself. Thank you for bringing the story of the victims of the Atlanta shooting to light, it is good to remember these people as people trying their best for their families, sacrificing so much for their kids to be alright. I hope we can always honor these sacrifices.
Thank you for sharing, Alice. I'm so sorry to hear about your mom. Both my parents had Alzheimer's (yeah) and I understand how hard it is to seek soothing from someone you feel like you're missing/mourning them too early bc they still have a heartbeat. Sending you love and strength 💖
Alice, I’m grateful to have read this today. While much of my lived experience differs from yours, in a familial cultural sense, elements of overlap include seeking comfort and relief and the layers of curiosity about and concern for the circumstances of those I’ve paid to provide that touch in a commercial setting. Other overlaps include the poignant grief of a mother’s cognitive decline, a pain I find simultaneously dull and sharp in its persistence. Thank you for this. I will carry it.
An incredible piece that doesn’t need to evoke a discussion, but to be read and taken in. Even though it brings up many sociopolitical issues we can expand on, the personal narrative is so strong and emotional that all I can add is “Thank you for sharing this.” It’s a piece that hits the soul.
Goddess, that was beautiful! My mother had Alzheimer's for five years before her death but she always loved having her hands massaged with lotion. I look down at my 67 year-old hands now and realize that they're her hands. She sacrificed for all five of us in countless unglamorous ways and I miss her every single day.
Beautiful essay by Alice Liu. Thank you for addressing the sexualisation of Asian women in America and the exploitation of many in illicit massage places, carefully woven into such a poignant family story. My aunt who raised me used to rub my back every night, something I missed terribly as an adult and miss to this day. This was a great comfort to me, so I related well to your essay.
That was tremendous writing.
Thank you Alice for this beautiful, heartfelt essay. Thank you Roxanne for bringing it to us.
Great writing!
Incredible. Thank you.
That was one of the most phenomenally, viscerally moving reads I've had the pleasure to come across in a while. So tender and so relatable. Made me think about very similar experiences and thoughts around mothering and the female lineage in my ancestry. So beautiful, thank you Alice for sharing your story. It will stay with me for a long time.
I believe we are all inherently & individually comprised of the tenderness of family who came before us. I too yearn for that familiarity from my parents, and grandparents whom are now long gone. Their ways, and remembrances remind me of what they sacrificed to help me learn how to be kind. You are a sensitive, and thoughtful observer in your entire being Alice. Thank you for this beautiful piece of writing that transported me back to the touch, and comfort of my family too.
Beautiful story. Moved me to tears. It also points out hard truths about what we think about Asian massage establishments -- I had the same experience and thoughts the one time I visited a similar place in my city.
Deep and soulful truth.
Thanks
Goodness, this brought me to tears. Such a powerful essay uncovering so many themes, loss, grieving your loved ones before they're physically gone, exploitation of immigrant women, the horrible ways people respond to their own messed up ideas of what they are "owed" by society. It is frightening as a woman, for even going about your day to be deemed "tempting" by a sick man unable to control himself. Thank you for bringing the story of the victims of the Atlanta shooting to light, it is good to remember these people as people trying their best for their families, sacrificing so much for their kids to be alright. I hope we can always honor these sacrifices.
Thank you for sharing, Alice. I'm so sorry to hear about your mom. Both my parents had Alzheimer's (yeah) and I understand how hard it is to seek soothing from someone you feel like you're missing/mourning them too early bc they still have a heartbeat. Sending you love and strength 💖
Alice, I’m grateful to have read this today. While much of my lived experience differs from yours, in a familial cultural sense, elements of overlap include seeking comfort and relief and the layers of curiosity about and concern for the circumstances of those I’ve paid to provide that touch in a commercial setting. Other overlaps include the poignant grief of a mother’s cognitive decline, a pain I find simultaneously dull and sharp in its persistence. Thank you for this. I will carry it.
Really appreciated reading this, thank you.
Tender and moving and full of grief. Thank you for this piece.
An incredible piece that doesn’t need to evoke a discussion, but to be read and taken in. Even though it brings up many sociopolitical issues we can expand on, the personal narrative is so strong and emotional that all I can add is “Thank you for sharing this.” It’s a piece that hits the soul.