The day of the reunion started like others: \u00a0 a few nervous jitters meeting new adoptees mixed with the joy of seeing old acquaintances. We were all anxious to hear Muriel speak and she did not disappoint.<\/p>\n But what I did learn was Muriel gave every newly admitted orphan to St. Christopher’s their first bath. \u00a0It was her way to personally check our physical condition. \u00a0AND THAT I knew was ME!\u00a0Muriel gave me my first bath! \u00a0She held me and bathed me! \u00a0I finally had a confirmed piece of my history. \u00a0A beautiful snapshot of my early days that I can press in my mind and imagination.<\/p>\n But I’m getting off point….I want to tell everyone who was unable to attend the reunion about Muriel. \u00a0If you’ve read “The Banquet” then you know what a courageous, dedicated, and innovative woman she was back in China and Hong Kong in the 50’s and 60’s. \u00a0She loved babies and children and she would do ANYTHING to improve their given situations.<\/p>\n What you might not know is that this 93 year old bundle of energy (like the energizer bunny) is a master at chopsticks and knows EXACTLY what to order in Chinese restaurants, is highly opinionated (don’t call yourself “abandoned”, you are “regifted”) and believes the cup is ALWAYS way more than half full (It doesn’t matter where you begin in life, it is where you end up and what you make of yourself.” \u00a0She believes with every ounce of her feisty self that the human spirit can triumph over any adversity. \u00a0She is living proof. \u00a0We are living proof. \u00a0Her positivity is infectious as is her love for all of us.<\/p>\n I hope that we can all meet again with Muriel. \u00a0One day was incredible but somehow not enough. \u00a0Her story continues as does ours. \u00a0I hope we cross paths again. -Kathy<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" After attending the Muriel Tonge Tribute this past February 2015, Kathy Writes: I was brimming with excitement to meet the woman I read about and admired in the book “The Banquet” written by Emily Foster (Muriel’s granddaughter.) Since Muriel was … Continue reading ![\"The](\"http:\/\/www.hkadopteesnetwork.com\/usa\/files\/2015\/06\/TheBanquet.jpg\")
<\/a>I was brimming with excitement to meet the woman I read about and admired in the book “The Banquet<\/strong><\/em>” written by Emily Foster (Muriel’s granddaughter.) Since Muriel was the supervising nurse at St. Christopher”s during my year in residence there, I was determined to find and contact her. What a stroke of luck that Meaghan had found her and subsequently found us.<\/p>\n<\/a>She recounted many stories of orphanage life. \u00a0As she spoke of the challenges and hardships both the orphans and staff faced, I felt myself transporting back in time. \u00a0I was going back more than 50 years and imagining myself as a baby in her care. \u00a0Was I the one she spoke of with dysentery? \u00a0Or maybe it was me that suffered prickly heat and had oozing pus sores. \u00a0Was I malnourished and fed by tube? \u00a0Perhaps not.<\/p>\n<\/a>I have to tell you that I found a photo of myself among the many old pictures that Muriel brought with her. \u00a0The picture cut off the lower portion of my face below the nose. \u00a0But out of the hundreds of photos she had, I found myself. \u00a0It was amazing.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n