BBB Chapter 12: store to store

I had said earlier that it was year of the monkey... but that was just for me because of my Sun Wu Kong hand... of course the truth was that it was the year of the metal rat that was coming up. As we went around that year there was again some stores that gave a flat refusal over the phone... which to be honest was better than those that did not respond and "led us on" so that we showed up making an extra time wasting stop when in fact they did not want a lion dance. Then again, there were other stores that at first were not ready because they thought we weren't serious who later ended up being really into it. 

Dim Sum: the first place we went to do lion dance was a new restaurant. We had eaten dim sum there a couple of times and had dropped off the teep after one of our dim sum sessions. I don't really go to Church... and I think the closest thing to Church I really have is Dim Sum. Which means that I suppose the closest thing I have tona religion is Cantonese Food and restaurants. Indeed since my father was a chef... I am much a non practicing follower of the American Chinese Restaurant as I am a non practicing Catholic. 

But I digress. The first restaurant we went to actually wasnt ready for us, and only after we showed up called the owner. They said if we came back it would be better because there would be more audience to give us red envelopes. We explained that we were on a schedule and to be honest, it was ok if there was no money which got a stunned reaction. There was more phone call co conversation and they said the owner was actually really into lion dance and that he would really like to see it and wouldn't be around until later because he was in a meeting elsewhere.  

Well in that case we would come back...so off to our other stops and a reshuffle of schedules.

The next stop was a supermarket which we had also done the year before. As we approached we saw that a giant balloon Choi Sun God or Saint of fortune was outside the door. This really was an event! There was a crowd, some of who we knew but didn't realize they would be showing up...We started up with drumming. I side there were six stations and to be honest.... we did ok but moving from station to station proved difficult for us. We had Joyce's pink head and had a reawakened head that one of our students had refurbished ( I suppose I should go back and talk about that lion dance as well.)

At one point, the Fish market guy had to help us gong and after we had done the six stations a produce guy jumped on the drum which was exciting...finally we did the Chiang outside and then it was over.  But it really was incredible and it was great that we had  been able to connect with the workers and even perform together. Imagine being away from your home country but at least getting to see some lion dance from tour childhood. Even some of the non Chinese in the audience who knew us mentioned that they had often gone to NYC every year but had been unable to this year... but had at least gotten to see us.

The next stop was another supermarket... who honestly hid from us and weren't ready. Led us on etc. But I will mention that even that early, people at that supermarket were already starting to wear facemasks....

The next few were failures. A couple of restaurants had already said no but were next to a  take out place run by elderly people. Granted I assumed the red envelope.would not be big... but didnt want to say we were coming and not show....what happened instead was the old woman who had been smiling before screamed at us to get out and tried tr o throw a Hung bao at us just to leave. We didn't accept it of course and said we would even just do the dance as practice. In the end we left.

Then we went on to a Biba place that was actually managed by non Chinese. There was not an audience.... but we still did the dance and were treated very nicely and we bought boba after.

The final stop was incredible and really needs a chapter unto itself.