Sisters

My sisters' and I are all so different. I know everyone says that about your sister because you would hate to be like them and - heaven forbid that you have the same style, mannerism, etc since you already look similar! I think that a brief description of our families' personalities would be helpful to you in understanding US.

(The Top Chef) My older sister, Mia - is realistically the shot-caller in our household. She has raised us, bathed us, fed us, slapped us, and all of the above x 10. She is prim & proper, classically dressed woman with the occasions of a white baby t-shirt and jeans. She likes to read novels by MFK Fisher, Spiritual Books, Jorge Luis Borges (Argentine philosopher), she's 40 at heart. She listens to Kate Nash, Killers, Amy Winehouse, Beyonce, Frank Sinatra and sometimes even Lil' Weezy (at the influence of her boyfriend, Joey of 10 yrs haha). She is the introverted, almost dorky, type that reads and listens to lectures about spirtual awakenings, discovers different ways to save and budget, and the biggest part of her personality is that she's a cook. Mia went to Johnson & Wales University with a Degree in Culinary/Hospitality. She has worked in all different types of odd jobs from a telemarketer (haha), hostess, bus-girl, food runner, waitress, retail, barista,caterer, line cook, to a chef. She is what we call a foodie and is knowledgable and loves all aspects of anything that is edible - and I am not over exaggerating. She has lived in Colorado almost her entire life until she finally stuck it out and moved to Florida to help my parents out (a little while before the accident). Her friends are very close to her and most of her friends are the people I've grown up with believing that they truly are our sisters and brothers from another mother. I know that I can count on these people like family where ever I am. She is the realist, the book worm, the business, the smarts, the manager, the coach, the logical but sometimes irrational thinker, the first to try and help, the protector, the anxious, the overwhelmed, the crazy, the sometimes mean, the "strongest" of all of us. Although her and I are total opposites, I've learned that we were still raised the same and have common goals for our lives. Although as much as we fight like cats (Me) and dogs (Her), and how much I tell her she needs to calm down, I know that she is only looking to ensure that my goals and ambitions are met successfully as well as our families.

(The Socialite) My little sister, Darleen - is the "Kim Kardashian" of our family. If you watch the show you will know what I am talking about (not giving any reference to the way she looks, fame, or stuck up-ness-from-fame attitude of Kim Kardashian). She is the bubbly personality, vegetarian, beautiful, spiritual, hopeful-minded person that has wishes and dreams of a perfect life and love. We've had rollercoaster rides in our family with our parents having their own business, but Darleen is the one that will work every single day and always wants to make things right, do things right, and make things work no matter how hard it gets. She has a positive personality and likes to make friends, talk about worldy questions, write in her journal, and interested in psychology. And like a typical teenager, she likes to talk, talk, talk on the phone, wear make-up, read gossip magazines, fashion, boys, and hopes for true love to sweep her off of her feet. She likes to read novels like Lovely Bones, Chicken Soup for a Teenage Soul, and if she were awake, probably Twilight (but I'll show her that later).=) Music she likes is all genres from Jordin Sparks, Carrie Underwood, Chris Brown, Jay Z, to All American Rejects, Hot Hot Heat, or even Rooney. She has a more preppy-type style with her own mix - more like an Abercrombie sweater, but a striped tank top she got from Hot Topic. She loves children and animals (which is why she is a vegetarian). She is caring and compassionately delightful. She has a lot of friends and slim-to-none enemies and is a welcoming whole-hearted person. Sometimes she can be a baby being the last girl in our family - so sometimes we have to put up with her bad attitude and whining. She likes her personal time and likes to be reflective upon herself. My older sister and I have rarely had problems with dealing with her being a rebel, so I think that she can make mature and wise decisions on her own. She is the person that I am the closest to, when I am sad - I call her for advice, when I am mad - I scream at her with all my frustrations, when I am happy - I call her to tell her all the details. She is all knowing of all aspects of my life, my friends, my plans, my mistakes, my flaws, everything good or bad. In my opinion - she is my older sister and myself mixed together, how lucky is that with almost no flaws haa.

(The Rebel) As for myself, Malina - I'm the rebellious, independent, playful, joking, spontaneous, artsy type. Although I tell Mia I'm the black sheep, she begs to differ. I feel as though I can only count on myself to do what I want correctly and successfully. I am comfortable doing everything for myself, by myself because I feel like the turn out is customized to the standard that I believe is correct (in a non self-fish way). I rarely watch TV unless it's National Geographic/History Channel documentary, Cartoon Network, Disney Channel. I love all things artsy and heavily rely on my computer to google anything that I need knowledge on, politics, or news. I am what I call a "Sponge" - I want to know everything, I want to know how to DO everything, I want to be able to learn how to do it so well it is supernatural. =) I have lots of friends in different groups, ages, or places of "genres" of people. I love to be social, network, and talk to anyone that I meet. I'm the most NON-judgemental and open-minded person you will meet. I like to read books like Girl Interrupted, Choke, Invisible Monsters, Black Dahlia Murder, and The Subversive Imagination. I'm spiritual in a sense where I believe in Karma, but do not believe in "Destiny or Fate" in a serendipitious way, but that Karma has led me to what is destined. I try to eat and do day-to-day things as organically as I can and care about the enviornment and animals. I love cats, but cannot own one because Billy (my Bf of 5 yrs) is highly allergic! I go to University of North Texas (online) and Richland College at the same time and majoring in English/Print (for journalism and magazine layout design purposes). If I am not at work in businessy clothes - I like to wear skinny jeans and flats, and layers of shirts which usually includes one article of clothing being black (in a non-gothic way ha). I listen to all types of music like Phantom Planet, Strokes, Muse, Classical like Tchaikovsky or Chopin, Jonas Brothers, and sometimes jam to music on the radio. I am very positive, outgoing, and fun to be around. I think that I am very lucky bc I'm motivated and mentored by the most wise, well-experience, and intelligent people I've ever met. I am fun-loving and enjoy company of others to pick their brains for knowledge. I know a lot about nothing like a "Jack of all trades, but a King of none". It's hard to describe yourself sometimes, so I will stop there.

All my sisters and I all like to do is - read different books, write in our journals, be food-ies, talk about food, cook (or attempt to), socialize with new and old friends, listen to different types of music, try and focus on improving something about our lives (whether it be budgeting, fitness, or even appearance), and spiritual connections. We often times contact each other to keep us grounded, keep us all together. I think that we are all artsy in our own ways with us all interested in ARTS and not Math or Science or a difficult subject (hehe).

To have high expectations for youself, will make your goals harder and harder as you reach them individually. I mention these things because these are what shapes our personalities. Our life experiences, education, our friends & families, and even our work history are important aspects of our lives to determine what we'll be like when we're "grown up" and reached all of our goals in life. I like to share this with you because this is an important chapter in Darleen's life and I know that she would like to know what she was like or who she was. Where she came from, how we were raised, why we act the way we do. This will help to show her how we stayed grounded in difficult situations.

(I'm thinking Mia will be updating soon on her physical therapy on Darleen, she's been doing lately =) YAY!)

This pic I found totally epitomizes exactly what I am writing about. =)

BTW we also have our brother DAVID- but he's a whole nother post!
- Malina

Grandma

Our grandma that lives in Denver, Colorado passed away last night . We are very sad and depressed, but we know that she is in a better place and that in itself has helped us to cope with her loss. My mother spoke with her yesterday afternoon and was speaking with her for the past week with good conversations. Because our families are so far apart in distance and my mom is always busy with the store and Darleen, as much as she would like to talk to her own mother every single day, it was only maybe once a month until just recently. I feel like my mom got some good closure before my grandma passed last night.

My family is flying to Denver today and tomorrow. And when you have your own business, it's a matter of who's staying, who's going, and who's coming to help OR can we afford to shut down our store for one, two, maybe three days. I know that, to most, that's hard to understand, but we've had to make these decisions before and what I've realized growing up that - as much as we would all like to drop everything and leave - our family is a business, our family is THE business. It's different if your mom works for one company and your dad works for another because the companies don't correlate with each other and the companies have other employees not affiliated with your immediate family to take over your duties. That has sometimes helped me (sort of) side with the decisions we've made for the operations of our store while we have a family emergency. And now, in this instance that we have to make this decision again, there is an added obstacle that the same person maintaining the operations of our store will be the same person visiting and making sure Darleen's plans/therapy/classes/etc run smoothly throughout the day. As much as I am sad for the loss of my grandma and the memories we shared with her, I am also thinking in the back of my head how I am going to break this news to Darleen. How do I catch her up on loss?

I'm wondering if she will have a recollection of the things that we've told her while she has been partially "sedated" or will we have to catch her up to all the things that have happened.

One of the reasons why I wanted to write this blog so she could read it later as things happened. Big things, like this. Of any of my friends or family, Darleen knows me the most - every boyfriend, every song I listen to, the food I like, my secrets, my flaws, my life stories, she knows me. Sometimes I still wish I could call her and gossip about my life or my bf or about her life and her friends & bf? I feel like I'm responsible for telling her because I know that she would do the same for me. I wonder if she will remember all the same type of things about her as she remembers things about me? It's hard to tell.

We will work through this loss. And I know that my grandma will be happier in a better place.
- Malina

Donate Here

I can't thank our family and friends enough for the charity events that they have held in support of our family.

To give you something to think about - at the "Family Affair: The Darleen Li Fund" event we had on 9/27/08 in Denver, Colorado, we raised $3,000 that night and that alone pays for ONE day of Darleen's rehabilitation. Anything helps!


If you would like to mail a contribution, please make check's payable to "Darleen Kham Li" and mail to:

The Darleen Li Fund
ATTN: Mia Li
35379 HWY 27
Haines City, FL 33844

If you would like to make a donation online - please click on the link below that will redirect to a paypal donation site. This account goes directly into the Darleen Li Fund account.

You can also donate online through paypalto Helen Su & Jenny Chu's Charity donation account. This goes directly to my family.
Click here to be redirected to Helen Su's site.