Being a father's daughter is never easy, especially when that father is a General. The hero who has done the hard work with all his efforts, who stands behind the scene is a capable, caring, loving and sometimes tough person, my dad Thomas.

    Some of you know that my dad and I go to the same Toastmaster club Premium. Indeed we are like friends now but we have come a long way to reach this point. And the process was anything but smooth.

    “Attention!”, “Stand up straight”, “Heads up, hands down naturally!”, “Stand your feet at exactly 45 degrees apart”. Believe it or not, this was the first game I learned when playing with others. Barking out such orders made me feel cool, different and perhaps a cut above my peers. However that wasn't so cool after a while especially when my friends were playing Barbie dolls and I was yelling out “Sir, yes sir”. But sometimes this game would present itself as a punishment. Quickly losing its appeal. Whenever I had quarrel with my sister, “face the wall and stand for 20 minutes” he was roar, instantly making us forget about whatever we were fighting about.

    His way of instilling bravery in us was unique. We called it “the General Way”. One sunny day, during a family outing we all sat by the pool in our swimsuits. I feared getting too close because I hadn't learned to swim. My dad wanted to teach me how to swim so he wanted me to jump into the pool but I was afraid to. “Joyce, Joyce, Joyce!” He kept calling my name but I was standing stiff with both of my legs shaking by the pool. And finally he lost his patience so, he got out of the pool and walked behind me and pushed…[my facial expression will turn into “shock”] I was thrown in deep end. I instantly felt that near death feeling one sometimes encounters while bungie jumping or skydiving withOUT a parachute!

    But the real rough times were waiting for me as my teenage years set in. Lots of fights with my dad seemed to be the only thing I remember in those days. I didn't understand why he always made so many rules to follow and yet, none of them seemed to make any sense to me. (“Be back home before 10!” “Before 10? But, but…dad, all the fun activities start from 10!”) The situation between us was always in tension. If I were a mouse he would be a cat. If I were a cat he would be a dog. If I were Iraq he would be the US. We were like enemies and everyday was like a battle! I hated my dad from my guts and wished he were never my dad. Our relationship was even worse during my stay in the US. When I invited him to my graduation and he was not able to attend, it was a big hit to me. My disappointments and anger were beyond words.

    But every drama has its turning point. For us it was Y2K. He was on a business trip to Chicago and of course to visit me. We were at last, and inexplicably, friends. I was wondering why and then I realized. For the past years he has witnessed my growth to be a mature person, a responsible and independent individual. “Sir, yes sir” had been transformed to his respecting me as a person, not a soldier. And, magically, at the same time, he transformed from being the general to being “my father.” It was like a secret investment I suddenly earned a great dividend: his trust. My portfolio gave more than any stock option could offer, love, respect, friendship and trust. This meant a great deal to me.

    It is always my dream to make him be proud of me. Today my dream has come true. He never stops telling me how much he loves me and how proud he is of me. The way he express it was unique, in fact it's a General's way. I would like to say to him here and now: Dad I love you and am always proud to be your little girl not because you are a general but because you are my dad. Ask my dad to stand up to be recognized.

Joyce Wu 的伯父  「吳載熙烈士」https://reurl.cc/0zlD4o 

吳載熙 客家人，黑貓中隊，駕駛U2偵察機失事殉國，入祀忠烈祠，新竹空軍子弟學校因此改名為「載熙國小」，其弟「吳載奇」亦為空軍戰鬥機飛行員，其兄殉國後，軍方將其改派為安全性較高的運輸機飛行員（國軍版的搶救雷恩大兵），空軍少將退伍，是英語會的資深會友，客語會成立時，亦大力輔導客語會至今。

2003年的比賽場地是「空軍官校」，Joyce Wu 在父親成長的學校奪得冠軍，更是佳話一段！

吳氏，一門豪傑！