Annie Lin shares these photos and writes:

On a spectacular Saturday, February 2, 2013 from 12 noon to 3 pm the celebration of the year of the Snake(蛇)-Chinese New Year (Sunday, February 10, 2013)-took place at the Taubman Museum of Art. It was free admission. The emcees were Pearl Fu, Jay Saunders and Ben Leffel; Dignitaries were Mayor David Bowers and Congressman Bob Goodlatte. The event present were David White’s Shaolin Dragons, Kung Fu Demonstration, Rebecca Chang & Roanoke College modern language department students of Chinese, Roanoke Chinese Association & Ben Yang, Lulu and adopted Chinese children and Jone Wang’s violin students on hand for fashion, poetry, music & dance!

Each year the Taubman Museum of Art collaborates with Local Colors for a big Chinese New Year bash. Traditionally we have Martial Art performance, dragon dances, instrument ensembles, cultural dancing and garb, singing, and a symbolic Chinese tradition of an elder presenting a gift for future good fortune. Those who join in the fun also have the chance to create origami, lanterns, calligraphy, and more. As well as play games using chopsticks, tell stories using Chinese puppets, and attempt to escape the Chinese finger trap.

Jerry wore a T-shirt which had “2013 year of the snake” printed on it. I wore red color Chinese style outfit with a hat on. We carried a giant colorful stuffed snake and Pringle’s picture with Gong Xi Fa Cai (恭禧發財) on it, and attached to my handbag. When we arrived there. Wow! A crowd of people (1,200 people) had arrived. First, I took Jerry to take some pictures. A lady (I thought she works at museum) said “come here, I want to take both of you picture. Then, we had a picture with Pearl Fu, she is my favorite lady. Now, we need to find the best place to sit down.

The program started with Sholin Dragon’s performance. Jerry liked the Martial Arts. I stood at the other side to take video and pictures. Suddenly, I saw Mayor David bowers, and said “Hi”; he said “Where is Jerry?” I pointed to the first row seat, he was there. I asked the Mayor for a picture taken, he said “Nor right now, but later”, then he saw my special snake hung on my neck, and said “Annie, I will have a speech on the stage, when I say the year of Snake, I will say, Annie has a special snake here, and called Annie Lin. You must stand up and come down to the stage to let every to see the 2013 year of the Snake”. Wow! Today is my lucky, lucky, and lucky day! I have never dreamed of being of the stage. Jerry and I were only visitors. See! I was on the stage from my pictures. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart to Mayor David bowers. Before he left, I asked him to sit beside Jerry for a picture taken. What a wonderful day!

I also had a picture with congressman Bob Goodlatte. He said “Where is Jerry?” I said “In the front row seat”. I met new friends, Ashley Ratliff, she adopted a girl from China, she said “Her daughter wants to see my Snake”. Angel Sokolova from facebook. The other young pretty ladies came to me to have a picture taken. We stood in front of Art Venture, who were volunteers for the museum. Their name were Megan Phillips, Scarldtred Grandiflora, and Julia Autumn, they said “Annie was the best-dressed of everyone we saw at the festival”.

When I went to upstairs to the lounge, someone stopped me and said “What is your style?” I said “Chinese style”. I explained my outfit, I told them about 2013 being year of the Snake. they had came from Our Lady of the Valley nursing home. I told them, I can do Tai-Chi demonstration, sing many songs in Chinese, if they are interested, please let me know. The special event to make special friends.

I got a picture with Rebecca Chang, she teaches Chinese language at the Roanoke College. I saw her dance picture on Sunday in The Roanoke Times.

From 12 noon to 3 pm, the performances were wonderful, the last event was everyone can come to the stage to sing along and call “Gong Xi (恭禧)Gong Xi (恭禧). I was one of them with Pearl Fu, Grace Moore, and kids.

After the event, The Roanoke Chinese Association had a banquet at Hibachi Grill $Supreme Buffet Restaurant. Jerry and I went there for all you can eat. Jerry likes to eat, so do I. They had door-prizes and a Chinese common knowledge quiz for children, the prize will be given to the kids who answer the questions correctly. I answered most correct answer for Jerry. Of course, Jerry got prize to make him smile. We were so full at the buffet. Now, it was time to go home to take a nap. (PS. I missed the news on TV, a friend of mine, Marolyn , she said “I saw you and Jerry were on the news”)

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!!!(新年快樂!)