The Panda Story

     There's a story that my grandmother has told me many times before. It's a favorite among friends and family. I thought I'd share it with you reader friends.

      One afternoon, when was about a year old, my Grandmother and my Great Aunt Josephine were watching me while my mother was at work. The decided to stop for lunch at a Chinese restaurant located on the town square in Wilkes-Barre that was owned by a family friend. A gentleman named, Ping.
       According to my Gram, Ping was AMAZED at how big I was for a baby. If you're ever lucky enough to hear me Gram tell this story, she'll swear my shoulders were just as big when I was one, as they are now. Ping was  apparently so enamored with my butter ball like form, that he asked my Gram if it would be alright for him to take me into the kitchen, so that he might show me off to his family. My Gram said, "Sure."
       I was then carried into the kitchen and sat on a stainless steel prep table. Ping's family and the other kitchen employees then proceeded to gather around and one by one gently poke and pinch my shoulders and legs as they marveled over roly-poly-ness all the while saying, "So big." I can only gather that fat babies in China are some sort of rare delicacy, like iguana tail or seahorses. Although I can't remember any of this because I was too young, whenever I think of this story a strange image flashes across my mind. Me, little Mergs, looking up at an awestruck Chinese man and his family, their eyes filled with wonder and smiles on their faces. My grandmother told me that before we left the restaurant, Ping and the family gave me a small Panda Bear to keep.
          Two weeks ago I was home in PA for a visit. I was at my gram's and she asked me to move something from the kitchen into her sewing room. In her sewing room is a shelf. That shelf is filled with all kinds of kick-knacks and small toys she saved from when I was a kid. As I was taking a moment to look over all these kick ass trinkets from my youth, like Superman and Luke Skywalker, I noticed something. In the back right corner, next to a piggy bank my aunt and uncle brought me back from Seaside Heights one year, was the Panda. Below is a picture. I never named him, but I feel like now is as good a time as any. I think I'll call him...Ping. He is now the official mascot of The Fat Kid Chronicles.

Have a good Wednesday gang.