My dear friend Milly Lee grew up in San Francisco’s Chinatown as Mildred Chan in a household where grandparents, parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, and cousins all lived under one roof. She attended Chinese school after the regular school day and spoke Cantonese at home and in the neighborhood.When her three children were nearly grown, Milly returned to college—the University of California at Berkeley and the University of San Francisco—to become a school librarian. She is the author of three books for young people. They are Nim and the War Effort, Earthquake, and Landed.
Last year Milly received the Silver Medal for Juvenile Literature from the Commonwealth Club of California. In the photo above, by Beth Byrne, Milly is delivering her acceptance speech. She joins the ranks of other California winners including John Steinbeck, Ray Bradbury, and Amy Tan.
Milly and her husband Kearn now live in San Francisco again after residing in Sonoma County for many years. I visited them in The City on Wednesday. It will be interesting to learn if Milly visits my blog as I have suggested to her. Won’t she be surprised to see today’s entry? Time will tell! Maybe she will even leave a comment.
2 comments:
Milly Lee is a national treasure. -Apart from being a great, great writer, educator and humanitarian, she has a v-e-r-y hearty appetite! I would be willing to bet that Mme. Mildred Lee, and her amazing husband, Kearn, have crossed the thresholds of more restaurants in more countries than any other two people I have met in my life. Allan - you've been with them, many, many times. So good job on your account, as well.
Cheers!
-Mavis
Who's ready for dim sum?
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