March Fong Eu

Some years ago I wrote to March Fong Eu. I don't recall what compelled me to write to her, but I told her that my great-grandfather had fond memories of bouncing her on his knee when he was friends with her father, Mr. Kong, and watched her career, so long as he was around to watch it (he died in 1969), with great pride. She replied with a very friendly email, and well remembered Al Paulsen.

To the same email account, I recently received a message from her explaining why she didn't want me to come to her birthday party. That was odd, because we've never met and have no personal connection outside that one email. I'm not quoting her email because that would be rude, but the gist of it was that she is too frail and doesn't want the party her niece is planning.

Mrs. Eu turns 91 next Friday, March 29.

I will not respond. Probably she sent a similar message to a lot of people in her address book, hoping to make an end run around her family. One of the last acts, perhaps, of the independent woman who created the legend.