“I am from China but I have been in Mobile for 26 years. I was 18 when I came here. It was hard to go to high school when I didn’t speak English. The kids laughed at me and made fun of me. I had to take English as a second language classes. It was tough but I was here with my parents and glad to be in the U.S.  We used to have a Golden Bowl restaurant at Bel Mall. We started in 1989 and closed in 2017. I don’t miss the restaurant. It was too much, almost 8,000 square feet. The building was built in 1972 and a lot to take care of.  I worked twelve to thirteen hours a day. The dish washer didn’t come, I washed dishes. A waitress didn’t come, I waited tables. I am more free now and have my life back. I just want a healthy life. There is nothing more important.

Some of these items are left over from the store I had in the restaurant. I sell these things at the flea market. The waving cat brings good luck to the owner. My husband wants these things out of my house because they take up a lot of room. I grew the Bonzai,  I also do catering. I enjoy my life. This is my first day to sell at Mardi Gras. I thought the light balls would be good to sell here and help people have fun. I want to enjoy this weekend.”