the year of the dragon

i went on a walk with my dear friend emilie wong while i was in irvine last week. she said, "i'm so excited that you're having a dragon baby! if i were married i would totally be having a baby this year too!" and the wongs are definitely the coolest chinese people i know.

the year of the dragon is the luckiest of all the chinese lunar years. it's the best year to be born in, so chinese folks all around the world want to join in our good fortune. dragons are the strongest, smartest, and luckiest. i'm not even making this up.

and would you guess what? i am a dragon along with our baby. that has to be doubly lucky. (poor tommy--he's the year of the rat.)

according to yearofthedragon.org, dragons usually have these characteristics:

-innovative
-enterprising
-quick-tempered
-tactless
-self-assured
-brave
-passionate
-conceited
-flexible
-scrutinizing
-unanticipated

although i can't decide whether to be pleased or offended, it also says that dragons are "usually very successful" and "free-spirited creatures" who are "always ready to lend a helping hand to those who need it." so i'll take it as an all-around pretty good year to be born in--and it definitely sounds cooler than the year of the pig.