Gift for Ka Pa

Months ago, SS started plotting a plan with her mother to make a coat for "ka pa" (daddy). They were both so excited, and her mother began weaving the black fabric and embroidering the traditional Chin designs into it. SS said that if her mother had worked full days, it would have taken her two full months to complete just the fabric. Then her mother hired a tailor to make the jacket with her fabric. When I asked SS if I could give her daddy's measurements, she said, "No way! My mom won't know what to do with them." So, she told her mom to make it "big, big - bigger than you think is big." She then compared ka pa with a man in her village who is very tall and big and said, "Make it bigger." Knowing that these were the specifications, I worried that she would be disappointed when it didn't fit; but I hated to discourage their enthusiasm. Months passed with whispered updates and eventually shipping arrangements (Burma to India to America).

Finally, it arrived. Here he is in his beautiful coat, which was made with love and many hours of hard work; and it is a perfect fit!