The Apricot Outlook of Katherine Koon Hung Wong

The Apricot Outlook tells the heartfelt story of a Chinese woman growing up in Hawaii and moving to San Francisco and Hayward after her marriage. It is a family story in the spirit of the popular Joy Luck Club. It celebrates the close bonds in a Chinese family and the way family members and close friends help others in a time of crisis and need.

The story begins when Katherine Chun is first growing up in Honolulu, where her parents run a local laundry. Unfortunately, a fire erupts in the rear of the laundry and eventually contributes to the sale of the business. Meanwhile, as a teenager and young adult, Katherine finds work in a number of different occupations -- from working in a beauty salon to working in a candy factory. In her 20s, she marries a pipefitter and welder, Clifford Wong, whose job takes him to the shipyards in San Francisco and then to Hayward.

Over time, the marriage has its ups and downs and is threatened when Katherine believes her husband is having an affair with a good friend. Yet, the marriage survives, and the family grows as Katherine has six children and even more grandchildren, while maintaining strong ties with a growing number of cousins, uncles, and aunts, reflecting the importance of family for Chinese-Americans. The story also features the many activities Katherine enjoys, from traveling to going on jaunts to Las Vegas.

The script is based on the real-life experiences of my mother Katherine Wong, based on a book I created for her on her 77th birthday. As such, it features a true picture of what life is like for an ordinary middle-income Chinese family in modern America. When my mother died, I pledged I would publish a book about her life, and I have now created this script in her memory.