Update: This post was written before the tragic and terrifying shooting in Atlanta on March 16th, 2021. Like many others, I am devastated and heartbroken by the news and my deepest thoughts, care, and love go out to the families of these victims. This tragedy has been one of the deadliest amid an already traumatic time for Asian American communities, which have been facing an increase in racist violence over the past year. This post is in honor of an Asian woman in my life for our friendship and in solidarity.
Ngan Ngo is a daughter, mom, wife, immigrant, Vietnamese-American, and a business owner of two nail and lash salons in north Seattle: Happy Nails and Lash in Shoreline and AR Salon Lashes, Brows and Nails in Lynnwood. The photo in this post is of us at last year’s Lunar New Year. Ngan invited me to her church and following celebratory reception. That same day was also the tragic death of basketball great, Kobe Bryant, setting a somber tone to the festivities. Yet that mood was only the beginning of the sadness to come in the year that followed.
When I first met Ngag – I knew her by Jessica. This is something many immigrants do to anglicize their names. I’m an advocate for learning people’s names – I see it as a sign of respect and a way of truly seeing someone.
Ngan lives in a multigenerational household that includes her elderly mother. In my last visit, she shared with me that she was anxious to get her autistic son back to school but worried that would open up an additional risk to her mom. Realizing that she wasn’t aware that there was a way to find out if her mom was eligible, I helped her with Find Your Phase – a Washington state Department of Health tool designed to help people in Washington find out if they are eligible for a COVID vaccine. She was thrilled that her mom qualified. This reminded me that at the early lockdown in March 2020, when I helped her put up a sign on her salon doors about the lock-down.
Our friendship has grown over the years and this past year has really honed in the importance of looking out for each other. Many of her clients have disappeared, she’s laid off more than half of her staff, and one of her nail salons was partially closed for months. I really don’t need regular manicures and pedicures and right now with so many people in crisis, it is indeed a privilege. Yet it’s something I’ve committed to doing for this local small, woman, immigrant-owned business. Also, this has been my treat to me.
To book an appointment at AR Salon (Lynnwood) or Happy Nails & Lashes (Shoreline) please call: 425-678-0313 or 206-306-2227.
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