Finally I returned to California. I was so excited with family reunion; no other experience is comparable. Lying next to Ava and Aveline led me to real peace.
Tonight, I rest. You don't know how precious they are until they are absent. And everything turns out just fine when you're with the right one, or ones.
My safe arrival means the conclusion of your "mission," i.e., your promise of sending out an emergency code if anything happens on me.
If our first encounter was by chance, our friendship is not. Leaving the loved ones, we found each other in an unfamiliar, unfriendly environment.
It was my pleasure that I ran into you. In one sense, we needed each other, psychologically and intellectually. I shared with you my understanding of China and Chinese language, and you let me into your secret world of love and frustration. I appreciated your trust.
Now I am leaving, embarking again on the last kick of my journey, from an unfamiliar place to another where I never belong. I for long have felt like a post-modern nomad, constantly moving around and looking for knowledge as food and water. My thirst would not be quenched, and my pursuit would never stop.
We found each other at an interesting time-space, a context under which both of us sought company. A companion for a companion's sake, nothing more and nothing less. Our life intercepted and exchanged at this moment, at this city. How wonderful is that, and how sad when we depart again.
But depart we must, and don't you ever look back or turn around, because all you find would be my shadow, not reality.
Thank you for your time, your smile, your punch, and your protection. Your charm radiates with a much respectful manner. I have no regret knowing you.
Take care my friend; I wish you all the best for the rest of this long haul.
Maybe you could have Y. L. help you with the following...
蘇軾是我最喜愛的詩詞大家,因為他的作品用一種內斂的風格,將情與景穠纖合度地表達出來。他的詩詞既不濫情,不矯情,也並非無情。以下這兩首次我最欣賞的,因為他們說到別離與重聚,人們永恆的牽掛。
水調歌頭
明月幾時有?把酒問青天。不知天上宮闕,今夕是何年。
我欲乘風歸去,又恐瓊樓玉宇,高處不勝寒。
起舞弄清影,何似在人間。
轉朱閣、低綺戶,照無眠。不應有恨,何事長向別時圓。
人有悲歡離合,月有陰晴圓缺,此事古難全。
但願人長久,千里共嬋娟。
與子由澠池懷舊
人生到處知何似?應似飛鴻踏雪泥。
泥上偶然留指爪,鴻飛那復計東西。
老僧已死成新塔,壞壁無由見舊題。
往日崎嶇還記否,路長人困蹇驢嘶。
當蘇軾說,但願人長久,他其實很清楚,人不可能長久,所以只能說但願,否則他就不必說,此事古難全。我們只好盼望,在那不知何時會結束的團聚裡,在那不知何時就要別離的景況中,我們可以作到不應有恨,只能作到別時圓。
人所能把握的是何其少啊,蘇軾與蘇轍的兄弟感情如此深厚,相聚時間卻是那樣少,那樣稀薄。蘇軾至終領悟到,人生何等悽涼,所走過的路徑再也無人記得,偶然留下的爪痕,轉瞬間就被新雪覆蓋,後人也不能知道你到底去何處了。他只能說,蘇轍啊,不要忘了當年我們的辛苦,那崎嶇的路途,那似乎無望的前程。
能有這些深藏彼此心中的記憶,也就足夠了。這不也就是人所圖的嗎? 在塵世間,有人記得我們曾經的駐留。
由於涉入新舊黨爭,蘇軾的官運起起伏伏,人生青壯的歲月全花在輾轉就任於各個中下級的州府上,悲歡離合他是看得太多,經歷得太深了。至終,他的願望已不再是救國救民,而僅只是卑微地希冀胞弟還記得他們的手足之情,就如同他牽掛也是各處貶謫的胞弟一樣。
今天我們不是因為政治的原因各處奔波,我們是自願的旅行。但是蘇軾九百多年前的詩詞還依然說到我們的心坎去,他的作品超越時空,仍向今天的世界發出共鳴。無他,我們還在這經歷裡面,就如十一世紀的人,有悲歡離合,也看著,品嘗著那月的陰晴圓缺。
人或者不能長久,然而至少可以無悔恨。
要登機了,你保重。