清明节

记得念中学时，唐诗里有一首，“清明时节雨纷纷..."那是我们都很熟习的。当时我们大概是处于多愁善感的年代，每每念到“路上行人欲断魂”就想象在微风细雨的路上，那些带着心酸，凄凉的心境，赶着回乡扫墓的游子。在这样的节日，总是叫人特别伤感。
今年，没有雨纷纷，却是艳阳高照。所以没有了那份忧伤的心情。似乎只有应该尽孝的心意。我和外子清晨六点就开车前往诗里街。外子的祖父母是葬在那里的义山。先祖父名江履统，以前是当地的乡绅，很得人们的尊敬。他还特地在义山建了一座亭供路过的人有歇息的地方。梦华亭是记念先祖父在中国福州的祖屋，梦华小筑。每年我们去扫墓，看到梦华亭就自然而然的想起先祖父宽广博爱的心怀。他实在是我们学习的好榜样。
抵达墓山已经七点十五分左右，我倆就动手拔草，扫四处狂飞的落叶和泥沙。墓碑上的字每年一定要重漆过。我们用毛笔沾着金粉和着油，跪着写。间中有时必需爬起来伸伸发麻僵硬的腿。雄（外子）望着我，笑得几得意，一边说，“都跟你说了，不能站起来了，哈哈！”亏他那么辛灾乐祸。其实他还不是一样酸痛。想到他是苦中作乐，我也被他感染了，大家都笑了起来。一阵微风迎面拂来，带走了热气，顿时心旷神怡。安放好两盆花，侍立在墓前，心里默默记念先人，尤其是雄，思念先祖父母的过去，一阵伤感浮现在他脸上。我知道他的感受。当我望着我祖父母的遗照时，心里就酸痛起来...应该是血脉相连的缘故吧！
我们下山时已经是九点半。忘了带雨伞，天空一片蔚蓝，太阳笑得那么灿烂。多好的天气，但曝晒在烈日下，我的偏头痛又隐隐作痛了。我跟雄讲，明年五点就启程，不让太阳欺负我。
地球你不需要我，这地方我一方来，将八方离去。这曾经是一名诗人说的。想想也有些道理。所以我认为火葬是不错的选择。干净快速，一小把骨灰，洒向大海，多洒脱。或是埋在泥土里还可以当肥料。圣经里都说人是尘土嘛。哈哈！而且以后也不必麻烦亲人年年扫墓。
思念是放在心里，孝顺要在父母有生之年。最重要的是离开世界后我们的灵魂去那里？若是回天家岂不是好得无比吗？

Country road

I love to go home, but whenever I think of the conditions of the road,it gives me creeps and put me off.My hometown is in Mukah,and the most convenient way is to go by road.Anyone who had traveled on the Mukah Selangau road can tell you that it is a notorious road,simply "horrible" beyond description.There are pot holes every where, some as big as our dinning tables,and they can be as deep as one to two feet.Just imagine a Kancil struggling on the road, or a ten tons lorry stranded with punctured tyres in the middle of no where?
Last Monday, I took a bus home,because dad and mum wished to see me, and I missed them too.The moment I boarded the bus, I knew the air condition was not working even though the bus ticket stated that the bus is air-conditioned.I was being compelled to travel in a bus, packed with sweaty bodies , under the merciless blazing sun.Eventually, when we were heading towards the "bad road", the warm air turned into stuffy ,smelly hot air,as the "should be condemned " poor old bus moaned heavily and fought desperately to move its heavy body, feet by feet on the dusty road at 12 noon.We, the passengers were being thrown and swayed from side to side, some banged their heads against the windows, whilst others screamed when they were thrown into the air.We were like,inside a washing machine.My goodness, my head started to throb and I felt dizzy.God, help us,I prayed.If this goes on, I am going to be half dead when I reach home, and I don't want my dear old parents to see me in this miserable and sorry state.
God was good and gracious, when I finished my prayer, I felt a stream of fresh cool air gushing down from the roof of the bus.There was one Malay man, who was clever and kind enough to open up the "top windows" of the bus.Deep in my heart, I was praising God for he had answered my prayer.Amazing, isn't it?Even at times like this, God tended to my needs.God, I love you, I whispered to him.
During the good old times, we could travel from Sibu to Mukah by air, paying only RM35 per trip,inclusive of airport tax, likewise from Mukah to Sibu we just paid RM30,no airport tax.Nowadays, we have no alternative but to travel by road or by boat.We would have thought our nation is progressing, Malaysia boleh,and that peoples lives should be improving. But look at us, we cannot even have assess to a decent tar sealed road.Is this too much to ask?We have been waiting for nearly 30 years.My mother used to be in her 60's,and now she has turned 90, does she has another 30 years? We are totally disappointed with the authority.An empty promise is just like a bounced cheque, it reflects the dishonesty and lack of integrity of the drawer. who would want a bounced cheque?

Food for thought

Adrain told me he loves to drink lactose free milk, but because it is expensive he has to refrain himself from drinking at his heart content.True, in our lives, there are many things we have to "give up" sometimes in order to strike a balance, and it is not easy.But look at it positively, too much milk will make one fat and that is unhealthy.So, it is not just money matter, rather it is for practical reason.Likewise, even rich peoples have to discipline themselves from indulging in food that they crave, otherwise they can harm themselves by over eating though they can afford it.God is fair, after all.We can only eat our fair share if we want to live healthily.
This morning, while I was doing my marketing in Central market, I met my friends.They were grumbling they did not know what to buy and cook for their families.I don't doubt their words because I have the same problem too,running out of ideas .Many housewives will surely face this problem as we are the "only cook of the house.".Most of the time when I ran out of ideas and asked my love ones for their suggestions, they would surely gave me the same answer," anything".I was annoyed by their indifference , but after much thoughts,I told my self,if I have full authority to cook whatever I want, why not enjoy it? Since then, whatever I cook, they will eat and hopefully,enjoy.(No complaint, so far.)
My children miss my cooking when they are away from home.Perhaps they are used to my styles thus why they prefer mum's cooking.My cooking skill is simple, I only know how to prepare typical home meals.But the secret is that when I cook,I do add in a pinch of love,a pinch of thoughts, and a pinch of sincerity,and pray that all of them can eat well , enjoy themselves and stay healthy.Try my recipe, it will make a lot of difference.
Foochow peoples, especially Sibu Foochow like to eat Kam pua mee.Peoples here can eat Kam pua for breakfast, kam pua for lunch, kam pua for dinner, and kam pua for super.Even if they go to other places, they have the tendency to order kam pua if they are indecisive of their choices.Luckily, I do not like it, or any other type of noodles.Otherwise, I will be rounder than now.I always opt for Kuih, as I grew up in Mukah, and I pick up more Hokkien peoples eating habits.Hokkiens like to drink coffee , so am I.I used to drink 7 or 8 mugs of coffee a day, and that was really excessive.When I realized that I was addicted to coffee, I quit the habit, now I drink occasionally, not even once a day.The best choice is still, plain water, or " sky juice."
My 3 sons are not very fussy over food, but they sure like to eat good food!Whenever we went traveling, their father would be interested in two things, that is, taking photographs and secondly, searching for nice foods.We went to China last year, and were disappointed with the food there. Not a single dish impressed us. The best food is China sweet potatoes roasted in hot charcoal.When we were at Cheng De, it was below 13 degree, snowing actually.The hot sweet potatoes tasted heavenly and unbelievably welcoming.Every one wished to hold it because it was so comforting, our fingers were numb from freezing cold.
Thailand is a country that has a lot to offer. Besides sight seeing and entertainments,they have many varieties of food to choose,most of them are delicious, exotic ,different and definitely worth trying.Prices are reasonable too.I love almost all the Thai dishes.The tom yam soup is hot and sour and spicy and simply exciting!Don't mind going again,if I can afford it.

身在福中

上个星期，我们七位“门徒”的学生在民都鲁的实比遥佈道处参加崇拜。见到一对母子，坐在靠近大门旁。孩子有异于常人，一看就知道是智障和残障。母亲弯下身子，在为他檫四肢。我再看清楚点，原来他的膝盖和手面都长了厚厚的茧 那是经过长年累月的磨檫而形成的。他坐在矮凳上，傻笑着。母亲的眼眶里泛着泪水。这一幕，深深印在我的心版上。
崇拜完毕，我们走去后面，和那妇人交谈。她告诉我们，儿子天生这样，只能爬着走。一没注意，他会爬出屋外，有一次，还被车撞到。若是把门锁上，他会用重物击破窗门，逃出屋外。为了这孩子，身心疲累，三十多年了，眼泪不知流了多少。我望着她悲伤的脸，写满着无奈和无声的叹息。接下去,妇人说道,牧师很好,帮忙安排申请孩子去美门,那是收留残障人士的关怀中心.只是在吉隆坡,那么远,我怎舍得他?说着,眼泪又流下来."不过,我相信这些基督徒会以爱心对待我的孩子."她的眼神突然闪着一线希望，是一个母亲抱着对孩子最大的奢望，憧憬。
我在想，如果我是她，我会怎么面对?一万多个苦日子是怎么熬过的？当旁人带着异样的眼光歧视他们时，她肯定感觉到被伤害。她的眼泪告诉我她很在乎。是上帝给她力量走下去，侭管路途艰难灰暗，但凭信心向前走，相信前面将是曙光和希望。
我突然惊觉，原来我是身在福中。我知道我是非常蒙福的人，但从来不曾这么深刻的感受到。上帝的恩典让我感动。那我该作什么来回应主的爱?我想上帝是要我把爱与人分享，尤其是去关怀那些被社会遗忘的一群。残障人士，盲人，老人院的老人，孤儿...很庆幸的是，我们这些门徒都有这样的感动。我们要成为社会关怀的义工，并把福音传给他们。
这次的民都鲁之遊让我更体会到上帝的爱和恩典。至于那个姐妹，我们会继续为她代祷。愿她的孩子能被美门收留。她的信心更坚强。美好的盼望是在永恒里，因为在天堂，每个人都有荣耀和不朽坏的身体。在那里神要擦去他们的眼泪。
这位姐妹的孩子名叫伍平煌。请为他们代祷。

幽默

我之所以称妈妈为老妈是有原因的。第一，因为我出生时妈已经四十岁了。二来她今年高龄九十。所以，叫老妈，不会太过份吧。其实，妈对年龄是有点敏感，还好她不介意我这么叫她，算是特别宠爱我了。
妈的孙子和外孙以及曾孙们，都喜欢亲近她，因为她随和，明理，是个风趣的长辈。而且好客，最喜欢家里热闹。子孙满堂时，是她最开心的时候了。她是我们心目中最棒的厨师，不但煮得一手好菜，还是个园艺高手，把整院子的花树修剪得整齐又美丽，是个富有艺术细胞的人。她在念中学时，曾经画了很多画，却让她的白人老师带回英国去了，真是可惜。
妈最吸引人的地方是她的幽默感。以下是她的名言。
宁愿少吃点，冷气要背在背上。可见她是个怕热的人。在一九八三年，爸和妈以及小哥到英国去游玩，当时我在伦敦深造。正逢夏天。我还要穿上寒衣，她却围着沙龙，靠在窗口吹冷风。
妈还有句名言，是她的每位下辈都喜欢又熟悉的。有一次，我带孩子回乡。车快抵达时，我对孩子们说，“你们看，等下，外婆一定说，孩子，外婆眼睛看到要掉下来了！”果然，我们车门一开，她的形容词一字不漏的重复一遍。孩子们笑得前仰后倒，外婆还以为他们又胡闹些什么了。
又有一次，我们很久才回沐加探望老人家。她一看到我们，高兴的说，“孩子，这么久才回来看外婆，发霉了。”孩子们又笑成一团。总之，有外婆的地方，肯定一定充满欢笑声。
妈是大姐，是很有影响力的那种，所以，不管她走到那里，她的弟妹或亲戚总会跟着她。所以有妈的地方一定是很热闹。
我的祖母非常疼爱我妈妈，因为她是个孝顺的媳妇。顺服，勤劳，大方，一天服侍祖母吃六顿。祖母最喜欢来沐加。她说，“来沐加最享福，一天吃六顿，衣服都不能穿了。”说罢，笑得肥胖的肚腩震个不停，有趣极了。我们看着妈妈的好榜样，自然也就学习孝顺长辈。
妈作的肉包是没人能比得上的。包皮柔软香甜，质感踏实，富有弹性。里面包着肉和竹笋加上蛋和着可口的肉汁，一次真的可以吃上两粒。虽然妈作的包可是特大号的，应该像夜市卖的大包。
每逢新年，她就烹制了多种蛋糕，椰蛋酥，牛油香饼，绿豆糕，硕莪饼，而且每一样糕饼都要作很多，因为爸爸疼爱他的弟妹，每个都送一份，是用装饼干的大珍来装的。但妈总是很乐意的去作，把爱心分送给亲人，一点以不吝啬，难怪姑姑和叔叔们都敬爱她。她宽阔的心怀和无私的爱是值得我们去学习的。
近几年来，妈妈不能下厨了，她总是很感叹的说，“老了，不中用了。”岁月不留人。望着妈，心里多了一份痛。我们的老母，已经不再是当年的母亲了。她健忘，体弱，食欲不好，看着她瘦小的背影，懣跚的脚步，孤寂的眼神， 心中对她只有歉意。妈为了孩子，付出一切，青春，辛劳，体力，金钱，时间，爱和关怀，不求回报，只希望孩子们平安，快乐。而我们又有为她作了些什么？即使偶而給点钱吩咐她买补品吃，她总是一副不安的样子，担心我们也有养家的负担。我对她说，"妈，我们有，一点心意，您就拿了吧！”她总是迟疑了好一阵子才收下。
每一天，我都要向上帝献上感恩，因为我们父母还健在。每一个孝亲节，当我戴上红色的康乃馨，我告诉自己，我是幸福的孩子。上帝，谢谢你。

宽宏大量

爸爸是个宽宏大量的人。在我五六岁时，爸从杂货店生意转去经营鱼业。当时我们的鱼船最多，大概有四十多艘。很常，在夜晚时分，鱼船乘着海风，在银色的月光下，载着闪闪发亮的鱼儿，驶向码头。满载而归的鱼船，三，五艘前后到达，刹是壮观！而爸和大哥，二哥，又有得忙了。
在六十年代，沐加是个小市镇，只有一家冰厂。我们的鱼如果是晚上回来就需要冰来储藏鲜鱼，第二天载到古晋，美里，民都鲁，诗巫等地去卖。通常大哥和二哥都要和工人一起去，在海洋中飘泊，冒着生命危险。他们的辛苦和功劳是弟妹们应该鈱记在心的。
一天，又是丰收的季节。码头上堆满了一篮又一篮的肥美鲜鱼，刚从回来的鱼船抬上来。爸就吩咐哥哥们去冰厂买冰，这么多的鱼肯定要运到外地去卖。哥哥们费了好大的力气，用四轮车把巨大的冰块以人力推到码头。那时他们也只不过是二十出头的年轻人。
但有一个鱼贩却乘哥哥们不在时把土油淋在冰块上。哥哥们真是气暴了，那时二位叔叔也在帮爸爸作事。他们年少气盛，吵着要去找那“恶霸”算账。爸爸不准他们去找他理论。爸爸相信那鱼贩必定是误会了。现在大家都气在心头，心平气和最好，不必斤斤计较。我们的鱼全都坏了，大概有几十担。
几年后，有一天，爸爸遇到了那位鱼贩，我们本来叫他伯伯，爸主动向他问安。“ 哥，你还好吧？”想不到他竟哭了起来，一边对爸爸说，“美光（爸的名），我对不起你！”爸赶忙对他说，“ 哥，我从来没有怪你，那只是个误会，你不要放在心上。你曾经还是我的大恩人呢！”原来爸爸有一次病得很严重，这伯伯背着爸爸，去给中医放血，爸才好了起来。
后来，爸爸和妈妈都有去探望伯伯和他的太太，但很不幸的，他们都得了癌症。不久，就去世了。我们二家人至今都有来往，这得归功于爸爸了。
有时，我会想，如果当时爸爸沉不住气，没有宽宏大量的心，后果真的不堪设想。
退一步，海阔天高，忍一时，风平浪静。
忍，可是一门难学的功夫，一把刀，插在心里，不痛吗？


那位伯伯也要用到冰，但迟了一步。我们不知道他也要用到，也不知道所有的冰都卖给我们了。难怪他以为是我们霸道。

我老爸前两天跌了一交，害老妈担心了好一阵子。我们身为孩子的，赶忙致电问好。老爸说，“不用担心，无大碍。不跌倒，怎么会长高？”一句幽默的话，轻描淡写，带给孩子安心和欢笑。
老爸已经快九十高龄，一生体弱多病，但从不怨天犹人，凡事心存感恩，知足常乐，我也因此以平常心看待世事。老爸说，要作个敬畏上帝的人。他的一生让我们看到他的敬虔的生命。
小时候，我们最爱抢风筝。我们的屋子很大，院子更大，大慨有一依甲多。隔邻的孩子放风筝时常会掉在我们的院子里。那,这些风筝就是我们的了。一天，老爸知道了，叫我们(包括侄儿，侄女）把所有的风筝拿出来。大慨有十几架吧。他问我们道，“这些是你们的吗？”我们只好说不是。大家都自知理亏，不安了起来。爸的脸色很严肃。一边教训道“不是你们的东西就不可以拿，拿别人的东西就是貪心。”说得我们恨不得有个地洞可以躜进去。我们眼巴巴的看着风筝在熊熊烈火里消失。留下来的，是爸爸的训诲：不可贪心，做人要诚实。
爸的一生是以身作则，以生命影响生命。他是我最敬佩的人。
还有很多他的故事，留待以后再写。
Gosh, my ping ying is so slow.Any better way to improve and make me faster? HELP!!