Ginger Moon: The Journal of Life

To entertain friends who frequent this blog. Enjoy!

第二天亚当请她去吃中饭， 开着他深蓝色的Lexus. 右边的车门是坏的， 用力才能
打开。他侧过身开门的时候，她们的眼睛再次相遇了。那淡蓝色如同汪洋海水的眼
睛，让她那样轻易地陶醉。他们的唇再次相逢在午后的阳光里，象一对初恋情人，
羞涩而好奇， 那是记忆中甜蜜的一吻。 高挑英俊的亚当， 是毛咪少女时期梦见过
的白马王子。他看着她的时候，整个世界都不存在了。电影中看来的经典语句在心
中奏起了交响曲：

“每一次说再见都象永别”--<<魂断蓝桥>>
她那样渴望着他的拥抱！她愿放弃一切去追随他，那梦中情人。
分手时，毛咪依依不舍地看着亚当：“保证，你一定还会再见我！”
亚当：“我保证。” 他微微笑着，平静而憨厚。
......

然而，绵长的思念切不断。在湖边散步，看到一个骑自行车的人很像亚当，那种健美
的完全的男人， 象一只鹰在暮色的天空划过，掘取了她的心。“如果他要我嫁给他，
我会放弃一切搬去东部的！”毛咪边走边想。三十而立的人，最能体会到爱情的宝
贵。人生很多身外之物， 实在不重要。

-----
那是充满战争的一年。美国先是打了阿富汗，而后进攻伊拉克，电视上天天报伤亡。
虽然战火远离国土，却牵动着很多人的心。强大的美国，疯狂的美国；善良的美国
人，轻信政客的美国人。自从911之后，这个国家就没有安生过，经济衰退财政危机
庞大的失业大军。

那天她下班回来， 看到门口的一个包裹，贴着很多花花绿绿的邮票，来自伊拉克！
她心里格登一下，谁会从那儿寄东西来呢？该不会是恐怖主义的危险品？包裹很轻
软，象是衣物。难道是。。。。？她小心地打开了它，一件很眼熟的军服！是亚当
的，去年秋天相逢时他穿的那件深蓝色的衬衫。她曾对他说：“好喜欢你的衣服。”

他天真一笑：“以后不穿了送给你作纪念品。”

可是，怎么会从伊拉克邮来？他难道上了前线？很多年轻军人向往战场，因为那是
军人生活的高潮。然而亚当已经是老兵了，他厌恶战争，依恋安宁稳定的生活。她
抚摸着那件带着他体味的衣服，激动不已。突然，衣服口袋里掉出一张卡片，是亚
当写的：
“亲爱的咪子，来自战场的问侯！我已经在前线三个月了，天天想着你。你还怪我
吗？你能原谅我吗？夏天的事实在不知怎么跟你说，部队接到秘令立即出发，不能
告诉任何人。一切都在监控中，没法跟你道别。我希望你没有伤心或生气，在海那
边等我，还有一个月。你能到华盛顿来接我吗？别忘了带很多黄缎子，那象征着爱
情和重逢”。
........
一个夏日的黄昏，毛咪到达巴尔地摩，而后作出租去向Potomac, 亚当的骨灰将被洒
入 Potomac 河，他生前划船钓鱼的地方。华盛顿的夏日绿得叫人心痛！知了鸣成一
片，让她想起童年时光。天边飘着大朵大朵的白云，象是人们蓄积以久的眼泪。
.....

亚当的母亲紧紧地报了毛咪一下，邀请她上船， 那条亚当最爱的船，那条他在电话
里常常说起的船。有一次他钓到一条大鱼， 说有毛咪一半大。毛咪笑说：“下次你
来加州的时候，给我带条鱼好吗？”
亚当憨厚地笑笑，“Ok."
毛咪那样怀念他的笑，和他笑时孩子一般灿烂的神情。
....
船行在Potomac 河上。一个用星条旗包裹的盒子静静地躺在船头，那就是他的骨灰！
毛咪真想跑过去抱一抱它，而后大哭一场。船行到中央，亚当的父亲解开包裹，将
骨灰慢慢地一路洒尽。“安息吧！我的爱人。。。” 毛咪在心里默默祈祷着，两行
热泪冲出眼眶。伊娃却是面无表情地站着，仿佛她跟那个随风而去的人毫不相关。


此后的半年，毛咪天天梦见亚当，梦见他热烈的吻， 梦见他紧紧的拥抱。一个英俊
而朝气蓬勃的男人就这样从生命中消失了；她的魂也跟着他去了。世上一切都变得
不重要，身外之物有什么值得怀念的。有时她希望时光倒流一切重新来过，她会很
真实很热烈地爱亚当，没有游戏没有恩怨是非，只要能跟他在一起，她可以放弃一
切。

第二年的夏天，毛咪又去了Potomac 河，去祭典亚当。他的灵在她四周游荡着，象
<<人鬼情未了>>。 华盛顿的夏天郁郁匆匆，到处是浓绿茂密的树， 跟加州的棕榈
海岸大不相同。Potomac 河在不远处静静流淌，象一个宁静的处子。亚当，你还好
吗？你是不是感到寂寞？你想念你的船吗？你想念我吗？天边层层叠叠的云，挂着
她无限的情思。

河边的那家小旅馆里宁静清雅， 从前是一家修道院。在四层的小房间小而清爽，窗
外便是茂密的森林。开了窗户可以听见清晨的鸟，午后的知了，和夜间的水流声。
那水声象是亚当的歌声，他在唱思念她的情歌。这反朴归真的树林！关了灯她钻进
床单下，穿一件薄薄的睡衣，她幻想着亚当就睡在身边，紧搂着她的腰， 轻抚着她
的背。他总是那样细腻温柔， 包括他的吻。他会不时地吻她，即使在睡梦中。
在半梦半醒之间。那种温暖的浪漫感笼罩着


亚当，她少女时期一个短暂的梦，很快消失在岁月中。她以为她将从此带着对亚当
的记忆独度终生。

夏威夷的月亮

三月时节，我与你相逢，在月光如水的夜晚
海风轻吹，雪崩般的长吻， 淹没了那个夜晚的空中楼阁

那短暂的爱，超越时空，
荷花般清纯，木棉般燃烧，凤凰花般成熟， 丁香般四溢芬芳
如海上日出，山上野花，杨柳微风
更如乾柴烈火， 就这样， 烧尽了我二十岁的青春年华

我牵着你的手，行走在城市的灯红酒绿
风吹动你的风衣我的长发
和频频回守的人们
如同一场黑白电影， 描绘着巴黎的1920

你永恒的足迹， 印在第四大街的人行道
我与你舞蹈，在 Cafe Sevilla
那里的人们， 传说着翩翩舞姿美好爱情
在你火热的吻里， 我如花绽放
这个忙碌世界，沐浴着爱的芳香

你走的时候，我的魂跟着走了。
迷失的我，在那个城市里四处游走， 寻找你的影子
为什么， 你这样走，头也不回，给我一个永恒的背影
而我真正想留住的，却是你的眼睛
它们如星闪烁，在清晰的梦境

我在夏日的海岸， 画着你的相
你在沙漠的那边，写着我的名字
我愿放弃一切，天涯海角地去追随你
你是否愿意回报我似火热情
只愿时间停滞呀停滞
这样你就可以永远停驻在，丝绸般纤滑的躯体

就这样尝着相思之苦， 只是，
我像你盘中甜点， 可多可少
而你却是我的主食， 少一粒都会饥寒
我四处找寻，世上却无人像你
那风的潇洒，雨的多情，火的炽热，水的恬静
那如星明眸， 如月智慧

你如火的热情，只能在我的壁炉燃起
吞噬了我吧， 一只扑火的飞蛾
淹没了我吧，一只游泳的美人鱼
告诉我你何日回还！

你可知那痴情的巫山神女，
日夜等你在长江边
看船儿往返。。。

We met on Oahu February 2002 and have been friends since then.

To try to step back from the "fast paced" society that seems to sweep us in and cause stress when we could have enjoyed a nice cup of tea and spent time with those who are most special to us.

But I now realize that $ does not bring happiness even in large amounts of $ because we can always make more $ but those things in life (e.g. family, special friends, etc.) are irreplaceable.

I also am trying to learn to enjoy the "present" because if we always look toward the future we miss the "gift of the present time" and we are not guaranteed the future.

感恩节

我生在感恩节左右， 有时重叠。火鸡日因此也多了一层意义， 是我感谢生活给予
的日子。周六的天那样蓝， 阳光一射无余。去 Ikea 买了红色的窗帘，挂在卧室的
落地窗上。整个屋子一下显得喜气样样， 也冲淡了冬天的清寒。晚上睡觉时打开了
百页帘， 夜色和月光从恋逢里透进来， 象个波澜不惊的梦。 生活是这样沸腾，
这样美丽。快三十的我仍然常常这样感叹。生活中的惊讶和欢乐使我年少时的梦不
断重现。

跟你同度一生的只有你自己！我忽然明白了这句话的含义。这一年我依旧年轻，
但成熟， 自信，快乐，带着些沧桑的美丽。象校园民遥里的一首歌，“在那遥远的
春色里我遇到了盛开的她， 洋溢着灿烂的光华象一个美丽童话。” 我在自己的轨
道上忙碌行走，又不忘采摘路旁的玫瑰。我在世界这块土地上自由行走，遇到一些
传奇的人与传奇的事。

追求生活的美丽， 诗情， 与优雅---新一年的左右铭。不在乎吃什么也不在乎穿
什么，只让那年青生命的自然美四处飘扬。外界的人和事很少再干扰我， 我可以自
自然然地作我自己。

http://www.ofoto.com/I.jsp?c=cg6dzr1.6i31tc1&x=1&y=-fyf2qz
Enjoy! My sister's newborn and my birthday ones.

"To whom your love goes?"--by Midnight Band
Please forget the past happiness;
My heart has gone with you
Lost the love of my life
Heart-broken to think of it this way

To whom your love goes
My heart is crying for you....

The words are not for me but the tune is. A pop Chinese song just came out.

Sunday was a perfect day. Karen and I felt like living in a storybook; not because we haven't been to beautiful places. It was just a perfect day. I love that boat! It felt like a cradle. I sat on the top deck and watched waves for an hour. The boat also saved a mobile boat, one that is just floating on the ocean. Like a crime scene.-:)

We hiked about 5 miles that afternoon. The hilly road reminds me so much of my hometown.

Great dinner too at the Blue Parrot. I can feel life at that place.-:) We had Mahi Mahi and French cake, followed by butter pecan ice cream, real fatty and sugary ones.-;)

We talked a lot but "everything we said on the island stay on the island." I love this agreement we came up with.
I also like the story of that hilly house built by that poor Frenchmen. He was hear-broken.

Catalina was great! A quiet peaceful island, like a mini-maui. That Hilly House story is heart-breaking. This Frenchman built that beautiful red house in two years, with his blind circus horse ???. He built it to please a lady he planned to marry. However, when the house was just getting perfect, she got tired of waiting. [Guys, whom to blame? Why don't you bring her over to see the house when it was being built?] He was heart-broken and banned women from entering that house. [What a nerd, punish yourself.]

K and I said, "everything we said on the island stay on the island." We talked a lot in that two days. She is so wise, kind, sincere, and passionate. She was able to leave her husband behind and drove us to Newport beach.

"Reflect and see how much you have accomplished in 30 years" she said.
"Find your own niche and create your own way of doing, no matter what other thinks. The vehicle to help you achieve goals"--Inspiring.

"It was so long ago that I was 30 that it’s hard to remember! Before kids seems so distant!

When I turned 29, I had a hard time with it. After that, it’s been smooth sailing. Life just keeps getting better (and busier!). We had birthday bashes on our fortieths just to keep it all in perspective.

My motto to live by... “Never say never” sort of sums it up. Stay open to try new things, stay awake to enjoy them and stay away from people who are mentally old (regardless of their chronological age)!

My dad always says “you really only have one alternative to aging!”--TL, one of my best girlfriends

"If there is a will, there is a way. I truly hope that your goal of becoming a novelist comes true. You have such a talent for words. Your passion for writing is admiring. The only hurtle is to find a way to jungle your time between teaching, research and writing. I know you can do it. I look forward to reading your first hardcopy."--Michelle, a very sincere friend

"Any words of wisdom for a young 30 year old??? Not really...except to thank God for giving you 30 wonderful years of blessings through the sunshine and the rain. And after thanking God...thank your Mother for bringing you into this world to be an inspiration to others."--Lins, a true true friend

'Many times, my own body (health-wise) tells me when I'm in over my head and I need to make a change. Listen to your body, which of course includes your heart!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!! Love and best wishes"--A girlfriend from graduate school

"Irena and I am very proud of your achievement in life, We still remember our first meeting in Beijing at the Sheraton hotel gift shop, you were very young but had lots of positive energy. We became friends and took care of each other."--Israel

"In my opinion, you already emulate many of the qualities and characteristics that I think are essential for a successful and happy life. Among these qualities, is your ability to inspire others to acheive their very best by your encouragement, confidence and overall optimism. I know that personally, this has had a huge impact on my own professional, and personal, development."--Don

"I have different "motto"during differe time.At present,I like very much a word which is in a book about Buddism:
One should be just like a lotus from water but not water on it, also just like sun and moon in the empty but not standing in the empty."--Zhen Er, childhood pal, Beijing

"Live one day at a time and be wise on that day."--Precy from the Philippines

Do you dread the future? Or will you warmly welcome it as you
would a new friend?

Senator Hubert Humphrey, a man with an indomitable zest for
living, once talked about the "good old days." He said, "They
were never that good, believe me. The good new days are today,
and better days are coming tomorrow. Our greatest songs are still
unsung."

What a marvelous spirit! Our greatest songs are still unsung!
Quite a different spirit is found in a business magazine ad that
pictures a newborn baby with the caption: "Only 22,463 days until
retirement." The ad is cute, but it picks up on a spirit of our
day. It is a spirit of worry and anxiety. It is a spirit that
tells us, "You don't know what the future holds! It is likely to
be bleak; even disastrous! You can never be too careful!" You
know what spirit I mean.

I have always believed in the future. And I will look forward to
it with great anticipation. Why shouldn't I make friends with the
future? After all, I intend to spend the rest of my life there!

I am intrigued by a story about a bishop back in the 1870s. The
bishop had charge of a small denominational college. Annually, he
visited the school and stayed in the home of the president.

The bishop was a narrow thinker with a dim view of the future.
He told the school president during one of those visits that
everything that could be invented had already been invented.

The administrator disagreed. "In 50 years," he contested,
"people will learn to fly like birds."

That kind of talk greatly disturbed the bishop. "Flight is
reserved for birds and angels," he said emphatically, "and you,
sir, are guilty of blasphemy!"

The name of the bishop was Milton Wright. That name may not have
a great deal of meaning to you, but something else will. You see,
back at home, this clergyman had two enthusiastic sons - Orville
and Wilbur - who believed that our greatest songs were still
unsung! The rest of the story is one of an enthusiastic belief in
tomorrow. You know how it ends.

Do you believe that your greatest songs are still unsung? Will
you joyously welcome tomorrow, and all the tomorrows to come?
Supported by those we hold dear and guided by faith, we,
too, can share an enthusiastic belief in tomorrow!

I like this name. I do. Love it, in fact. Here are a collection of wishes from friends and busy bees (LOL):

"To a good person who works hard at her job but who is sufficiently self-assured and content to realize that her work isn't the beginning and end of her life, and who remembers to keep in touch with the artistic, reflective, and passionate sides of her life."

"I would probably sleep on your patio if you'd let me. Maybe I will come over and sit in you patio chair all night to stand watch and keep you safe."--a loyal friend who constantly moves me.

"wild thing, you make my heart sing"--I love that song.

This is the last day of my 29. I worked at home, allowing all kinds of thoughts to emerge. The wind is blowing the leaves of that big tree outside my window. That's the sound of life. I asked friends around the world for advise, about life.

One said, "You have a good start on a wonderful motto--To be a good person and be self-content, while heeding the calls of the artistic and passionate sides of my being." I spent holidays but rarely put my hear into celebration. But Nov. 23 is going to my day and I will live it to the fullest. Welcome to 30. Send me whatever wishes you may have, if only it's not about getting married or having kids. Here lives a free spirit, "like a gipsy, dancing in your little skirt" (KD). LOL.

I love flying, above the ground at 20,000 feet (is that a reasonable number)? Flying across the Pacific or continents can be mind-changing, as if life has been transformed. The world looks so small underneath and you can't see people. Lights spark like stars in the universe. You really wonder where everyone is and where your friends and loved ones are. All mistakes can be forgiven, all happiness are shared, all sadness can be left behind; life starts from the beginning, pure and fresh.
I am turning to 30 this week. I thought it will be difficult but it seems that life is really blooming when we get older.

It is called WenXue Cheng (Literature City): http://cg.chineselib.com/cg.pl?u=www.wenxuecity.com&f=t

http://www.ofoto.com/PhotoView.jsp?&collid=45050677405&photoid=37284176705 (Tampa)

http://www.ofoto.com/PhotoView.jsp?collid=45050677405&photoid=76094176705&&refreshkey=1069172814428 (Tampa Pier)
But, it is nice to come home.

Many thanks to my friend Michele and Kun for encouraging me to write this blog. I have been on the road this past two weeks, talking about a woman on the run--my friend KD. says. Life has been very interesting once the travel started. My flight to Florida was long but beautiful. We flew over New Orleans and I saw the beautiful and serene Mississippi. Orlando was a pleasant surprise too. I stayed on the 17th floor which overlooks international drive. I love being at high places.
I then went to Tampa bay and walked in the blue water of Gulf of Mexico. KD. picked me up at the airport with his nice truck. Life will be back to normal for a while before I run again. I'll write more tomorrow when I have better energy. You all sleep well!

I will be in Orlando this weekend, working for Asynchronous Learning Network conference. Life is wonderful but busy and crazy, as it always is. Better than feeling bored or dull. Always remember to be a better person, to cultivate friendship, and to love others.

I am in Phoenix, attending E-Learn conference. Hilton suites hotel is such a pleasant surprise. I walked into a beautiful suite that has the panorama view of Phoenix. The sunrise and sunset are spectacular. I always feel lonely the first day of the conference, trying to get around and get to know people. But once I am in the full-swing conferencing mood, life is good! Met some interesting people and went to an Irish bar. There was a live band from Ireland. Also went to the 24th floor of Hyatt. The Compass restaurant gives a great view of Phoenix and it runs a full circle in 55 minutes. The rest of the time, I went to sessions and sat on my balcony, watching sunset and airplanes.
But I am really ready to go home. There are lots of to do this time of the year.