Poem of the past

I have made some poem or articles on different occasions. Here are some of them that I kept records.

思母吟
(Thinking of my aged mother living in nursing home in Taichung till she dies on August 3, 2008)


是傘需有把 再言質良窳
孝親若不勞 遑論心多絞
老母今寓市 晨昏看外僗
兒孫偶來望 喧多問心少

昔年雙親勞 頂燈夜除草
夏季賣土豆 冬日賣豬玀
諸子得教育 貧農漸溫飽
護子不顧後 家產盡分消

如今諸子老 各自愛家小
長子嫌事勞 次子爭名好
三子傷身早 四子求事寥
悔允五子遨 海外歸鄉少

常念逝父勞 忘思母寂熬
今己住市牢 回家機更少
勸念天下叟 防老財固牢
手中有財寶 晚年才熱鬧



贈聯予陶智國陳觀惠夫婦

智慮大千有情喜生佛國
觀照娑婆眾生悅沐法惠


贈李樹根胡玉琴夫婦

樹人立業喜見一代築根
玉絃送韻樂聞千秋揚琴


贈中新新董上任

中新磐石乾坤穩
承重接艱更逢春
量宏含虛舟能容
才廣陣致萬事成

贈中新新廈落成

中新磐石根基深
新廈落成再逢春
新鑽始耀中工城
精品無瑕暢乾坤
孝悌仁義領群倫
富國裕民代代新

贈青島惠運新廈落成

惠國裕民終需市暢澤延
運籌帷幄自是道豐業偉

Or

惠國裕民而今拓基啟運
延承良統自是道豐業偉


贈徐州柳家

柳林掩雲龍
飛影映湖中
振毫漢學揚
君立書法風

贈法老王KTV

晚得酒中趣 三杯時暢然
難忘是花下 何物勝樽前
世事多千變 人生少百年
妙哉法老王 揚諸在彭間


贈 Otto Chang to be dean of Purdue University

錫知益友家鄉遙 峰峰相連步步高
淑世育才今易處 華風輕拂普渡橋

July, 2008

贈好友吳明泉 July 2008/

明經熟脈善引泉 塑市立業腳步先
科技精用遊四方 享生樂命造悠閒
心留香身隨緣
林梢水邊尋鶯燕
倩影入簾爽心間
焉知今夕是何年

(If you are also bird lover like him, visit his blog at
http://northdoor.myweb.hinet.net/)

妻生日 September 1, 2008

三十寒暑結夫妻
如今孫女己承膝
若問此心多惜妳
乳水砂泥永相依

親家張順堯六十大壽及孫滿月September 6. 2008

順天應人兩岸三地一片天
堯聖舜賢三代一堂花甲年

勉中峰戰鼓隊 9/5/08

戰志高昂術業鼎
鼓韻激盪淨身心



Article for Mom’s funeral (哀送慈母出殯)

母親出生與中華民國同年，從年輕到老，辛苦耕耘，默默奉獻，多的是對子女毫無條件的關懷與照顧，少的是為自己切身舒適的計較。母親是一個平凡的鄉間婦女，但是在我們子女心目中卻是勤奮睿智輔佐丈夫白手起家的典範。

早年父親貧困，窮到沒有立錐之地，大部份時間在外地打工，養家教子的大事全落在母親身上。在窮困之中母親仍然任勞任怨獨力照顧祖母一直到祖母百年，以身體力行的孝道作我們的榜樣。民國六十四年，榮膺南投縣模範母親，可謂實至名歸。

母親樂於助人，鄰里有事，她都及早趕至，伸出援手，她有精緻的手藝可以剪出相當複雜的大紅春，囍等字，也可以裁製應景的孝服，頗受鄰里親友的愛戴與敬重；母親釀的米酒香醇，溫補了她生了小孩的媳婦們，母親養的肥鵝與大豬，養大了我們一家大小。

可是母親一項美德卻是一輩子不曾妥協的，那就是節儉。除了對自己節約到苛的程度，對於子女與丈夫也是堅持‘能不花就不花“的原則。也因此我小時候的遠足，袋子裡有的是現成的便當，就是沒有買冰水的錢。身為么子，我從小到大一直像跟屁蟲一樣跟在母親身邊。回娘家或上街拜拜必經埔里市區的長路，常感口乾舌燥，但未曾敢要買一口冰吃，因為她每次都說“快到家了”。父親也難倖免；有一次老父親想參加鄰里赴日旅遊團，旅費也由我們子女認捐湊足了，母親卻堅持不去，後來父親當然不會獨自去。當鄰里回國時，母親還沾沾自喜的說這筆錢不是省下來了嗎？

1985父親過世那年，公司打算派我赴美就職，我向母親請示時深怕她尚在悲痛之餘不肯讓最會“撒驕”的么子就此遠走高飛；不料她卻爽快答應，事後她表示她不再為了一念之差而再斷送兒子的前途。她說當年二哥有意離開鄉里出外發展，就是母親怕他出外受挫才反對的。迄今她老人家仍不忘記這個遺憾，因為二哥有意願又有能力，尤其外出打拼的村人好像沒有不衣錦還鄉的。數年後，我首次接母親赴美小住，到家時，母親在讚賞新環境之餘，竟然流淚了。依她解釋“一嘆父親無福來美共享，二悔當年為了省錢，讓父親一生沒有出國旅遊的機會”。

2006冬，由於客觀條件的限制與對於醫療設備的需求，母親就一直住在大里市老人中心，多半時間與院中老友共度晨昏，一直到與世長辭的此刻。對於慈母，我心中充滿“父母在不遠遊”的愧咎，真是：

秋風蕭蕭落葉飄
慈母音容今已杳
遊子海外侈言孝
常揪心肝於中宵

9７年了，您也累了，您的子女在您含辛茹苦的養育下也都枝榮葉茂了。母親，請安息吧，我們永遠感念您。在這山城小鎮中您以孩兒為榮，可是在此浩翰人世間，孩兒以您為傲。在此容我最後一次用屬於我們母子的稱呼喚您， “意呀” 安息吧！

么兒
永池　叩拜



改編詩嘆台灣政党惡斗

一片殘陽柳萬絲，冰封海上掛帆時；藍綠痴仇無限恨，紅樹青山豈不知!

贈畫家趙以夫兄

以匠心住形
用丹青賦魂
畫者鮮若此
是乃真功夫

我愛珠寶

珠寶光芒閃燿, 晶瑩剔透, 不止扁家垂青, 我也很愛.

我家的珠寶盤也很大. 晚上有閒瑕時我喜歡看它們. 那些大珠小珠落玉盤的璀璨景象看似雜亂, 卻隱約感到有些同類排在一線的次序. 大珠有強些的白光, 配上各種各樣大小不一的珠光, 真是心曠神貽. 把酒臨觀, 可以不必憂讒畏譏,更能寵辱皆忘. 如此滿足心態自然可以引我 悠然入眠, 一覺到天亮. 如若半夜醒來如廁, 亦可觀之而後快, 再繼續成眠. 如此珠寶, 夜夜陪我, 怎能不覺幸福?

隨著景氣拓展, 民宅建物日增, 我的珠寶盤也越多越充實.只是我不能出售任何一顆. 它們是整体的,無法觸摸的,也是屬於同住在高處的鄰里大家的.

所以我該說--- 我更愛夜景.

A relationship of significance

When cleaning the messy drawers in my office, I saw a small note written on a notepad. It was an interesting contract between me and my then-top-sales and share holder Hugo. On it I wrote in Chinese "我帶 Grace 去歐洲兩週 ASAP" with my signature. He then wrote "I will work overtime to help and if necessary I will bring my wife to help" with his signature. We have a witness, which I don't recall exactly who he was, but from the signature, I think he is Robert Wu, then visitor from Taiwan, who is also our VIP vendor, ex-colleague and life time friend.

This child-like commitment was made on 1998 on my wife's cry of hunger for visiting Eurpe, as she has never been there before.

Right now after 10 years, the European trip was finished last month (a little bit too late for my promise! sorry Grace). Hugo has finished his mission by pushing our business to prosperity for years before he decided to work part time. He is now spending more time in his building business. He just sold his house at 1.8 million while the construction cost is far less than one million. This earning is just a fraction of what he earned. I would say his career earning is more than twice, or even three times of mine. He is talented with figures, and his devotion in construction met with the best boom in real estate, even though he may work it during the full employement, which I don't care much. I would say that he is just a dragon out of the ocean. He can't be in a small pond that I have here.

Sometimes I feel a little sourness of jealousy for his greater success than me. However, thinking back, he can be my pride as well. When he was hired by me on 1992, he was a salesman in swap meet, a new immigrant from Mexico. With time of training on job, with his gifted foundation as a salesman, he made good busienss. As the owner, I got the lift and increased my income level too. From time to time, I still have to make some demand, or discipline since he is still an employee of part time while I have the duty as the CEO, however, I still consider such relationship valuable and significant that will be well remembered for life.

I have made a very hearty mourning peom for my employer Mr. Hu early this month when he passed away, I don't know how he look at me when I die... This is something I am curious, but I cannot expect much because he is a younger generation which certainly less sensitive than us, besides he is a Westerner whois not influenced by our Chinese culture about eatign fruit while thanking the tree.

In life, I consider it is better be appreciated than be complained or hated. I think this is one of some chapters I can keep for myself as a person.

最近如廁不甚便利,想必是中老年人常有的前列腺肥大作祟. 昨夜二更起來更覺涓滴細流,既小又弱, 且偶有中斷...突然莫名其妙的連想並思念已逝的慈母, 因為她在窮苦的日子裡持家,給我們用錢,就是如此 能少給就少給,能省(斷)就省(斷). 長大後,我偶而還听過某位哥哥還在抱怨母親苛刻於他. 不知是作勢撒嬌或是真的不懂為娘的苦心.

身為家中老么,我與母親的親近, 因為沒有更小的弟妹"介入"所以一直維繫到與母親見面的最後一刻. 可是在用錢方面母親可是堅持原則我仍沾不了當老么的好處. 所以我小時的記憶裡,拿零用金買玩具是沒有存在的奢侈, 但我也未曾要求過,因為田野中,稻田裡,或是近郊的虎頭山上都是我的樂園, 蝴蝶,青蛙,麻雀,泥鰍等是我的玩伴. 若真要有玩的器具,也是隨手取得的免費物資: 例如彈弓來自番石榴的 Y 型枝幹,配以輪胎(內胎作兩條彈絃,外胎了作夾石頭的皮) 用鐵絲綁往即成. 因為玩彈弓久了,我練就了打蠅神功. 有一次在坐在我四哥後座車內, 十几隻蒼蠅我就用橡皮筋三兩下就解決了. 事後我妻奉我為"打蠅英雄"直到今天. 那陀螺更簡單, 找個圓木段, 削尖上面, 下方修圓再釘上一根鐵作腳就可以行走江湖找人對抗了. 若真要玩牌,我們就將鐵瓶蓋外緣敲平,當作牌玩遊戲,總之,不必花錢又好玩就是了. 後來小學畢業,考初中時,有一題數學我就傻住了. 那題問到一副撲克牌, 我那知一副有幾張, 因為從未玩過呢!

母親,我還真想您念您. 希望您在那邊一切都好,也知道我在想您, 雖然觸動的誘因不太高雅. 您知道么兒在您面前一向頑皮又不正經.不過這也是真實的. 您的么兒也老了,也成"公"了, 昨天才與孫女過第一個父親節呢!..

Iran unrest

Iran has trouble after election result challenged by the opposition. The protesters were later dealt with another blow by the highest commander, the Muslim cleric. I thought the game should be over because it is the last authority's clear decision.

It was not over. The world news keeps reporting the protest is being kept. This is something I feel promising. This country may be in for a revolution, the same revolution in Europe that change the system of Religion mixed with Politics. This is another way out for human being, just like water can not be kept unflowing forever. It has to come into the lower places. I am eager to see any open hope on such another kind of iron curtain. I believe Iranians in the Western world are also expect to see it happen.

Freedom and democracy is the way to go like water find the way to go down, and only down.
Only with such foundation, the world can be dialogued into real peace.

為岳母代筆的生平感言--

感言

我不會說話, 更不會寫文章來表達. 只有經由情如母子, 卻常常調侃我來取樂的女婿代為轉述.

我是台南人, 先生是高雄人. 因為我先生從事土木建築業, 收入不薄且穩定, 所以我的前半生在台灣算是幸福而平靜的. 我有四個女兒加上最後掙到的小兒子, 上天對我不可謂不厚.

大約 1980 年除了老大老二兩女兒之外我們舉家遷來美國. 當時我先生在 Palm Spring 買了一間 Motel 做為全家落戶之地及收入來源. 第一次抵美, 在要” 回家” 的路上’ 只見沙漠連綿, 路頭接天, 即使村落有人也是荒地一片, 與綠意盎然生氧勃勃的台灣恍若不同世界. 當時我滿腹心酸, 滿怀擔憂, 生怕就此進入不幸的悲慘世界.

其實現在想來, 當時所看所感是自然而正常的, 因為洛杉機本就山草不生, 黃土遍地. 而且從LA到 Palm Spring的 10號公路在三十年前也是人煙稀少, 沙地到處的景象. 真是名符其實的少見多怪. 許多富庶美麗的別墅區只是還未看到而己. 可是, 可說造化弄人, 這個感受卻不幸成了真實的遭遇.

我先生在此人生地不熟, 本業建築也無從發揮. 無所事事之下, 他在台灣所沾有的坏習慣全都”諸惡現前”. 首先他利用我們母子” 作暝作日” 在旅舍工作, 沒有薪水, 也不給零用金. 有一次三女兒在炎夏還穿冬季毛衣, 要求買夏衣還被他毒打一頓. 我雖為主婦, 卻因一直沒給掌錢, 所以也是無奈的無償勞動者. 這也罷了, 全家一起打拼也算幸福. 要命的是他的賭癖. 在台灣就听說他涉賭, 只是在工作之餘從事, 只要沒事發生就當是消遣吧.. 此刻的他變本加厲, 毫無節制, 最後終於把 Motel輸掉了. 失去了家也丟了工作, 我們只好搬到 LA找屋租下並設法找工作謀生. 沒想到他還劣性不改, 繼續沈淪, 終於把僅賸的安家本錢輸光, 他本人跑路到大陸去, 不留一房一舍, 一分一毫給我們母子. 真是是把我們全家的命運打入”沒有明天” 的悲恐世界中.

當時舉目無親坐困愁城之際, 有位善心友人接濟三千元供我們搬家, 做臨時的安頓. 至今我還十分感恩他的善心善行. 但是小兒子高中剛畢業, 上大學的費用如何籌措? 所幸天無絕人之路. 二女婿因公司調派來洛杉機, 全家搬遷定居下來, 正好給我一個棲身之處. 從此以後, 我替他們管家接送兩個女孩上學, 他們也可專心事業. 就這樣生活穩定下來. 小兒子的大學費用也因此得以解決, 順利完成學業並獨立成家了. 如今轉眼二十年過了, 兩個孫女都長大成人也受了很好的大學教育. 大的還在去年把我推到” 曾祖母” 的寶座上呢!

在顛沛流離的日子裡, 我必須靠信仰支持自已. 那時我常去廟宇拜拜尋求庇佑. 果不其然, 在那裡我認識了我命中的另一貴人-- 慈濟的慈喜蔡師姊. 在她的引進及日後繼續支持之下我漸漸認識並進入慈濟這個大家庭. 如今回想,一路走來, 我內心十分充足, 可謂法喜充滿. 因無罣礙, 也就日日好眠.. 我很慶幸擁有這麼圓滿的一切.

在慈濟這個大家庭裡, 眾多師兄師姊有太多貢獻與布施方式. 我個人因為沒有受到高等教育,能力十分有限, 很多事想去做都多是心有餘而力不足,只能盡我的棉薄來表達, 希望在菩薩道上我不致落後太多. 因為我會開車, 所以協助一些老人行的問題. 其他能做的也就是盡我心力去做布施. 記得曾在蔡師姐的引導協助下將所有的金飾投入台東慈濟醫院, 大林醫院等病床設施上. 最近我更將所有積蓄包括現金與存款悉數奉獻, 這金額對一般有錢人來說應該是微不足道, 可是對我這個長久沒有工作收入的老太婆而言可是”傾其所有” 若問我為什麼要這樣”挺而走險”呢? 這的確曾經是一個天人交戰, 也是執著與覺悟之間的大問題. 可我還是選擇了布施這條路. 我的心路歷程可以從遠覺與近悟來分析:

遠覺指的是很早就听上人開釋過, “行善要及早”, 深有感觸. 自從加入慈濟這個大家庭以來, 所碰見的師兄師姊都是日日行善時時修行的活菩薩, 所看見的都是加慧增德的好事.除了日常服務與助念之餘我常常思考如何做些對我個人而言更有意義的更”大” 的事情.

所說的近悟, 嚴格來說應該只能說是因為体會無常的逼近, 而深深感到有些事今天不做, 可能就不再有機會了. 那是大概四月的一個晚上, 我突然感到頭暈目眩, 天旋地轉. 上吐下瀉, 彷若大限即至. 那時雖然駑慌痛苦, 卻也不想打 911去急診, 心想該走就走了吧! 事後診斷是中耳發炎, 雖算是一般急來快去的病症, 那個感覺好像冥冥中佛菩薩在暗示, 玉姬啊, 想做的事快去做吧!

另外最近的景氣蕭條也是有力的助緣. 由於經濟海嘯, 造成國內百業凋蔽, 失業的人一直在增加. 也見到慈濟平時所收的捐獻善款也明顯的減少. 這個情況對於我們慈悲濟世的志業, 必然受到很大的影響.也更加深我”多做些事情” 的覺悟.

現在心願已了, 口袋也空空了, 想來這個感覺在以前我一定會惶惶不可終日, 耽心沒錢以後要怎麼辦. 可是現在卻完全不同, 我覺得有布施後的法喜, 也有進一步追隨上人的快樂. 至於將來生活所需, 我十分相信依靠兒女與孫輩們應該是足夠的. 至少現在更加体現了 “色(錢)即是空” 與” 無住(錢)生心” 的禪味了, 即使我可能誤解它真正的意思.

此刻感受可用四句俗偈概括, 請指教但不要見笑:

功德千百種
我會沒幾宗
所有皆布施
有禪心不空

其實, 我這一生也算起伏很大, 在困難時只能感謝好的緣份即時出現, 也就是感謝佛菩薩的庇佑. 能在困頓流離的時候進入佛門, 走菩薩道也算是”失之東隅收之桑榆” 何況此桑榆是百千萬劫難遭遇的佛法, 足可供我往後精神靈魂安身立命之所, 我的所得何其多呀! 所以此刻說出我的心願

此生起伏已黃昏
只求精進利乾坤
但願福慧能兼修
生生世世慈濟人

Solar system in my house

For almost a week, my house has been "under attack" from the roof by those solar Max workes. Basically they are installing the solar modules on the Westen side roof. Since the structure of the roof only allow limited quantity of moudules to be used, the output of the solar power is said to be limited.

I don't know if the investment is smart enough, or if the mathmetic is correct about the money saving versus power generated from it, but I feel this is a right thing to do to minimize the use of regular power. This is a step to protect our globe, a way to keep our environment clean, and one of the ways to Broom our world.

----

This system was put in operation on June 23, 2009. Now I am eager to see how it generate the power, and how fast the output can cover my investment..

Wild pigeon's home

I gladly welcome the wild pigeon to take my home as hers! It is a pleasant surprise!

This weekend I noticed there was a bird nest on a tree on the corner of my house. And when I took a closer look, there is a pigeon sitting still there, staring at me seemingly with concern about my attitude. I made slow move to leave the site, signaling that I care about her feeling. I just want to tell her to make herself at home. I won't interrupt your hatching.

Wild animals were welcome in my home, except some poisonous creatures. The other day I saw a small rattle snake in the drive way. I do not want to have any accident to us, or my pet Ginger, so I caught it in the net and send it to the bush about two hundred yards away from my home. I wish her luck in the new place, but do not come back. Now I am aware there is a family of poisonous snake in my yard, and I just hope we get along all the time.

Last year we had a coyote living in the hill which always had encounter with Ginger at night. This kind of big wild animal is the reason why I raise big dogs. For some reason, I didn't see it this year. I hope it just moved to other places rather than starved. It appeared very skinny when I last saw it.

Every day I can hear the baby voices of the eagle. I noticed on the top of eucaliptus tree on the down hill from my home they had a home for years. I even nursed one baby eagle for two days before I have human society people to take over. This baby eagle was found by Ginger when we walked down the hill after dinner. It obviously was injured falling down from the nest before it could fly. I hope it grow well into adult eagle by now.

Those cotton tail rabbits are everywhere in the bush area in down hill from my back yard, besides those in the plain area before our entrance up into the hilly home. They, along with those squarrels are just a member here, but quite difficult to take a closer look.

The only wild animal that bothers me are those gofers. I have been figuring out how to keep them away from my plants without killing them. This is a challenge for life saving principle I have. I hope someone can teach me some tip.

My small hometown is famous into Vancouver??

I sent a letter to my college classmate Esther to verify if she find more Puli immigrants in her new residential country. She immigrated with son to Vancouver couple years ago mainly because she hated the corruptive regime of DPP. (I hope my requote of the article get the permission of the writer, Ms. Lin, who is my "fellow villager")

From a mountain village of Puli, I am surely pleased if she can verify that Puli has a lot of immigrants in Vancouver, (and) who are rich. ha ha.


Dear Esther,

I happened to read this article this morning about my home town. I am curious if you ran into some immigrants who are from Puli as well?
I like to know if there are so many rather than if they are pretty. Because I know very well, on the looking, at least you are better than majority of Puli ladies. I even didn't marry one from my hometown, ha ha.

Walter
講義
2009-06-04
第9806期
埔里之美
林琇琬
一個地方的美，只有親身體驗才能夠了解從我有記憶以來，都是生活在台中清水，一直不覺得自己和埔里有任何關係，直到即將入小學，才知道我的學籍在埔里的忠孝國小，必須先去忠孝國小辦轉學手續，才能在清水念書。
求學的過程中，只要說我是埔里人，師長和同學都會看我一眼，頗有深意地說：「聽說埔里出美女，我來看一下美女長怎樣……」所以對長相沒自信的我，一直很怕告訴別人我是埔里人，更怕那些人的眼神。有一回，一個住彰化的女同學告訴我：「你該慶幸自己是埔里人，至少埔里出美女。每次別人都對我說：『彰化出肉圓，你果然和肉圓長得很像。』女生被說像肉圓，真是讓人難以接受，被說成美女，就讓人舒服多了。」同學這樣說，確實讓我安慰不少，但我對埔里的印象仍是模糊的。我未曾吃過那塊土地的奶水，從小就插枝於清水，日復一日地成長著。父親對埔里是魂牽夢縈的，每每提及故鄉，都帶著思慕：「埔里的天氣很好，溫度永遠很適中，連冬天都不必穿大外套，一年四季都有不同的花朵盛開，風很舒服，到處都有綠意環繞。」但每次他說起埔里，我都感到害怕，因為在清水已經有朋友，很怕失去他們。真正搬回埔里時，我已經讀完大學了，很不能適應埔里當地的生活，由於那時沒有電影院，每次有好看的電影，我都得到台中去看。埔里終於有電影院時，我的兒子也出生了；然而現在為了帶孩子，反而沒有時間在埔里優閒地看電影了。有次到加拿大溫哥華，在路上遇到好奇的華人，問我是從哪裏來的？我一說起埔里，他們便說：「你一定很習慣看美景，那就不會驚訝溫哥華的美了。」原來在很多人的眼中，埔里的美，和溫哥華不相上下。我也在卡加立遇到一戶移民加拿大快三十年的人家，他們的小女兒一聽說我是埔里人，馬上說：「那你的經濟環境一定特別好，就算移民也不必受苦。當時我們剛移民過來的時候很苦，現在好一些了。」我問她是哪裏人？她說：「天母，我們很窮的，有些機會就出來試試看，於是移民過來。」「天母？在你眼中，埔里人比天母人有錢？」我有些訝異地問她。「當然，埔里有錢人很多，他們都住在溫哥華，那裏的房子非常貴，都可以在卡加立買五間房子了，」她理所當然地說。我在溫哥華確實常遇到埔里人，無論在公園、超市、銀行，或健行時都曾遇到埔里人。沒想到我跑到加拿大，才重新認識了埔里。搬回埔里也十多年了，其原因是為了我的寶貝兒子。結婚時，嫁到了台北淡水，兒子出生後就患有嚴重過敏，醫師隨口一問：「你娘家在哪裏？」我回答埔里時，醫師眼露歆羨說：「那真是個好地方，有那樣的好環境，應該讓孩子在那裏長大。」最後是兩個醫師和兩個藥師，向我先生及婆婆說，應該讓孩子在埔里生活，等孩子大一些再搬回淡水居住，這樣對孩子的健康比較好。於是，幾經考量，我們決定搬回埔里。當兒子還住淡水時，長期感冒、咳嗽，甚至嚴重到鼻管和喉管都發生積血，腸過敏到會排血便。但回到埔里居住後，這些症狀竟然消失了，且成長得更加健康、順利，現在即使到田裏玩耍、翻滾，也不再發生過敏的問題。埔里這塊土地，餵養了我的兒子，使他健康成長而無憂。因為兒子，我得到了在埔里居住的機會。雖然我的童年記憶裏少了埔里，但這幾年也慢慢地填補了空白。現在，我可以自信地說：「我是埔里人。」再也不害怕別人的眼光。有一回大學男同學失戀，騎摩托車到埔里酒廠想看美女療傷，結果打電話告訴我：「埔里哪裏有美女？原本想療傷，現在卻更內傷。」我笑著跟他說：「酒廠大多是觀光客，不是本地人，難怪你看不到美女。埔里確實出美女，我就經常看到美女……」埔里的美，不是一天就可以看得出來的，只有親身在這裏居住一段時間，才能細細品嘗到她的美麗。（祖華繪圖）

New finding

After living here for 6 years until today I didn't know there are more beautiful horse trail near my home. Today Grace and I prepared to walk our dog Ginger for a longer time, and we were kind of ready to exercise more and adventure the surrounding environment. It took us 3 hours to finish the exercise, and we found two trails. One is a new one to go the top of hill Easten part of Lorenzo Church. The other, in our way home, was just next to the horse training facility right on other side of Lemon Avenue across the Lorenzo Church.

People tend to follow the similar path in their daily life, and I am so much among these people. From now on, I am so happy I have more choice to walk on this trail that is along the Snow Creek with a deep smell of wild forest. Kind of feel lucky to be living in this place that is in the city that has the atmosphere of being in the wild forest. City of Walnut is such a beautiful city with so many country style trails.

How can we accept the NFL stadium to be here that will contain 75,000 people coming in and out for the noisy game? It is just like driving a noisy truck directly into a library, a brutal destruction of a quiet and elegant community.

I also had a small interesting encounter. During the walking, we found a mother bird taking about a dozen baby birds running across the Walnut Canyon Avenue. At first I only see small dots passing fast in front of me without knowing they are baby birds that can't fly. When they tried to get into the bushes on the other side of street, they have to jump over the curb. Only 1/3 of the chicks jumped over to join the mother. The rest were trying so hard to jump but fell back down. The mother bird was so nervous that she jump down and up the curb in panic, but had no idea to help her children. I imminent danger of the chicks as some run back on to the street, so I ran over to guide them to the end of the curb and use the drive way of a house. Most of them then found their way to join their mother. There is the last one running up along the drive way which is isolated from the bush area. I had to race and catch it and put it back into the bush. It was so tiny like a small mouse, and cute. When I left, I feel the whole family of that bird saying thank you to me. Ha ha.

Cockroach

I don't know why so many young people hate it, or fear it so much. In my office, I found employees screamed at seeing one show up, and they killed it with so much insect killer that I think it died from drowning instead of poisoning.

To me, it is just a regular small animal that unfortunately has to live under the wet and dirty environment. I have sympathy on such insect because I feel my childhood life was not too far from it. Each time it shows up in office, and if I happen to be present, I will waste no time to grab it and send it outdoor before any pesticide or broom flying in to kill it from my employees.

All life are equal, why kill them for just being fear of them, or prejudice against them?

Some small new perception about Calligraphy

I feel there is no perfection in art. The sky is high, there is space that is beyond it...

I got this feeling from my calligraphy class this Wednesday night. After years' basic drilling, and sometimes moving upward to other higher forms, I got criticized from my teacher when going back to basics. At first I feel he may be too picky. But the more I look at my words comparing with what he wrote in my face, I did see there is still some difference, even though the total appearance looks quite the same. The difference is in very small detail that novices won't notice well. Yet, it is in detail that shows the real expertise. Now I am getting more interested in some basics, happy to "downgrade" my level for a more solid foundation.

I don't know if I fully understand what my master said. But my perception may be good enough. He said in writing a good word in calligraphy, you have to have a good rhythm. I tried to follow it by pointting the next starting point after finising one stroke. In such exercise, I found myself totally melted in the chemistry among brushpen's tip point, ink and the paper. Maybe this is why some expert consider calligraphy work is like meditation. However, I feel there is difference between them. In meditation, you try to put yourself into nothing, and in calligraphy, you put yourself calmly busy with these quiet factors.

I hope my perception is not wild enough to draw me into evil, so called 走火入魔. Ha ha.

sincere condolence

I heard that my ex-boss Mr. C.H. Hu dies yesterday, June 2, 2009. It was sad even though he is already high age like 90+. I feel obliged to show my last respect to this great enterpreneur who founded Tah Hsin, and brought rainwear and a lot of plastic gears to Taiwan, and the world. His life story, along with that of his boss, Mr. Y.C. Wang of Formosa Plastic Group, can represent the most of, if not whole, recent history of Taiwan Economic evolution. My wang took one day to persuade him, who then was the only expert in plastic industry in Taiwan, to go with him to Taipei to handle the Hsin Tung factory, and the whole plastic industry just boomed to support the economic miracle of Taiwan...
It is him that I could be recruited, right from my graduation from NTU and finished my military service, and educated to where I am today. About 10 years latter I was sent to U.S. 10 years later, I had enough hard time before I had to leave Tamerica Products in end of 1994. I had a supporting and communication problem from the then general manager, a son-in-law to the Vice Chairman, who is younger brother of Mr. Hu. So far I tried to heal the wound which was incurred through misunderstanding. I even sent a greeting letter last year to Mr. Hu, but no response. I guess he was too old to read himself, and no one ever paid attention to handle this "small case".
Anyway, I took a whole morniong to compose a poem style mourning letter to Mr. Hu. See attached below.

亦主亦師亦父兮哀胡公, 高壽以歸兮同哀慟!
眼光銳利兮若神隼, 一日之詢兮定業宗.
追隨王董兮展新東, 再創達新兮箭離弓.
識廣魄強兮如漢武, 兩弟補弼兮版圖充.
首產雨衣帆布兮百姓瘋, 晒穀不畏兮雨與風
高瞻遠囑兮眼獨具, 海外立基兮訂單豐
美東美西兮歐陸動, 產品擴充兮五洲通
職乃農子兮非親侗, 不吝拔擢兮美西送
肝腦塗地兮二十載, 人事變遷兮難上通
孤臣孳子兮無所告, 就地求生兮別胡公.
心繫達新兮不稍戢, 今再失父兮永悲恐

嗟呼,
胡公功業振家國, 徒子徒孫產業多
帶動經濟功垂史, 宿昔典範罩四周.
於今闔眼入佛國, 思念感恩代代同.
惟祈長眠凡事休, 長佑達新萬代榮

嗚呼哀哉! 尚饗

前TPI總裁

施永池 泣拜

GM filed bankruptcy today. Finally the injuried lion in auto industry fell down for good. This is a very big surprise in our era. However, I feel the cause of its fall includes two things:
one is Greed, the other is Ignorance.
Greed from the not-ever-stop worker's union for benefits and securities that are more than twice of the other country in same sector. Also greed from the CEOs that enjoy the fat checks and bonus, plus private jet etc. It is also such CEOs playing good men to the demanding unions. Over generations, the burden just piles up enough to kill them.
Ignorance is about their inability to learn that new trend in compact cars and in oil saving device are the key buying factors in the new era. When the oil peaks over $147 per barrel, the lion suddenly found that it can't get enough food from its territory.

Chinese has a saying 富不過三代 (richness can go over 3rd generations), I think a big company, or even a nation cannot exceed 10 generation, if they do not cultivate the new revenue while continue the consumption of their assets.
We can see more examples if we open our eyes now.

6.1.09