Papa...what would you want me grow up to be?

I recall a TV series which I once saw, a particular scene caught my attention and the dialogue between the father and daugther left a deep impression in me. The father was an uneducated farmer who tolls hard from dawn till dusk to make ends meet for the family, the girl was an independent and jovial high school girl. Since the family was not well off and her mother died at her birth, she has to help in the farm work and house chores besides school work. Though young at age, she was deprieved of the previleges of most teenage girls, there was never time for oversleep, day dreaming, girls' talks or dressing up. With an average outlook, bother-line school results and constant smell of 'field fertilizers', her bright and jovial heart was never disheartened by school mates' mockery and unfriendly glare. That particular scene goes like this:
After school dismissal, the girl went to the field at sunset and wanted to walk with her father back home. They were walking towards the sunset across a vast grassland while the girl asked, "Papa, today our teacher at school wanted us to fill in our ambitions. I am not sure what to fill in. Papa, what do you wish me to become in the future? " The farmer thought for a while and replied in a serious tone, "I wish you to become a good pail of cow dungs..." Immediatedly the girl opposed to the silly suggestion made by her dad but he explained in a calm and caring manner, "My child, there is no shame in being something that people do not look up to. A pail of cow shit may be regarded as wothless and disgusting to others but it has great value to the ecology. Without these cheap cost of fertilizers, we will not have fresh and well grown vegetables for mankind to enjoy. I may not express myself well but my dear daughter, papa wants you to be a useful person in the future. Whether your future is glamourous or otherwise, it ain't important to me because as long as you can bring sunshine and goodness to people around you, I will be proud of you. Only when you learn to give you will enjoy the happiness behind it." At this point, the enlightened teenage girl exclaimed happily, "Alright papa! I want to become shit!"Both giggled and chat the rest of their way home.

UMBRELLA 雨伞

日常生活中, 我们最容易遗失的就是雨伞. 在天气晴朗的时候, 我们一定不会想起它; 只有在下雨的日子, 才会刻意地把它带在身边. 当雨停了, 它可能会被遗忘于某地方某一角, 可怜地等待主人认领, 又或者变成一把无主的孤伞.
其实我们身边也有一些一直默默支持着我们的人, 他们像雨伞一样, 义无反顾地撑起来, 为我们遮风挡雨, 抵御任何恶劣的天气. 只是我们已习惯了雨伞底下的包容` 关怀` 体谅和付出, 认为一切都是理所当然, 不自觉间忽略了那雨伞的存在.
在阳光普照, 风和日丽的日子里, 你可曾忽然想起那把为你遮风挡雨的雨伞?

Where do I begin?

Where do I begin? ...to share my bits and pieces of life with you. Maybe what I am going to share on this blog will be dead boring to some of you, while others may see some amusement or agreement to my encounters. Be it good or bad, silly or wise, all men are free to speak!