享受人生的每一分鐘

by Zhongping

   

           

          My younger son, Lifan, is 3 today and we had a birthday party.

   

          My elder son Libo, who is 9 and half, organized the ceremony. Libo set the table, put on the candle, light the candle, and take pictures.

   

          However, for what Libo did, Lifan wanted to do the same; and more interestingly, for what Lifan did, Libo wanted to repeat.

   

          For that reason, the lighting and blowing of the three candles were repeated for about five times till every body is happy.

   

          And as I asked Libo later when I wrote this story, he said that he was not (very) happy because Lifan lighted and blew more times.

   

          Aha. Any way, after all the lighting and blowing of the candles, we all sat and ate the cake.

   

　

          I asked my young son,

   

          「Lifan, whose birthday is it?」

   

          Lifan: 「It is mine and everybody else』s.」

     

           Libo: 「OK, then I am 10 (instead of 9 and half).」

     

          I: 「Lifan, now it is your birthday, how old are you.」

   

          Lifan: 「I am three years old. I am growing bigger (older in Chinese) and Libo is growing smaller (younger).   

  

          Like a worrisome philosopher, Libo said: 「OK, thank you! I am growing younger. I want to be younger, I do not want SI (to die, in Chinese).」

   

          Demonstrating his valiance with his gesture and tone of speech, Lifan said: 「I grow bigger, I am not afraid of SI (to die).」

   

          It appears as if he knows about death. So, he sang happy birthday again and we were truly happy.

   

          I wish I can compete with a three year old, win and be truly happy; or lose, be angry but forget about it 3 minutes later.

   

          I wish I can grow younger, or if I cannot, I would like to grow older without being afraid of death.

     

          I know I cannot get all of the above, but I know I CAN enjoy life as it is, maybe more than my children.

   

          I enjoy every moment as it is.