The Closing of 2007—Part II

Year 2007 does not seem like to end peacefully. Benazir Bhutto was slain by a suicide bomber yesterday. For her, all the ambition, ideology, politics, love and hate are over, though more bloodshed will surely follow in Pakistan.

I do not know exactly why, but after hearing the news I start thinking of my father who rested in peace eight years ago after long suffering after a stroke. When I was little, I took everything for granted. I did not how hard it was for him to leave everything behind in China and started new lives for the family in Hong Kong. I do remember my sisters and I love to gather around him listen to his stories growing up in a small village and how he, a poor orphan country boy, courted my mother from a well-off family. I remember the sunny days on the beaches with him and mother, and one stormy day on the beach with him and mother.

Then I grew into a teen who knew everything. Father still tried to pass his invaluable life experiences to me but I was not listening until it was too late. Out of the blue, he had a stroke and could no longer speak. Even nowadays when I come to a crossroad, I wish I could have someone wise like Father to tell what to do. Of course, he passed away. On the second thought, even if he is alive, he will not have all the answers for me. The answers will have to be hard earned like he once did—at least I learned that much from him.