Friday, March 27, 2015

Baltimore City - A Leisure Day 3/16/2015 & 11/7/2018


Personal Reflection – Baltimore City
         I have been to Baltimore City many times since two children’s piano competition days at Peabody Conservatory – from age 5 to age 17.  The majority of the contestants were American kids with Chinese, Jewish and Korean descents.  The average was one or two trips per year for Maryland State Music Teachers National Association spring festival. 
         After I-395, Baltimore’s skyline and smoke bellowed from its chimneys came into view.  Then we wounded around the impoverished stretch of neighborhood, shattered windows, buckling walls, the façade of faded red-brick row houses with old African American folks sitting on the dilapidated front porch or un-scrubbed white steps.  Finally we reached the destination of George Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University, window closed tightly after escaping a few encounters of forced window washing from the African American kids at the intersection.  The children had already anticipated the nervousness for their competitions; this was something we did not want to experience in 1980s.
         So, it seemed to be so grand when you saw the historical music building in the heart of Baltimore City.  It was awe-inspiring to see all the names of the notable graduates and faculties carved in its marble walls.  You wish that your children’s names would be there one day if they were musically talent enough to be successful.  But each time driving up there was the emotional roller coaster rides among the two when they were growing up.  
       The memory became raw and fresh.  The white, blue, and red ribbons in their hands indicated the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place or the honorable mentioned were the combination of exhaustion, and pure elation at finishing the whole year’s hard work.  It marked the emotional end and a fantastic sense of achievement.  They asked for not touching the piano for a week as a reward.  That’s 7- 14 hours’ practice time.  I said, ‘Yes.”  However, there were times, sulky faces, emotionally defeated from being beaten by other children.  They held nothing in their hands except the contest program, which they wrote the comments for each of the contestants.  Technical skills - fair, emotional communication – not there, body movement – too rigid, need more… painful to wait etc.
         They pleaded us to rid the piano at the garage sale.  Their bottled-up anger reached up to the full scales.  Still, they asked for not touching the piano for a week.   I said, ‘Yes.”  We, stubborn, over-achieving Asian Parents would not allow them to quit until they were 17-years old when I totally lost the battle for asking them to play due to too many extra curriculums – Chinese class, soccer, tennis school teams, math, Spanish clubs and volunteering jobs in the hospital etc.  
         Am I one of those strict tiger mothers?  Maybe.  Did I keep my promise that they could quit after reaching to the number 1?   No!  I told them, “Winning is not everything, but the will to win is!”  I raised the bar another notch higher while adjusting constantly during their growing up periods.   They probably hated me to be their Chinese School teacher; mother, I am not sure.  But, I have no regrets.          
         Did they learn anything from those years of driving down I-495 to City of Baltimore?  I hope they did.  I wanted them to recognize their talents and accept the limitations.  Mistakes, nerves and humility are all parts of learning process not only in piano, but also in every experience that will come in their lives.

Leisure Sightseeing Day
         Now, it’s March 16, 2015, the day before St. Patrick’s Day – still quite chilly.  After such a cold and snowy winter, we were looking forward to warmer days.  I visited the city again as a retiree and a senior grandmother this time.  No longer that harrowing experience as a “tiger mother” but a tourist to enjoy the “touristy” thing the city has to offer.

Baltimore Harbor
         Baltimore is a busy port.  I often see the large naval ships dock there along with the whole fleet of vessels, luxury yachts on the dry docks and ship building platform.  It’s an amazing sight! 


Dogs and Retired People
         Loneliness can become an unwelcome companion, as we get older either for the young generation or the old folks like us who have passed that stage.  What are the best companions then?   The dogs!   See Mimi’s English bulldog and the pet friends at her son’s neighborhood park – the condo Canton Cove is in the backdrop.
Senior retirees –  Jen-Jen, Mimi and Janice.

Water Taxi
         This is the best-kept secret that only Mimi, the local Baltimore and Canton residents knows.  It’s free!  Unheard of in America!  There isn’t anything free here!  She owns a Baltimore condo - Scarlett’s place – Yes, it’s Scarlett O’Hara in Gone With the Wind, and her son’s – Canton Cove in Canton.  Right behind the Canton Waterfront Park in the picture. 

         We saw the day commuters, with the handheld computers or mobile devices ignoring everything around them.  I watched reminiscing of my children’s piano days and how they are the generation from future.  We, the senior folks would one day be totally obliterated from their memories.

Water Taxi Map – The dotted lines between Canton Waterfront Park to Locust Point and Maritime Park are free.  

Frederick Douglass and Issac Myers Maritime Park and Museum
         It seemed to be a beautiful landmark off the water.  The Living Classrooms Foundation was closed when we were there.  It will be one of my future outings with my grandson. 

       I learned bits and pieces from my children’s book.  Frederick Douglas, was born into slavery on Maryland’s Eastern Shore and lived at Fell’s Point when he was eight years old.  The lesson learned from his powerful remarks on the inveterate hatred and unjust prejudice towards the colored should pass on to the next generation.  I often wonder when will the conflict between the ethnic groups and racial bias end?   I do hope that there will be a perfect Utopia exists somewhere.  So we can embrace all religions, all races to live peacefully without any fight.  I do not know much about Issac Myers, who must have some contribution in the shipping industry in Baltimore.

Cal Ripken Jr. – Baltimore Orioles’ legend  
Michael Phelps – an American swimmer and the most decorated Olympian of all time.
         Both are local celebrities in Baltimore.  We were waiting at the dock for our water taxi and enjoying the free ride from the City of Baltimore. 

Picasa Links:
https://picasaweb.google.com/112480790564624696310/March27201502?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCMvbiN7KhM3_vgE&feat=directlink

Mimi, Betty, Her Big Sister and I made another trip again three years later.  This time was attending
Taipei Chinese Orchestra concert at Johns Hopkins Peabody Institute.  Thanks Betty's driving to take us there.  She is an excellent driver navigating effortlessly in downtown Baltimore. 

We revisited Mimi's son house which had been sold ever since three years ago.  However, Mimi was still reminiscing the good old times with enjoyment.  The only thing we missed was riding the water taxi which just left us once we got there.  Oh, well, there's always next time.

We had Happy Hour dining at Bo-Brooks restaurant.

The delicious seafood with Maryland's crab cakes, shrimps and calamari were their famous dishes.




 

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

福華小聚 - 2015-3-6 鄭素娥


一早春雨滴滴答答
* 雖然不是大風大雨 我卻滿心歡喜故人來的期盼
* 從台電大樓捷運站走到福華公教人員訓練中心的十多分鐘路程
    讓大夥氣喘吁吁 更遑論揹著七本厚重的《一日浮生》
* 辛苦的伯宸 要與我們分享他最近發表的譯書
* 到福華來共享半日的浮華人生
* 昨晚伯宸夫婦北上參加作者歐文的紀錄片放映及座談會
* 我們才能盼到這場元宵後的春酒呢

* 霞慧安排的場地  讓大夥盛讚美食可口
        苑淑是畢業後第一次見到伯宸
        福欣夫婦及博華也是參加2008溪頭同學會後再見伯宸
        因此大家爭相問候主辦人麗珠夫婦
        而旅居加拿大的聽琴 2004的墾丁聚會後
        難得在候鳥南飛的台北再見老友
        帶著小外孫女Mia出現的芳英 引起眾人歡呼
        甜美安靜的小公主恍若芳英的縮小版

        看著博華《大衛詩選》的初稿  福欣宣布他可以再出十本台灣花草
        尤其台灣是全世界保留最完整的蕨類品種地 更讓福欣燃起最新研究
        伯宸盛讚博華與福欣有親生子女  他卻是養子養女一大群
        我們靜候博華發心為《大衛詩選》改寫發行善書的美意成真
        振貴的自傳《大學倒了沒?》上個月也剛上市
        外文系六十級真是奇才濟濟
        出書好像會傳染喔  伯宸說
       
與會者: 伯宸夫婦 福欣夫婦 素娥夫婦  苑淑 霞慧 芳英及Mia 博華 聽琴
共十二人




Saturday, March 14, 2015

Cold Sunny Afternoon - Cabin Fever - Dogfight


            How nice to spend a cold sunny afternoon with close friends.  The sunset on the beautiful community - Potomac frozen snowy field glistened from the glow of sunset spectacle.   It’s just tranquil and beautiful which we old seniors - Mimi, Tom, Jen-Jen and I could only appreciate how fortunate we are to hold the special moment together.  

            
            One thing that was not perfect is Mimi’s Ellbi (English bulldog) and Jen-Jen’s Alaskan old husky (the older on - Isabelle) could not get along.  The little one, Mila was having the best time in the backyard where it’s cold like frozen tundra in Alaska to her (I did not take pictures - it’s horrible to see both of them fighting and biting while Mimi and Jen-Jen trying to separate them and save them from killing each other.  I was completely frozen holding the leash for Isabelle.  It’s so scary to see them growling and baring their teeth at each other.

Oh, Well, we say people argue, fight or don’t get along - Fighting like cats and dogs - It’s all in us too. 

            It was too cold for me that day to venture out for photo shooting from her house after the early dinner.  The dog fighting really scared me.  I was trying hard to capture the moment for three seniors together patching up from the pieces of dogfight.  The indoor scenes, Mimi's crying and Jen-Jen's putting antibiotics on both dogs, were not that nice in any aspect.  It’s just not perfect!

            Actually I was thinking to take the pictures of Seneca Creek Park snowy scenes all by myself that day.  Then, Mimi called me that she wanted her Ellbi to have some companions with Jen-Jen’s two huskies.  That’s how the whole episode started. Oh, when will the spring come? – A sign of cabin fever – the movie, Jack Nicolson’s Shinning came into my mind.

            Well, I have to wait for another cold winter to enjoy the solitude of self at the Park.  I love that place.  Maybe John Denver’s song and the proximity of the closeness have a lot to it.


Sunday, March 1, 2015

Seneca Creek State Park - 11950 Clopper Road, Gaithersburg, MD 20878

Seneca Creek State Park - 11950 Clopper Road, Gaithersburg, MD 20878

It has been bitterly cold since we came back from Charleston, S. Carolina on 1/22/2015.  Everyday we keep hearing the news about the record breaking low temperature in Maryland since the mid-1990s.  So, we three seniors continue our journey from sunny Charleston, S. Carolina to frigid Seneca Creek State Park to beat the cabin fever on Friday 2/27/2015.  Jen-Jen’s house is nearby, 1/2 mile away off Clopper Road.  Her two Alaskan huskies, one 13-year-old, Isabelle, with the fur as white as snow, is considered to be older than we are according to dog’s age.  The younger one, Mila, with the multicolor of black, white and grey, is only 2-year-old.  Both of them should be good companions for three seniors who do need the affections from time to time, especially in this weather.

As we walked down the snowy field, I noticed Jen-Jen was quite communicative with both of them.  The special bond was right there when they vocally expressed themselves “woo woo” sounds or loud, long howls.  The younger one did show the powerful strength.  Nervously, I, the inexperienced first-time dog-handler almost lost her leash when she was frolicking in the snow.  That playfulness displayed when she was circling in the snowy field with the frozen lake in the background.  When the summer comes, this boating dock will be busy with the boaters seeking for the water fun.  Jen-Jen hurriedly controlled Mila for she was afraid of her running to the frozen lake.  There were a few TV coverage about police rescuing the dog falling through the ice this month.  Interestingly, I was thinking that we should have brought the sled and have both of them harnessed to give us old folkies a sled ride.  It turned out that Jen-Jen did stop by Target for sled a few weeks ago.  But, they were all sold out due to too many snow days off for the school children this month.


Clopper Road - MD 117 in Gaithersburg 

John Denver found the inspiration for his hit song “Take me home, Country Roads” in 1970.  
There is no secret that I love singing.  The State Park now on Clopper Road and how John Denver found his inspiration was new to me.  I have travelled on the Clopper Road for almost 5 years taking my son to his piano teacher’s house without knowing the story behind.  The information was actually shared by our bass singer, Sam, from my Taiwanese American Chorus group.  He was a graduate of the famous chorus group Taiwan Provincial Hsinchu Senior High School (省新竹高級中學).   I remembered singing John Denver’s “Take me home, Country Roads” when I was in college.  At that time, I spent countless hours thinking about what life would be after graduation.  That home seemed to be so far away that I have fantasized anywhere besides Taiwan.  Don’t get me wrong, I have loved Taiwan dearly since the day I left there in 1973.  I have been back there visiting not often enough to be considered as a family member any more than a tourist, per se.  Because that closeness with the siblings would be so different when my parents were all gone and the families of my brothers and sisters are not really my family.  It’s only recently that I have started thinking about what it means to be rooted in a particular place where I would say it’s my home.  Could it be the retirement and being the new grandmother make me have the strong desire to be close to my own children?  However, the irony is, “do they really want me to be near them?”  The fantasy and the reality did collide sometimes.  I can’t remember where I read that says: “A happy new home is one where you can’t see the smoke from your parent’s chimney.”  
Oh, well, Isabelle and Mila - two beautiful Alaskan huskies were with us at the Park while we learned the history of idyllic country roads in Gaithersburg and John Denver’s song.  We savor the companionship between dogs and humans.  That should be quite sweet and memorable for five of us.
Picasa links at the Park
https://picasaweb.google.com/112480790564624696310/February282015?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCOOfq7jrrIqAvwE&feat=directlink
Enjoy the scenery of “old Gaithersburg - Maryland, Virginia and W. Virginia” from the song’s youtube
https://youtu.be/CNPki1WVZdw
"Country Roads, Take me Home" lyrics

Almost heaven, West Virginia
Blue ridge mountains, Shenandoah river
Life is old there, older than the trees
Younger than the mountains, growin' like a breeze

Country roads, take me home
To the place I belong
West Virginia, mountain momma
Take me home, country roads

All my memories, they gather 'round her
Miner's lady, stranger to blue water
Dark and dusty, painted on the sky
Misty taste of moonshine, teardrops in my eyes

Country roads, take me home
To the place I belong
West Virginia, mountain momma
Take me home, country roads

I hear her voice in the mornin' hour she calls me
The radio reminds me of my home far away
And drivin' down the road I get a feeling
That I should have been home yesterday, yesterday

Country roads, take me home
To the place I belong
West Virginia, mountain momma
Take me home, country roads

Country roads, take me home
To the place I belong
West Virginia, West Virginia, mountain momma, oh momma
Take me home, country roads
Take me home, down country roads
Take me home, down country roads