Visit a retired hero

 

I was introduced by a friend to visit an American family last week. I don’t know anything about the host except they are already retired and elders.

It was a long way from where I live, more than 20 miles (relatively close in the standard of Beijing). It was a beautiful community even it’s dark already when I arrived there. I can tell the new houses and the roads, which are symbols of rich people.

 

It was a huge house, with two stories. Both the couple were retired. The man was an engineer in the Navy. He has lots of experiences of refloating sunk ships or objects in the sea. He showed me the evidences he kept from his remarkable missions in the past 40 years. He is a fellow of EEE.

The lady was very well cultivated. I can tell from her voice and tone of speaking, her manner, even the way she sits. What impressed me is she taught my daughter how to use fork and knife, and how to eat the turkey on the table with typical American food. I’m sure my daughter would learn a lot if we can have more opportunity to stay with the couple.

What surprised me more is the couple had been in touch with many Chinese. They are so friendly with Chinese people and Chinese culture. They helped taking care of a Chinese boy for a Chinese scholar about 8 years ago. The boy was 8 year old and lived with the couple for more than half year. His parents were 2000 miles away. I really appreciate both the families, one for their braveness, one for their kindness.

 

No wonder the gentleman is an engineer. He made most of the furniture at home himself, tables, chairs, sofa, the desks. I was attracted by his design and technics.

 

The old couple was originally from Southwest of US and then moved to Hawaii with the Navy and stayed there for 40 years! They just moved to Gainesville last year and moved to this new house the past March. This is a little bit strange to me because they would choose anywhere to live for their rest of life, but why they selected Gainesville? I asked the reason of their decision to stay here. Not very cold, convenient, not far from the sea but still some distance there so they can see the land, a very good hospital which is a necessity for elders. The answer is simple but I know there must be more. This also reminds of a book I read a few months ago: Gainesville was ranked in 2006 the best city for living in the US.

 

Dec. 21, 2007

 

 

 

 

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