2008年12月17日 星期三

逢甲聖誕樹


晚餐後,走入逢甲大學校園散步。
雖然已是12月中旬,溫度大概還在攝氏二十度左右,對我這個曾在寒冷冬天的紐約待過好多年而仍然存活的人來說,算是涼涼舒服的美好夜晚。
剛吃得飽飽暖暖的,信步走到校園圖書館前看到一座由數條長燈串組成的聖誕樹以及幾個逢甲學生雕塑的公仔作品,在「涼風習習」的美麗夜晚,散發著暖暖的黃光。
真是舒服~
我駐足了好一會兒,靜靜欣賞這一寧靜溫暖的美麗圖畫。
高掛在夜空中的星星正好也閃耀著,襯托出迷人的氣氛~
啊~ 聖誕節真的就快來了~
在台中蝸居,很單純,上班下班,吃飯睡覺,盡量維持著簡單生活。
雖簡單,但也有安排讀書,寫作,出遊,宗教活動等心靈成長的活動,讓自己享受心包太虛的自在。
鮮少注意周遭正在進行的變化,不是不用心,而是不想有無謂的分心
但是此時此刻,這棵燈樹引起我的注意,把它拍了下來,聊表我也欣賞過一棵聖誕樹的美,與大家分享。
不知道今年紐約Rockefeller Center的聖誕樹漂不漂亮。
往年人在紐約,每逢聖誕節前夕,我都會在晚上抽空到 Rockefeller Center 欣賞美美高大的聖誕樹和附近第五大道精品店的櫥窗展示。
很多人也會在自家門裡門外裝飾出漂亮的聖誕人物或是浪漫氣氛的設計,像是聖誕老公公,reindeers,小動物,或是用亮麗的燈束將整棟房子框起來等等的造景~
我很想念彼時彼處的精彩。
今年全球經濟不景氣,百業蕭條,接下來也還會有好一長時間的不景氣得熬,不知今年美國人為聖誕節所做的裝飾會不會少了很多~
無論如何,希望這一經濟寒冬快快過去,讓大家都能夠不虞匱乏,快樂的過日子。

2008年12月3日 星期三

Coming to NYC to See You

Hi, Alice,
Long time. Hope all goes well.
I am writing this message for you to know about my visit in NYC from 1/16/09 to 1/26/09 (Chinese New Year Day).
After a trade show I am going in Las Vegas, I will be flying from LAX on 1/15 afternoon and arriving in NYC (JFK) that night.
I will stay in the NY temple during my visit in NYC.
I am looking forward to seeing you, Ethan, and mom very much, and I hope we can get together for dinner and outing few times.
It’s been more than one year, during the time when all of us must have changed, but hope we can still recognize each other.
One very important thing that I would like to discuss and ask for your consent.
It is about Ethan’s Taiwan citizenship, which has been hanging around for quite a while, and believing acquiring the citizenship should be a best option for Ethan and al lof us. There is nothing bad about it.
As I have been saying, my parents are ageing and they wish their only grandson can be registered in the document in Taiwan before it is too late.
Of course, Ethan can still choose where he wants to stay when he grows up, and we are just making one more choice for him.
Even before we had divorced, we had been wishing to get it done, right? Believe you should understand how significant it is.
Besides, the Taiwan government is issuing NT$3,600 consumption coupons to all the citizens, including those who stay overseas.
You, mom, and even Ethan are also entitled to receiving it. Thus, if Ethan can be registered into my family, we can have extra money to buy things, which comes in a good timing now. The economic situation in Taiwan is very bad, and the money will help me a lot.
Also, I will be doing the tax report in Taiwan for year 2008.
With Ethan’s being my son and his Taiwanese citizenship, I will be able to get a substantial tax relief out of it.
That also relieve me from having a tight financial burden.
I really highly appreciate your OK for this matter, and wish we can finish this matter before I leave NY in late Jan. then.
Would you also try to have one day of two off when I am in NYC? So we can enjoy a car outing trip together, believe Ethan will be happy to see that, too.


Take care & dress warm