穿行于低谷

上周末我们搬进了新家。但我完全没有住进新家的欣喜。因为中国正被疾病威胁,我读着新闻,心里很难不去想我的祖国。 我很少用我的祖国来说中国,我也不是一个很爱国的人,没做过什么实际的贡献。 但不知道为什,看着武汉疫情肆虐,很多人发出求救,说起他们被疾病夺走亲人的经历,我心里很难受。

武汉这个城市我是去过的,很短暂的停留。是2016年带Ratatat在五个城市巡演的其中一站。还记得刚到武汉的那天,我们非常累,下着大雨,他们带了近20件行李。我们辗转于高铁, 机场, 租车,在去场地的路上堵车很厉害。我印象里到处都在修路,绕了一个超大的转盘之后,我们终于到了目的地。 办住宿的时候,发现就在场地的楼上。是那种很便宜供很多大学生住的类似情侣酒店的地方。我记得这么清楚,是因为我们去房间的电梯里是一对一对的年轻情侣, 那天没记错的话是5.20. 因为还有些女孩子手里捧着玫瑰花。乐队进了他们各自的房间, 发现有一个房间还没打扫,堆满了啤酒瓶,和一桌散乱的麻将。顿时我的脾气就上来了,因为我们之前起早赶飞机,真的很累,发现住宿环境连基本的卫生都保持不了,实在很心烦。干脆带着乐队的人一起出去吃午餐,然后再去调音。吃的好像是有糖醋鱼,吃完饭大家心情一下就好了,所以很多事是一顿饭可以解决的。

之后大家就到了场地vox,我记得场地好像是要走上很多楼梯,提着大箱子和乐器上去。场地的年轻人很热情, 也很配合。场地老板是我当时公司里很多人都熟悉的朋友,对我们非常好,还送给我一件白色的体恤衫。那晚演出很棒,有好多有意思的人来。我真发现一个地方的好坏取决于那里的人。我记得一对长得很好看的夫妇带着两岁的小孩儿也来了演出,做爸爸的把小孩儿放在肩膀上看演出。演出之后,Mike在签售周边的时候,还给粉丝素描画像,好多姑娘们都很开心围着他。演出结束,场地外面已经摆起了长长的夜市,好多武汉的小吃,有臭豆腐之类的。我们几个就坐在街边的塑料板凳上,吃了很多,喝了很多啤酒,聊了很多天。初夏的温度也适宜,不是很热。 第二天我们去机场的路上发现一把琴丢在了场地, 因为晚上太黑了, 收东西的时候没看清。场地的一个小兄弟自己打车又回到场地,把琴给我们直接送到机场。武汉给我的印象是烟雨濛濛,热情的年轻人,很多有趣的人。一个需要点时间,就会喜欢上的城市。

现在想想我认识的几个武汉人都很棒,做事情有魄力, 把事情能做的很好。回顾历史,武昌起义一炮打响,改写了中国的近代史。武汉是一个卧虎藏龙的地方。黄冈之前是我们上高中时做习题,一听就知道题很难的地方。很多练习册是要黄冈出的,才会买。因为武汉的人高考高分很多,所以大家觉得能把他们那里的习题做对了,考大学也有底儿。

我今天看一个武汉的视频,才知道长江就从这个城市穿过。我对中国很多城市了解的都不多。有时我嫌别人对我的家乡了解少, 我自己又何尝不是对很多地方一知半解呢?

写到这里,我的心还是沉甸甸的,因为一场疫情,有多少家庭要承受伤痛。从病人, 到医务人员,再到每一个普通人, 都在经历前所未有的困境和压力。记得去年国庆的时候,大家都在说“这盛世,如你所愿”。但谁料到盛世这个东西可能仅仅延续那么一秒,一天,一个月。这世界千变万化,有高就有低。现在的我们在低谷里穿行,充满不安和恐惧,但只有耐心,勇气,同理心才能帮我们穿越山谷,重见阳光。

武汉,我不说加油,仅说你的伤痛我晓得。

 

The year before a new decade

January – there isn’t much to remember, work celebrated new year at a water park, we were on the raft dropped off a small waterfall. It was a lot of fun but I thought could have been a bit more exciting.

Feb – the family birthday months started, celebrated both mum and Bella’s birthday. We went to Lantern Festival with Jennifer, it was really nice to visit together with my parents , Isabella and Magnus.

March – Celebrated Magnus birthday, with my aunty and uncle visiting as well. My uncle has lung cancer, we were very grateful that he could visit us during his treatment. My mum crashed her car on Queen street with a bus while Magnus and I were at WOMAD. Also the shooting in Christchurch happened the same day on our way to WOMAD. New Zealand isn’t the same any more. I had my first share of sickness of the year.

April –  Both mum and I got sick, went to Easter hunt with Tony and Eri. They have found out about their move to Japan in two months because of Tony’s work.

May – We celebrated my birthday in Norway, also it was the first time I visited Norway during their national holiday. The spring in Norway is lovely, but can still be quite chilly in the morning. Isabella spent lots of time with grandparents.

June – Mum crashed her car the 2nd time, this time it was a bit more serious. On the 29th Magnus and I visited the temple.

July – 1st July Monday evening Magnus came home early from soccer. I got quite sick for the 2nd time due to a chest infection, this time it took about 4 weeks to recover. We also went to the 1st house auction and didn’t meet the price the vendor wanted.

August –  Magnus and I went out to celebrate our 4th wedding anniversary. I had an ultrasound and found out I have endometriosis. Insurance did not approve to cover the medical costs, so continue going through public care.

Sep – Dad came back from China after 4 weeks. We all went for James and Ferren wedding in Bali. It was a really good trip with my parents and all of our friends, lots of good memories to keep.

Oct – China celebrated its 70s anniversary. The chaos in HK continued. We bought a house and will move in in January. The whole house hunting took us about 6 months, the day we signed the offer is two days off from the goal I set a year ago.

Nov – Double 11 this year it not as crazy as the last, the global economy is slowing down significantly. We also realised growth will not be never ending, and we pay a huge price for keep it growing. My parents went on 2 weeks camper van trip in Australia.

Dec – End of the decade! Isabella is talking a lot and she tells me a lot of stories. We enjoy conversations together and she always say thank you before she goes to sleep. A very grateful and kind little one.