Walking along hometown streets, I often came across old acquaintances, or people who said they knew me (but I forgot). Once I met an old man, who said he was my primary school classmate. Did I really look as old? I wondered.

Seeing me passing, a man came out of his home to hand me a booklet that was published by the local "Science and Technology Bureau" where he worked. Mother said that when she and dad got married, this man's mother was the flower girl by my mother's side.

Today (October 8, 2014), a lady stopped me to ask if my name was Yannan. She told me she lived opposite our house, and she used to hang aroud with Li-qing. She wanted to know if Li-qing was coming back too.

Another lady, probably insane, when seeing my mother on the street, would always greet my mother "grandma" and would turn around to accompany my mother a few steps before bidding goodbye suddenly. My mother doesn't know her, but was told that this lady was insane because she suffered a broken romance long ago.

A little town like Shima always has many history and stories hidden or untold. The hometown that I had lived 40 years is a place I could find many friends. My ten years' teaching career at hometown, Zhangzhou and Xiamen has landed me many devoted students and friends. My father's extraordinary life, short as it was, has left lasting friends and heritage, to remember and to cherish.

Kinship and friendship, alive and well in this small town I used to call home: Shima, Longhai.

This web page consists of four segments:

• memories abound
• after 30 years
• Mother 97 years old
• Dad's 65th anniversary

走在家乡的路上，不时遇到熟人，或人家说认识我，我却忘记了人家的人。有一个说是我小学（西湖小学）的同学。看着他，我自思：我有那么老吗？

教堂的一个亲戚打电话来，说有人托他带家乡番薯粉给我。那是原来县医院的一个小儿科医生。当年丽卿曾经带孩子去找她看病。她的丈夫与丽卿的七叔七婶是福州医学院的同学。她和丽卿还是同乡。她的先生是陈中坚。解放初燕北被人骑车刮伤额角，还去他的诊所缝了好几针。

有一位看我从他家门口经过，连忙出来塞给我一本他单位（科技局）自编的刊物。妈妈说，这人的母亲曾经在爸爸妈妈结婚时当花童。

今天的这一位走过来问我：我是不是燕南。她说她当年经常跟丽卿一起玩。她住对面的“大厝埕”，问丽卿什么时候回？

另外一位女子，每逢见到妈妈，总要大声地、热情的叫“阿婆”，有时还掉过头陪妈妈走几步。妈妈不知道她的名字，只听说她曾经因为失恋而神经失常。

小镇，藏着许多历史、许多故事，许多记得的或遗忘了的故友。30年前在家乡（石码、漳州、厦门）任教多年，耕耘了许多好学生好朋友。爸爸的短暂的一生，在留下许多遗憾的同时，也留下很多的朋友。

绵延的记忆。不灭的情谊。

这个网页包括四个内容：

• 小镇寻旧
• 相聚红树林
• 妈妈九十七虚岁
• 缅怀爸爸

Click image to enlarge.  击打图片即可放大。
(will switch to Yannan 2014 hometown visit （5） in 20 minutes; 二十分钟后自动转到 燕南2014年故乡行（(5)