Today (1-6-2017), we had visitors from the local government and school. They were here to present to us a couplet commemorating our father who died 68 years ago as a martyr. In Chinese culture, couplets are two poetic verses with a (usually) four-character summary or conclusion, see picture above as physical sample, and see presentation on Wikipedia. Couplets are usually hung over the door, or as interior scrolls, and usually for Chinese New Year. Principal Lin's hand-written couplet is really valuable. The words are meaningful, the caligraphy superb, and the design and color scheme amazingly good. My mom has had leg and back pains these last weeks, but managed to come down two times to the living room to examine and enjoy the art piece. "Why are they so kind to us?" she kept asking.

Since our father's death 68 years ago, we were seldom the focus of attention or kindness. When my brother and I were under-age kids, we never received any monthly entitlement from the government. We were left to feed ourselves. Even the nominal greetings in the form of a couplet upon Chinese New Year were not always present. For a couple of years, the local government forgot that there was a widow of revolutionary martyr in their juridiction. Then when they remembered, they brought us the couplet addressed not to martyrs, but to living enlisted soldiers. Long years of suffering and neglect often made one's heart cold. Except that things are beginning to change for the better, as in the visit from the local government and school officials today. Looks like we will feel warmth in this Spring Festival forcasted to be extremely cold. Looks like I will be staying longer for my mom too.

One unfortuante positive thing about having to fight for your own is you have to be good, nice and kind. A few days ago, two former high school students of 40 years ago came visit after they tracked me down. Today, my former colleages in that same high school came visit too. We did have a good time, reflecting on our working together 40 years ago, and and our friendship ever since.

• Zhangzhou students
• Hundred Years of West Lake (now Longhai Experimental) Primary School
• My Papa and Papa Zhao

昨天（2017.1.6）解放西社区（原先叫居委会）的陈月仙书记和实验小学的陈秋良副校长来给我们送林亚川校长亲自缮写的对联，并请专业工安装。对联是献给先父庄少萍的（因此对联嵌有“少”与“萍”）。我们一家跟实验小学（原西湖小学）可说源远流长因为她是我们一家三代人的母校。妈妈1932年（毕业），燕南 1953，燕北1960。我们的叔叔庄林1946-1951在此任教。先父庄少萍1928年间也在这个学校的前身成德小学求学过。林校长的对联字词均佳，做工精细。妈妈看了十分喜欢，连问我“他们为什么那么古意？”（“古意”是石码话“殷勤”“好客”之意。）安装工人走后，她又下楼来再次坐在沙发上细细端详。妈妈近来腰背不好，下楼和坐立本不容易。也正是因为她身体不好，所以我归程一推再推，看来会在家乡过农历新年了。

先父1949年牺牲，至今68年了。68年来，我们似乎不曾这么受关注，这么得到“古意”。石码镇党委书记带人来过。社区陈书记更常常来，还给家母买了暖手和暖腰。社区即原来叫居委会的。曾有那么几年，居委会把我们这户老烈属完全忘记，不闻不问，连过年通常会给军烈属的红对联也没给。后来，有给对联了，却把给“军属”的拿来充数。有2014年10月的照片为证。那可是中央专门设立“烈属节”以后的事。

按通俗说法，（对联）不能当饭吃，计较它干什么？但是，能当饭吃的也没有啊！先父死后，未成年的我和弟弟照理每个月是应该得到政府的金钱补助的。没有，一分钱也没有。因此，我们有许许多多无饭可吃的苦日子。苦日子过多了，心就寒了，直到这个2017年。谢谢厦门鹭客社的疾呼，谢谢古意的人们，让我们在这个据说会是史上最寒的春节感到丝丝暖意。

在那些不曾得到古意的日子，在那些我们自生自长的日子，我们倒是广学技能勤学本领，诚恳待人多栽花的。见证是前几天来看我的原龙海一中的两位学生文科和理科状元，和今天从漳州和厦门来看我的原龙海一中英语教研组的近四十年的老同事们。后来，我考到厦门大学当研究生，并留校教书。萍迹所到，也结交了不少绵延三四十年的好学生，好朋友。

• 漳州的情谊
• 实验（西湖）小学百年
• 爸爸与赵爸爸