I had thought about travelling pseudo-luxury by paying for Taiwan's China Airline's "Luxury Economy". The cost would double that of Economy via Xiamen Airlines，but I would be buying myself better accommodations. In the end, I still used Xiamen Air, and I was not disappointed at all. There was plenty of cabin food to eat, and their attendants, both on board and at the airports, were caring and competent. What struck me was the effort they put in in helping passengers transit between flights. You would find their attendants holding big signs directing passengers to the right path or gate. It was really thoughtful of them. There was, though, a problem with their on-line booking system. The ticket was generated after I booked and paid for it, but it did not show the two pieces of free check-in luggage, as customary of airlines, and as promised by them prior to my booking. It took quite a lot of time and effort to get this fixed.

My coming back at this time of the year, when I knew it was still pretty hot in my hometown, was to be with mother and brother on two big occasions. One is Father's anniversary on October 16th. He died 68 years ago at a perpetual age of 37. That was a loss we never recovered from. The pain is still acute, and the sufferings still weigh heavy in our body and mind. The second occasion will be Mother's 100th birthday (by lunar calendar) next month. Her life after Dad's death has been really miserable, with husband deceased so young, and with two small children to feed. What was the use of a wooden placard bearing "Glorious Martyr's Family" when the family could not feed themselves?

Jet-lag has been bothering me since my return on the 12th (of October). Today I am doing better and even the temperature has dropped to around 85 Farenheit. So here is my first web page on my 2017 homeland visit. You will hear from me soon.

我这次回国，曾经想乘坐华航的“豪华经济舱”试试。票价会贵一倍，但肯定舒服很多。奢侈一次何妨。但事实上，无论舱等，整整12--14。能省则省（省了足足一半）还是对的。出门之前带了好几块糕饼，因为担心途中挨饿。结果呢，厦航提供的飞机餐我都没有吃完（不过也侧面说明他们的飞机餐还不够可口）。他们的机上机下服务也都很好，完全不差于华航。尤其值得肯定的是，在每一个需要转机的地方，他们的客服人员会十分负责地醒目地持牌站在转接口，不停地查问、提醒走过身旁的旅客，并为他们准备了相应的飞机牌。所以，这次乘坐厦航是无惊无险，物有所值。需要指出的是，厦航的网络平台订票系统有待大大提升。这样说的缘故是：网络订票 (online booking) 开出来的票少了原来许诺的二件托运行李（check-in luggage）。电话交涉也费了很大的周折。
 
我这次选这个时间回来，一是为了在10月16日的爸爸忌日陪伴妈妈和弟弟。68年前爸爸的献身，永远是我们母子三人无法抚慰的黑洞、心痛和伤痕。二是为了在妈妈百岁虚岁时陪在她身旁。妈妈的百岁很不容易啊。爸爸去世后为了抚养弟弟和我，为了在残酷的职场谋生，为了儿子，为了孙子，她曾经付出多大代价，流了多少眼泪。
 
12日到家后，一直受时差困扰。今天（16日）已经好了很多，而且连天气也不那么炎热了。先写这么几字，发几张照片，报平安。