Yannan 2018 homeland visit 3-centenarian 燕南2018年故乡行3-妈妈虚岁101

Mother is 100-year-old today. Actually she is 101 by lunar calendar. In her days, Chinese people used lunar calendar, and recorded birthdays exclusively by lunar calendar. Since I came back, I've heard her checking on lunar calendar to hint that her birthday was forthcoming. Indeed we all knew that. Compliments and gifts have long arrived. Sis arranged the purchase of a broquet, as if she was still running a speciality store; Bro produced the menu for today's family dinner, as if he was still operating a restaurant； Secretary Chen of the local government presented the birthday cake in person, as if she has not retired.

Sis brought the bouquet to her bed after she came back from work last night. Popping herself up, Mother smiled broadly when she saw the birthday banner on the bouquet. This morning, she quickly finished the traditional birthday meal made up of sweet noodle and egg. When posting for pictures, she commented that the chicken on Sis' necklace looked good. She laughed at herself after being told that the "chicken" was actually a phoenix. Mother is old fashioned, and refused to use new terms for old things. Tissue paper for instance, is to her "rough paper"--a term carried over from his old days. So 100 or 101, chicken or phoenix, bathroom tissue or "rough paper", she is a truthful centenarian, with or without the lunar calendar.

Happy 100th birthday, Mama!

妈妈今天实岁100，虚岁101。妈妈那一辈人，习惯用旧历，记虚岁。几天以前，妈妈已经几次问：今天旧历什么日子？其实，她生日是什么时候，我们所有人都记得的。一个月来，已经有多少亲友送来他们的问候。昨天，妹妹已经定好生日花束，仿佛她仍然在开精品店；弟弟已经列好菜单，仿佛他仍然在经营餐馆；社区陈书记照样给妈妈送来生日蛋糕，仿佛她还没有退休。

昨天晚上，妹妹下班回来把花束给妈妈看。妈妈抬起身子看到上面的生日题词，满意地笑了。今天一早，一碗传统的甜面线加鸡蛋，她一下子就吃光了。拍照的时候，戴着妹妹借给她的珍珠项链，她注意到妹妹的凤凰项链。不过，她把凤凰看成鸡了，交口称赞说鸡很漂亮。意识到自己的错误后，她哈哈大笑，然后开口要“粗纸"。已经跟她说了N次，现在没有“粗纸”，只有纸巾。但她照样要“粗纸”。说了100年+1，难改口了。

谨以此文纪念妈妈101虚岁。