At our age, the greatest pleasure in life is centered around our grandchildren.  Kevin, 8, is a second grader.  Caleb, 4, in pre-school.   Sage, 1, is still too small for daycare.  On an ordinary weekday, Hong would take Kevin to Myers Elementary in the morning, then Hong goes to his office about 15 minutes away.  Sandy would drive about 25 minutes to Chemeketa Community College with Caleb, who would be placed in pre-school while Sandy would do volunteer work.  Sixty-five miles away in Vancouver, Washington, Sage's parents, Wei and Maki, would begin their busy work and leave Sage to the care of his grandma.  A favorite saying among grandparents are: grandchildren are so good, if only we did not have to bother about sons and daughters in the first place.

So, the grandma's day would begin at about 8 by peeping at the baby monitor to Sage's room.  He is awake, and up, and is playful as usual.  He would stand up, then tumble down, and would even sing to himself.  (Well, he can sing even though he cannot speak.)  When he is tired of his solo performances, he would make noises to get attention, and would thrush into the arms of his dear grandma when the door is opened.  Then the day between grandma and grandson would begin, and would be repeated through the week.  Li-qing goes to them by bus every Monday afternoon, and comes back to Salem every Friday evening.  It's a busy routine, but is a happy and meaningful life.

到我们这把年龄，生活的最大乐趣就跟小孙子们挂在一起了。八岁的恺恩现在读二年级。四岁的恺乐读学前班。一岁的星词还舍不得送托儿所。每星期的周一到周五，庄宏早上先送恺恩去五分钟外的学校，然后开车十来分钟自己去上班。秀娟开车则要二十五分钟左右，把恺乐送去当地社区大学办的学前班，自己则跟班实习。六十五英里外，在华盛顿州的温哥华市，星词父母忙碌的一天也开始了。在他们上班后，静悄悄的家里，就是丽卿在看顾星词。小星词在自己的房间自己睡。早上醒来，他会静悄悄在床上玩，爬起来，又倒下去，还会唱歌（是唱歌，虽然他还不会说话）。然后，玩累了，就弄出声响了。他奶奶其实已经从监视镜里观察了他好久了。一开门进去，小星词就高兴地张开双臂扑过来。于是，小孙儿和奶奶的平凡的一天也开始了，从周二到周五。（丽卿星期一下午乘公车来庄伟家，星期五傍晚回 Salem 家。）

是够忙的，但忙得有乐趣，有意义。美国老人们常常开玩笑说：孙儿孙女们比儿女们更可爱。说得对极了。

（写到这里，楼下响起敲门声。开门一看，秀娟手拿一客冰激凌。她说她带恺恩恺乐去吃冰激凌，他们说得给爷爷买一份。车道外面，响起了两个孙儿问爷爷好的声音--像唱歌。）