致台大外文系同學的公開信
To
Classmates of Waiwenxi, Taita, 1963
07/25/2017
Dear
friends:
Recently
I received a message from Theresa Liu (焦寶進) through Theresa Chang (陳芳婉). From the message we learn
that the preparation for the reunion 2017 is going smoothly, and may promise a
high percentage of success. Good for
them! The foreseeable success of actual interactions between classmates is surely
to be brought about because of collective efforts of participating classmates,
especially two ladies named Theresas. We are hereby extending to them our
heartfelt blessings and thankfulness.
While
we are joyfully expecting the reunion event to take place in the east of U.S.A.
this autumn with cruise trips, combined with graceful meetings on board and on
land, the activity coordinator, classmate 焦, might seem to be neglecting to tell us some important details
concerning this reunion. I think some of
us might be also concerned about and interested in:
1) How many participants
are coming from the States?
2) How many of them are
from Taiwan, or elsewhere?
*(I was told that due to a
long trip from overseas to U.S.A., the number of participants from Taiwan might
be less than expected.)
As
the Coordinator, or會長 (as is called in Chinese), 焦should be kind enough to provide to us such data. And also, what
factors might stop some of them from joining in the reunion. It should be something to do with a concern
about other classmates.
At
our age, I think there are some following reasons for which some people did not
sign up for the activity:
1) Poor health : how many persons are suffering from it? It might be a good chance
to be aware of this, and thus beginning to be concerned about them.
2) Financial problems: cruise trip is spectacular and luxurious but on the other hand,
expensive, too, especially for those coming from overseas. Those financially capable are just lucky, while
those incapable should be given individual concern about their being less
fortunate.
3) Other reasons: such as assisted living problems.
As
we know, our class was unprecedentedly and monstrously large. To know each other classmate by sight or even
by name is far from easy. Let
alone joining in a reunion for a few days every second year.
We
do admire the Coordinator’s concern about more people to join the activity than
“who knows who”. Among them I am
particularly impressed and touched by the information disclosed by焦 that a classmate
living in San Diego is going to travel all the way to the east coast to take
care of the reception for those to be joining on land in Boston. His concern for
classmates and sacrifice of time and efforts shall be indeed remembered. However,
his generosity and kindness for classmates may be dwarfed by few other
classmates’ benevolence to show condolence for a classmate who just passed
away 2 months ago.
It
seems quite true that most of us are more concerned about those living, saying
‘hi’ from time to time than caring to say a few words to bid farewell to
a departed classmate and friend.
Well,
that is the way things are. We
are now living in a time when some people might be inflicted now with a
certain illness, either curable (but chronic and torture some) or incurable
(such as tumors). Others are breathing their last in the dark, or without
others’ knowledge……
Therefore,
for those surviving, making the most of their time seems to be the best policy
to while away the rest of their life.
So,
forget about those classmates who passed away or are about to leave us! Who
would give a shit??
Justin
(a.k.a. Jimmy) Lai 賴正雄
07/25/2017
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