母親44歲那年才生我。這沒有帶給她什麼意外的驚喜，因為是計劃生育之外的事。她19歲結婚之後一共生了13個，養了11個，我是她最後的一個。任何母親如要親力親為去照顧這麼多的兒女，一定會筋疲力盡，心力交瘁。我媽却能堅持到底而沒有倒下，相信是老天爺開恩所至！聽說高齡產婦產下的嬰兒智商較低。由於這個原因，我從來不接受任何智商的測試，以免知道結果而心碎。不過現實總是醜惡的，從學校成績表就看得出我是什麼樣的材料。除了功課欠佳之外，我做起任何事情來都是笨手笨足的：不會唱歌、不會跳舞、跑步不快、游泳只懂一招、說話笨嘴笨舌、廣東話混有越南音……..無處不表示我是個”四不像”之異品。我當然清楚自己的弱點，所以永遠不敢強出頭。
童年時很內向，還帶有半點自卑。兄弟姊妹之中我排行最小，無論氣力和腦筋他們都比我強得多，相形見絀。雖然沒有被人排斥，我仍舊喜歡獨斷獨行找尋個人的趣味：放紙鷂(風箏)和做紙鷂的技巧就由此培養出來。不要小看這個玩意，它是我重拾信心的開始。
童年時很多玩具都不是用金錢買回來的。如果喜歡放紙鷂的話，就必須先學會如何去造紙鷂。鄰居的小朋友成為我最好的導師。他們首先教會我如何就地取材：例如一些小竹桿或竹片用來做骨架、透明而能擋風的紙用來做鷂頭和尾巴、漿糊或膠水把紙貼上骨架……等等就可成功造出一隻能乘風而起的紙鷂。
我做紙鷂的方法很保守，先決條件是能飛得又高又遠。菱角形的鷂頭，配上長長的尾巴，再添上一對定風翼，就保證萬無一失。這是實而不華的設計，使紙鷂能乘風而起，不會左搖右擺，一飛衝天。成年以後，我做事穩健的作風是由此養成。雖然創意不足，却一生無悔。
2010/4/24
Dear uncle David
ReplyDeleteHow are you? Thanks for all your writings/memoirs that you sent me lately. They are all very interesting to read especially on a lazy Sunday afternoon that nothing matters besides a touch of memory of the good old days. My dad rarely talks about his childhood, all I know was grandma once told me that he had to help with the family business when he was only 9, he knew how to weigh grains on a scale!! I think he suddenly grew up as an adult without notice. More or less, you were much much lucky than my dad, I don't think he had a hobby/pet/interest in his memory at all. Poor dad. Take care.
Sydney
PF and Dave
ReplyDeleteI am a little jealous of you. My favorite quote:
Doing what you like is freedom
Liking what you do is happiness
I can feel the happiness in you and I think both of you should do your
book of wisdom to be shared by others. Just my humble opinion.
Norm
大衛兄
ReplyDelete要作長篇甚費勁
精神難任大工程
惟想寫意步小徑
不再攀山又越嶺
老山
大衛兄
ReplyDelete兄之好意我感銘
著書立說卻不成
興來愛寫打油詩
肆意表達心中情
老山
Dear David,
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot. Its worthy in reading your essays. You must have crack your brain in composing them.
Cecilia & Stanley
Dear David,
ReplyDeleteI enjoy reading very much of your beautiful Chinese literature in describing the recollection of the past five remarkable things.
Your are a great friend to me that I can learn a lot of knowledge from you, thank you very much.
With warmest regards,
Felix
Hello David,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your writing. I am always enjoy reading your writing. Thanks a lot my friend.
Karl
哈哈! David, 你的懷舊五則與和我孩時差不多, 就是少了鬥雞. 文章看起來很有趣, 我特別喜歡造紙鷂.
ReplyDelete馮
Hi David,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your childhood. You can remember so many things so clearly, as if it happened yesterday.
You are the first person I know who has a pet hen that fights. This is really interesting. And I am impressed that you take the responsibility of looking after your hen seriously. I wonder how old were you when you had that hen?
David, Your description of your childhood is very lively. Thank you for sharing!
Rosinla
Lovely, thanks David.
ReplyDeleteAndy