Monday, June 22, 2009

For Father’s Day – Dad, I Will Pick a Flower and Save it For You!

(photo credit: Henry Chan, NY)

亲爱的爸爸:

My Dear Dad:

一转眼的功夫,又是美国的父亲节了。大街小巷,电视网上全是温情脉脉的感恩和销售父亲节礼物的广告。 让我的心里一阵阵的感触,不经意的一晃,时间就把我从一个十八岁的小姑娘给催到了三十而立之年。同时还有的,就是那十年青春,您那十年的冤屈,在中共残酷镇压下的委屈和心酸。

Time has flown by. It’s another Father’s Day in America. There are kind regards and gift advertisements for fathers everywhere from street corners to the TV and Internet. However, my heart is not calm. In the blink of an eye, time rushes me from 18 year-old girl to an almost thirty-year-old woman. At the same time, I am grieving over the lost ten years we should have shared while you have been wrongfully imprisoned – this long, arduous sentence under the Chinese Communist Party’s brutal persecution.

最近我经常听到一些人讲,做一件事容易,一直坚持做这件事才是最难的。我对此也深有同感。不是因为您被抓了,十年后这件事情就随着时间的流逝而不再重要,没有新闻的新鲜感了。这十年来,您的坚持,对法轮功信仰的从一而终 -- 是我最最钦佩的。对于女儿来说,最难最难的是坚持我们的立场,无论在任何情况下都相信真理一定会有大白的一天。同时,看着中国的同胞被中共社会灌输着幼稚可笑的党文化,不知道法轮功的真相,也是我一定要继续努力的力量源泉之一。

Recently, many people have mentioned this to me that it’s easy to do one thing, but to do this one thing for a very long time is the hardest. I deeply agree with this point.  You were arrested 10 years ago; the importance of this event won’t fade away as time passes by. Your story would still be fresh as the newest news. For these past ten years, your persistence in your belief in Falun Gong is the most inspiring to me. For your daughter, the hardest among the hardships is to maintain a righteous standpoint, believing that under any kind of circumstance the truth would prevail in one day. At the same time, watching our fellow Chinese being force-fed with the ridiculously childish Chinese Communist Party Culture without knowing the truth of this evil persecution against Falun Gong is another major reason for me to continue on my journey.

不同以往的是,今年发生了我生命中很重要的事情,订婚和结婚了。人家都说,“男大当婚,女大当嫁”。因为一些具体的情况,订婚和结婚都是在如此的匆匆中一闪而过,就像梦中的烟花一样,几乎都没有时间伸手抓住什么,身心就又投入到忙碌的责任中了。

What differs this Father’s Day from others during the past is that something major happened in my life. I was engaged and then got married! There is an old Chinese saying: “Upon growing up, every male should take a wife and every female should take a husband”. Because of some special circumstances, the engagement and getting married seemed to happen in such a hurry. Everything happened like the fireworks in a dream. Then just as quickly we needed to refocus both mind and body back into the busy responsibilities of daily life.

家里的亲戚传来了消息,说当您听到我要结婚的消息时,非常的高兴,心中放心了许多。孰不知,我听到您很高兴的时候,眼泪真的就不争气的掉了下来。这份不能克制的心酸,好令人难受。还没有来得及告诉您我交往了男友,就已经听到了我的喜讯了。不知道您的心里除了高兴,还有没有遗憾呢?

Our family recently told me the news that when you heard that I am getting married, you were so happy for me. Your heart felt much relief. When I heard that you were truly happy for me, the tears started rolling down my cheeks uncontrollably.  I felt heartbroken and sad. I didn’t even get a chance to tell that I had a boyfriend in person, let alone getting married and now you have already heard my good news. Would there be any regrets hidden under your joy for me?

十年时间了,好漫长的岁月,最近有国内家人问起我的心里历程,我老老实实的告诉他们,怎么能不累呢? 但是为了您的自由,为了千千万万在大陆受迫害的同修,受欺骗的中国老百姓,再怎么累也是值得的。

Ten years, such long ten years. Recently someone asked me about my the course of growing up. I told them sincerely, “How can I not be tired? But to fight for my father’s freedom, for millions of Falun Gong practitioners persecuted in China, for all the fellow Chinese who have been deceived, it may be tiring, but it is more than worthwhile.

心中最大的遗憾,莫过于您不能亲自看到女儿的成长,不能牵着我的手,将我交付给我的先生,到时婚礼我会一个人走过礼堂的过道,因为在我心中,这一切是作为父亲的荣誉,没有第二人选。而且第一排的第一个座位专门一定留给您,我会放上一只花来代表您的缺席。在我生命的转折点,折一支鲜花留给您!

One of the biggest regrets for me is that you could not see your only daughter growing up in person, and couldn’t hold my hand and give me to my husband. When the formal wedding ceremony comes, I will walk down the aisle by myself because such honor could only be reserved for you as my dearest father, as there is no second candidate. I will reserve the first seat in the first row for you. On it, there will be a flower to represent your absence. At this turning point in my life, I will pick a fresh, beautiful flower and save it for you!

请照顾好自己,

爱你的女儿丹丹

Please take care of yourself,

Love you with all my heart,

Your Daughter: Dandan

June 19th, 2009

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