One day a fisherman was lying on a beautiful beach, with his fishing pole propped up in the sand and his solitary line cast out into the sparkling blue surf. He was enjoying the warmth of the afternoon sun and the prospect of catching a fish.
About that time, a businessman came walking down the beach, trying to relieve some of the stress of his workday. He noticed the fisherman sitting on the beach and decided to find out why this fisherman was fishing instead of working harder to make a living for himself and his family. "You aren't going to catch many fish that way," said the businessman to the fisherman. "You should be working rather than lying on the beach!"
The fisherman looked up at the businessman, smiled and replied, "And what will my reward be?" "Well, you can get bigger nets and catch more fish!" was the businessman's answer. "And then what will my reward be?" asked the fisherman, still smiling. The businessman replied, "You will make money and you'll be able to buy a boat, which will then result in larger catches of fish!" "And then what will my reward be?" asked the fisherman again. The businessman was beginning to get a little irritated with the fisherman's questions. "You can buy a bigger boat, and hire some people to work for you!" he said.
"And then what will my reward be?" repeated the fisherman. The businessman was getting angry. "Don't you understand? You can build up a fleet of fishing boats, sail all over the world, and let all your employees catch fish for you!" Once again the fisherman asked, "And then what will my reward be?" The businessman was red with rage and shouted at the fisherman, "Don't you understand that you can become so rich that you will never have to work for your living again! You can spend all the rest of your days sitting on this beach, looking at the sunset. You won't have a care in the world!"
The fisherman, still smiling, looked up and said, "And what do you think I'm doing right now?"
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Tree, Leaf and Wind.
Tree
People call me "Tree".
I had dated 5 girls when I was in Pre-U. There is one girl who I love a lot but never dared to go after. She didn't have a pretty face, good figure or an outstanding charm. She was just a very ordinary girl. I liked her. I really liked her. I liked her innocence, her frankness, her intelligence and her fragility. Reason for not going after her was that I felt somebody so ordinary like her was not a good match for me. I was also afraid that after we were together all the feelings would vanish. I was also afraid other's gossip would hurt her.
I felt that if she were my girl, she'd be mine ultimately & I didn't have to give up eve rything just for her. The last reason, made her accompanying me for 3 years. She watched me chase other girls, and I have made her heart cry for 3 years.
She was a good actor, and me a demanding director. When I kissed my second girlfriend, she bumped into us. She was embarrassed but smiled & said, "Go on!" before running off. The next day, her eyes were swollen like a walnut. I did not want to know what caused her to cry. Later that day, I returned from soccer training to get something & watched her cry in the classroom for an hour or so. My fourth girlfriend did not like her. There was once when both of them quarreled. I know that based on her character she is not the type that will start the quarrel. However, I still sided my girlfriend. I shouted at her & ignored her feelings and walked off with my girlfriend. The next day, she was laughing & joking with me like nothing happened. I know she was hurt but she did not know deep down inside I was hurt too.
When I broke up with my fifth girlfriend, I asked her out. Later that day, I told her I had something to tell her. I told her about my break up. Coincidentally, she has something to tell me too, about her getting together. I knew who the person was. His pursuit for her had been the talk of the School. I did not show her my heartache, just smiles & best wishes. Once I reached home, I could not breathe. Tears rolled & I broke down. How many times have I seen her cry for the man who did not acknowledge her presence?
During graduation, I read a SMS in my hp. It said, "Leaf's departure is because of Wind's pursuit. Or because Tree didn't ask her to stay"
Leaf
People call me Leaf.
During the 3 years of Pre-U, I was on very close terms with a guy as buddy kind. However, when he had his first girlfriend, I learnt a feeling I never should have learnt - Jealousy. Sourness to the extreme limit. They were only together for 2 months. When they broke up, I hid my happiness. But after a month, he got together with another girl.
I liked him & I know he liked me. But why won't he pursue me? Since he loves me why he didn't he make the first move? Whenever he had a new girlfriend, my heart would hurt. After some time, I began to suspect that this was one-sided love. If he didn't like me, why did he treat me so well? It's beyond what you will normally do for a friend. I know his likes, his habits. But his feelings towards me I can never figure out. You can't expect me a girl, to ask him. Despite that, I still wanted to be by his side. Care for him, accompany him, and love him. Hoping that one day, he will come to love me. Because of this, I waited for him. Sometimes, I wondered if I should continue waiting. The pain, the dilemma accompanied me for 3 years.
At the end of my 3rd year, a junior pursues me. Everyday he pursues me. He's like the cool & gentle wind, trying to blow off a leaf from a tree. In the end, I realized that I wanted to give this wind a small footing in my heart. I know the wind will bring the leaf to a better land. Finally, leaf left the tree, but the tree only smiled & didn't ask me to stay.
Leaf's departure is because of Wind's pursuit. Or cause Tree didn't ask her to stay.
Wind
Because I like a girl called leaf. Because she's so dependent on tree, so I have to be a gust wind. A wind that will blow her away. When I first met her, it was 1 month after I was transferred to this new school. I saw a petite person look ing at my seniors & me playing soccer. During ECA time, she will always be sitting there. Be it alone or with her friends, looking at him. When he talks with girls, there's jealousy in her eyes. When he looked at her, there's a smile in her eyes. Looking at her became my habit. Just like, she likes to look at him.
One day, she didn't appear. I felt something missing. I can't explain the feeling except it's a kind of uneasiness. The senior was also not there as well. I went to their classroom, hid outside and saw my senior scolding her. Tears were in her eyes while he left. The next day, I saw her at her usual place, looking at him. I walked over and smiled to her. Took out a note & gave to her. She was surprised. She looked at me, smiled & accepts the note. The next day, she appeared & passes me a note and left.
It read, "Leaf's heart is too heavy and wind couldn't blow her away."
"It's not that leaf heart is too heavy. It because leaf never want to leave tree." I replied her note with this statement and slowly she started to talk to me & accept my presents & phone calls. I know that the person she loves is not me. But I have this perseverance that one day I will make her like me. Within 4 months, I have declared my love for her no less than 20 times. Every time, she will divert away from the topic. But I never give up. If I decide I want her to be mine, I will definitely use all means to win her over. I can't remember how many times I have declared my love to her. Although I know, she will try to divert but I still bear a small ray of hope.
Hoping that she will agree to be my girlfriend. I didn't hear any reply from her over the phone. I asked, "What are you doing? How come you didn't want to reply?" She said, "I'm nodding my head". "Ah?" I could n't believe my ears. "I'm nodding my head" She replied loudly. I hang up the phone, quickly changed and took a taxi and rush to her place & press her doorbell. During the moment when she opens the door, I hugged her tightly.
Leaf departure is because of Wind pursuit. Or because Tree didn't ask her to stay...
Moral
In love, we win very rarely, but when love is true, even if you lose, you still win just for having the tingle of loving someone more than you love yourself.
There comes a time when we stop loving someone, not because that person has stopped loving us but because we have found out that, they'd be happier if we let go....
Why do we close our eyes when we sleep? When we cry? When we imagine? When we kiss?
This is because THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THINGS IN THE WORLD ARE UNSEEN.
There are things that we never want to let go of, people we never want to leave behind, but keep in mind that letting go isn't the end of the world. It's the beginning of a new life. Happiness lies for those who cry those who hurt, those who have searched and those who have tried. For only they can appreciate the importance of the people who have touched our lives.
A great love? It's when you shed tears and still you care for them, it's when they ignore you and still you long for them. It's when they begin to love another and yet you smile and say, "I'm happy for you." If love fails, set yourself free, let your heart spread its wings and fly again. Remember you may find love and lose it, but when love dies, you never have to die with it.
The strongest people are not those who always win but those who stand back up when they fall. Somehow, along the course of life, you learn about yourself and realize that there should never be regrets, only a lifelong appreciation of the choices you've made.
Loving is not how you forget but how you forgive, not how you listen but how you understand, not what you see but how you feel, and not how you let go but how you hold on.
It's more dangerous to weep inwardly rather than outwardly. Outward tears can be wiped away while secret tears scar forever. ..
It's best to wait for the one you want than settle for one that's available. It's best to wait for the right one because life is too short to waste on just someone.
People call me "Tree".
I had dated 5 girls when I was in Pre-U. There is one girl who I love a lot but never dared to go after. She didn't have a pretty face, good figure or an outstanding charm. She was just a very ordinary girl. I liked her. I really liked her. I liked her innocence, her frankness, her intelligence and her fragility. Reason for not going after her was that I felt somebody so ordinary like her was not a good match for me. I was also afraid that after we were together all the feelings would vanish. I was also afraid other's gossip would hurt her.
I felt that if she were my girl, she'd be mine ultimately & I didn't have to give up eve rything just for her. The last reason, made her accompanying me for 3 years. She watched me chase other girls, and I have made her heart cry for 3 years.
She was a good actor, and me a demanding director. When I kissed my second girlfriend, she bumped into us. She was embarrassed but smiled & said, "Go on!" before running off. The next day, her eyes were swollen like a walnut. I did not want to know what caused her to cry. Later that day, I returned from soccer training to get something & watched her cry in the classroom for an hour or so. My fourth girlfriend did not like her. There was once when both of them quarreled. I know that based on her character she is not the type that will start the quarrel. However, I still sided my girlfriend. I shouted at her & ignored her feelings and walked off with my girlfriend. The next day, she was laughing & joking with me like nothing happened. I know she was hurt but she did not know deep down inside I was hurt too.
When I broke up with my fifth girlfriend, I asked her out. Later that day, I told her I had something to tell her. I told her about my break up. Coincidentally, she has something to tell me too, about her getting together. I knew who the person was. His pursuit for her had been the talk of the School. I did not show her my heartache, just smiles & best wishes. Once I reached home, I could not breathe. Tears rolled & I broke down. How many times have I seen her cry for the man who did not acknowledge her presence?
During graduation, I read a SMS in my hp. It said, "Leaf's departure is because of Wind's pursuit. Or because Tree didn't ask her to stay"
Leaf
People call me Leaf.
During the 3 years of Pre-U, I was on very close terms with a guy as buddy kind. However, when he had his first girlfriend, I learnt a feeling I never should have learnt - Jealousy. Sourness to the extreme limit. They were only together for 2 months. When they broke up, I hid my happiness. But after a month, he got together with another girl.
I liked him & I know he liked me. But why won't he pursue me? Since he loves me why he didn't he make the first move? Whenever he had a new girlfriend, my heart would hurt. After some time, I began to suspect that this was one-sided love. If he didn't like me, why did he treat me so well? It's beyond what you will normally do for a friend. I know his likes, his habits. But his feelings towards me I can never figure out. You can't expect me a girl, to ask him. Despite that, I still wanted to be by his side. Care for him, accompany him, and love him. Hoping that one day, he will come to love me. Because of this, I waited for him. Sometimes, I wondered if I should continue waiting. The pain, the dilemma accompanied me for 3 years.
At the end of my 3rd year, a junior pursues me. Everyday he pursues me. He's like the cool & gentle wind, trying to blow off a leaf from a tree. In the end, I realized that I wanted to give this wind a small footing in my heart. I know the wind will bring the leaf to a better land. Finally, leaf left the tree, but the tree only smiled & didn't ask me to stay.
Leaf's departure is because of Wind's pursuit. Or cause Tree didn't ask her to stay.
Wind
Because I like a girl called leaf. Because she's so dependent on tree, so I have to be a gust wind. A wind that will blow her away. When I first met her, it was 1 month after I was transferred to this new school. I saw a petite person look ing at my seniors & me playing soccer. During ECA time, she will always be sitting there. Be it alone or with her friends, looking at him. When he talks with girls, there's jealousy in her eyes. When he looked at her, there's a smile in her eyes. Looking at her became my habit. Just like, she likes to look at him.
One day, she didn't appear. I felt something missing. I can't explain the feeling except it's a kind of uneasiness. The senior was also not there as well. I went to their classroom, hid outside and saw my senior scolding her. Tears were in her eyes while he left. The next day, I saw her at her usual place, looking at him. I walked over and smiled to her. Took out a note & gave to her. She was surprised. She looked at me, smiled & accepts the note. The next day, she appeared & passes me a note and left.
It read, "Leaf's heart is too heavy and wind couldn't blow her away."
"It's not that leaf heart is too heavy. It because leaf never want to leave tree." I replied her note with this statement and slowly she started to talk to me & accept my presents & phone calls. I know that the person she loves is not me. But I have this perseverance that one day I will make her like me. Within 4 months, I have declared my love for her no less than 20 times. Every time, she will divert away from the topic. But I never give up. If I decide I want her to be mine, I will definitely use all means to win her over. I can't remember how many times I have declared my love to her. Although I know, she will try to divert but I still bear a small ray of hope.
Hoping that she will agree to be my girlfriend. I didn't hear any reply from her over the phone. I asked, "What are you doing? How come you didn't want to reply?" She said, "I'm nodding my head". "Ah?" I could n't believe my ears. "I'm nodding my head" She replied loudly. I hang up the phone, quickly changed and took a taxi and rush to her place & press her doorbell. During the moment when she opens the door, I hugged her tightly.
Leaf departure is because of Wind pursuit. Or because Tree didn't ask her to stay...
Moral
In love, we win very rarely, but when love is true, even if you lose, you still win just for having the tingle of loving someone more than you love yourself.
There comes a time when we stop loving someone, not because that person has stopped loving us but because we have found out that, they'd be happier if we let go....
Why do we close our eyes when we sleep? When we cry? When we imagine? When we kiss?
This is because THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THINGS IN THE WORLD ARE UNSEEN.
There are things that we never want to let go of, people we never want to leave behind, but keep in mind that letting go isn't the end of the world. It's the beginning of a new life. Happiness lies for those who cry those who hurt, those who have searched and those who have tried. For only they can appreciate the importance of the people who have touched our lives.
A great love? It's when you shed tears and still you care for them, it's when they ignore you and still you long for them. It's when they begin to love another and yet you smile and say, "I'm happy for you." If love fails, set yourself free, let your heart spread its wings and fly again. Remember you may find love and lose it, but when love dies, you never have to die with it.
The strongest people are not those who always win but those who stand back up when they fall. Somehow, along the course of life, you learn about yourself and realize that there should never be regrets, only a lifelong appreciation of the choices you've made.
Loving is not how you forget but how you forgive, not how you listen but how you understand, not what you see but how you feel, and not how you let go but how you hold on.
It's more dangerous to weep inwardly rather than outwardly. Outward tears can be wiped away while secret tears scar forever. ..
It's best to wait for the one you want than settle for one that's available. It's best to wait for the right one because life is too short to waste on just someone.
Love Calista
It rained so hard tonight. I could feel the wind piercing through my ribs. A rainy Christmas eve. It just made me feel sadder and lonelier. It had rained the day he was buried into the ground and I had cried just like now.
I was attracted to this cheerful guy when I first started helping out in the 'Home for the Disabled' three years back. He was a very special guy who was almost perfect if not for his eyes. He was blind. He became blind when he was 8. He got the high fever then and the doctors could do nothing. He lost his sight as a result. He told me he didn't really mind not being able to see because he could always touch and feel things we normal beings weren't able to.
I was really touched by his optimism. Even though he was blind, his eyes were the most soulful eyes that I had ever seen. He was extremely helpful towards others and always did his best to give others what he could. He showered his love lavishly on everyone he knew. He was like an angel. He had a kind and unselfish heart. He gave half of what he earned to charity and he would help out at the 'Home' almost everyday.
Whenever we were free from tending to the people at the 'Home', we would talk to one another for a long time. He talked about God a lot and how blessed was he to have found joy in the Lord. He didn't blame God for any misfortunes that had befallen on him. He said the Lord had his reasons for not giving him sight and he didn't blame God for the fact that his parent got killed in an accident when he was barely 12.
I felt somewhat ashamed when I heard his words since I had always blamed God for not giving me a prettier face. I bore a grudge against God for not giving this wonderful angel His fullest blessings. I thought that God was unfair to him for taking, apart from his sight, his loved ones away from him. I felt that he truly deserved more.
Luke and I were completely different from one another. He was an optimist and I was a pessimist. He could overlook flaws easily while I would always pick at others' faults. However we did have one thing in common. We both had an undying passion for astronomy. He told me he still remembered how lovely the stars had looked like before he became blind. And how his dad used to tell him about stars, black holes and space before God took him away to Heaven. One thing he didn't know was that I was silently crying for him all the time while he talked.
I knew then that I loved him more than I could ever loved anyone.
Luke and I had been together for almost two years. We could hardly bear to be away from one another for less than half a day. We spent most of our time helping out at the 'Home' and 'watching' the stars at a pasture near it. I would tell him the names and shapes of the constellations that appeared in the skies and he would listen carefully with a smile on his face. It seemed like he saw the stars that I told him, behind those soulful eyes that could never see the art of God.
Maybe God thought that Luke was too good for this world. He decided to bring him back to His side. Luke contracted leukemia that fateful 1994. He kept his illness from me and thus I didn't know anything about it at all. It was only when he started looking sick that I noticed something was wrong with him. When asked why, he would pass his paleness off as a slight flu. I didn't believe his words but I didn't say anything. It was September
1994.I was waiting at the 'Home' for Luke. "A call for you, Calista. It's from a hospital," a helper at the 'Home' passed the phone to me worriedly.
"Yes, hello? This is Calista here. Can I be of any help?" I asked, chewing my lips nervously, sensing bad vibes in my spines. "This is the Boulevard Hospital. We found your name and this number in Mr. Pietra's wallet. He had fainted on the streets just now and someone brought him in. I was hoping that you can come down to the hospital now and help us with the documents."
I hung up the phone and ran all the way in the rain to the hospital which was a mile away.
I signed whatever documents that were needed and ran to the ward that Luke was in. There he was my angel, lying almost lifeless on a bed that seemed too large for him.
"Calista, is that you?" He asked when I held his cold hand. "Yes it's me," I choked on my words. "Aww... please don't cry. Everything will be alright," he smiled. I looked at his pale face and it broke my heart. "Luke," I sobbed. "Why is God so unfair to you?" I bawled out on his chest. He stroked my hair and said softly, "God is fair, my love. He's gonna take me to a far better place called Heaven. Don't you agree?"
I didn't answer him as I was lost in my own thoughts. I really didn't know what was going to happen to me without him in my life. Moreover, I had this dreary feeling about going to hospitals ever since I was young. I felt so lost and detached from the world. Why must God take away my one and only true love?
Three months had passed ever since Luke was admitted into the hospital. It was December and Christmas was nearing. My visits to Luke had grown lesser over the three long painful months. Each time I visited Luke, we would have nothing much to talk about. There was always this awkward silence between us.
I didn't know what caused it but I guessed it had something to do with the atmosphere in the hospital. Luke had lost his cheerfulness over the months. He was always too tired to talk. At times, he would try his best to listen to me while I talked to him but the pills they fed him always put him to sleep before I could finish.
We drifted apart somehow although I still loved him a lot. I had only visited him once during December since I was busy working and the 'Home' needed helpers desperately.
It was the 24th of December. I realized that I had not visited Luke for almost three weeks! How funny time seemed to fly when you were busy. I had prepared a gift for Luke for the past two weeks. It was a piece of cardboard pasted with 3D star stickers. I called the constellation that I made up 'LoveLuke'. I hurried to the hospital with the gift in my hands.
I walked briskly to Luke's ward. On the way there, I felt a sudden fear in my heart. I didn't know why but somehow, it made me hurry my pace. To my ultimate fear and worst nightmare, Luke was not in his ward. He was gone! I ran to the counter and asked for Luke but was handed a package and a letter instead. I opened the letter with my tears flowing down like mad.
"My beloved Calista, please don't cry when you get this letter. I just want to let you know that I will be happier at the place where I'll be going soon. God and my parents are waiting impatiently for me. I'm looking forward to see them again. I know how busy you've been these past few weeks and I really missed you terribly. I know how much U dreaded coming to the hospital although U never said anything. I felt it. To tell you the
truth, I've thought of ending my life at times to end the pain and loneliness that my illness had brought me. However, I remembered that life is bestowed by the love of God and it would be a terrible mistake to kill myself just to escape misery.
"Now, I'm glad God decided to take me away earlier. I don't want to be a burden to you and I can't thank you enough for all the love and patience that you had given me through the hard times and the good times. U love me just the way I am even though I cant even do a small thing like watch a movie with you. Please don't blame God for taking me away. He does it because He loves me, just as much as He loves you.
"Don't ask why all the time. Things are planned and they are meant to be this way. Don't keep thinking that God is unfair and stop bearing grudges against him. God is a fair God. Everything that you lost today will be compensated in another way tomorrow. Just keep on believing.
"Remember err that I'll always love you even when I'm not by your side. You're the most beautiful person that I've ever 'seen' in my life, even though you are always complaining about the way you look. Beauty comes from within. Just to tell u that u will always be a part of me that I can’t lives without. Thank you once again for your sweetness and your wonderful unselfish love.
P.S. I'm sorry that I can't celebrate Christmas with you. Here's a gift I've prepared for you ever since the start of December.
Love,
Luke.E.Pietra."
I tore open the package, sobbing all the while. Inside it was a picture made up of tiny stickers of stars. On top of the black paper was written 'LoveCalista'. He too had made up a constellation for me. I knew how much effort and time he must have put in making the gift since he wasn't able to see. I cried my whole heart out that night at the hospital.
It was Christmas Day, 25th of December; 1994.Luke was laid into the ground. The rain was coming down hard. Nothing could describe my sadness. I was filled with remorse. In my busyness, I had neglected Luke. I should have spent more time with him. I didn't even get to see him for one last time before he died. I didn't really treasure him until he was gone. I missed him so much now.
I wanted so much to hug him and to tell him how much I loved him. But it was all too late. I had let time slip by and it would never come back to me. I had lost Luke forever. Forever, that word suddenly sounded as strange to me as I watched Luke's coffin being lowered into the ground. I cried for the man who taught me the ways of life.
The one person who changed my views towards many things. The angel who taught me to overlook others' flaws and to see the beauty behind imperfections. The one who told me to accept whatever cards that were dealt to me. Now this one person had left my side forever. Gone like the two pieces of pictures that carried the words 'LoveLuke' and 'LoveCalista'. They were buried together with the memory of Luke.
Treasure what you have now before it becomes regret, when it becomes too late. Time always slips us by when we least realize it. Let the people you love know what they mean to you, because you never know what might happen......life is too fragile
I was attracted to this cheerful guy when I first started helping out in the 'Home for the Disabled' three years back. He was a very special guy who was almost perfect if not for his eyes. He was blind. He became blind when he was 8. He got the high fever then and the doctors could do nothing. He lost his sight as a result. He told me he didn't really mind not being able to see because he could always touch and feel things we normal beings weren't able to.
I was really touched by his optimism. Even though he was blind, his eyes were the most soulful eyes that I had ever seen. He was extremely helpful towards others and always did his best to give others what he could. He showered his love lavishly on everyone he knew. He was like an angel. He had a kind and unselfish heart. He gave half of what he earned to charity and he would help out at the 'Home' almost everyday.
Whenever we were free from tending to the people at the 'Home', we would talk to one another for a long time. He talked about God a lot and how blessed was he to have found joy in the Lord. He didn't blame God for any misfortunes that had befallen on him. He said the Lord had his reasons for not giving him sight and he didn't blame God for the fact that his parent got killed in an accident when he was barely 12.
I felt somewhat ashamed when I heard his words since I had always blamed God for not giving me a prettier face. I bore a grudge against God for not giving this wonderful angel His fullest blessings. I thought that God was unfair to him for taking, apart from his sight, his loved ones away from him. I felt that he truly deserved more.
Luke and I were completely different from one another. He was an optimist and I was a pessimist. He could overlook flaws easily while I would always pick at others' faults. However we did have one thing in common. We both had an undying passion for astronomy. He told me he still remembered how lovely the stars had looked like before he became blind. And how his dad used to tell him about stars, black holes and space before God took him away to Heaven. One thing he didn't know was that I was silently crying for him all the time while he talked.
I knew then that I loved him more than I could ever loved anyone.
Luke and I had been together for almost two years. We could hardly bear to be away from one another for less than half a day. We spent most of our time helping out at the 'Home' and 'watching' the stars at a pasture near it. I would tell him the names and shapes of the constellations that appeared in the skies and he would listen carefully with a smile on his face. It seemed like he saw the stars that I told him, behind those soulful eyes that could never see the art of God.
Maybe God thought that Luke was too good for this world. He decided to bring him back to His side. Luke contracted leukemia that fateful 1994. He kept his illness from me and thus I didn't know anything about it at all. It was only when he started looking sick that I noticed something was wrong with him. When asked why, he would pass his paleness off as a slight flu. I didn't believe his words but I didn't say anything. It was September
1994.I was waiting at the 'Home' for Luke. "A call for you, Calista. It's from a hospital," a helper at the 'Home' passed the phone to me worriedly.
"Yes, hello? This is Calista here. Can I be of any help?" I asked, chewing my lips nervously, sensing bad vibes in my spines. "This is the Boulevard Hospital. We found your name and this number in Mr. Pietra's wallet. He had fainted on the streets just now and someone brought him in. I was hoping that you can come down to the hospital now and help us with the documents."
I hung up the phone and ran all the way in the rain to the hospital which was a mile away.
I signed whatever documents that were needed and ran to the ward that Luke was in. There he was my angel, lying almost lifeless on a bed that seemed too large for him.
"Calista, is that you?" He asked when I held his cold hand. "Yes it's me," I choked on my words. "Aww... please don't cry. Everything will be alright," he smiled. I looked at his pale face and it broke my heart. "Luke," I sobbed. "Why is God so unfair to you?" I bawled out on his chest. He stroked my hair and said softly, "God is fair, my love. He's gonna take me to a far better place called Heaven. Don't you agree?"
I didn't answer him as I was lost in my own thoughts. I really didn't know what was going to happen to me without him in my life. Moreover, I had this dreary feeling about going to hospitals ever since I was young. I felt so lost and detached from the world. Why must God take away my one and only true love?
Three months had passed ever since Luke was admitted into the hospital. It was December and Christmas was nearing. My visits to Luke had grown lesser over the three long painful months. Each time I visited Luke, we would have nothing much to talk about. There was always this awkward silence between us.
I didn't know what caused it but I guessed it had something to do with the atmosphere in the hospital. Luke had lost his cheerfulness over the months. He was always too tired to talk. At times, he would try his best to listen to me while I talked to him but the pills they fed him always put him to sleep before I could finish.
We drifted apart somehow although I still loved him a lot. I had only visited him once during December since I was busy working and the 'Home' needed helpers desperately.
It was the 24th of December. I realized that I had not visited Luke for almost three weeks! How funny time seemed to fly when you were busy. I had prepared a gift for Luke for the past two weeks. It was a piece of cardboard pasted with 3D star stickers. I called the constellation that I made up 'LoveLuke'. I hurried to the hospital with the gift in my hands.
I walked briskly to Luke's ward. On the way there, I felt a sudden fear in my heart. I didn't know why but somehow, it made me hurry my pace. To my ultimate fear and worst nightmare, Luke was not in his ward. He was gone! I ran to the counter and asked for Luke but was handed a package and a letter instead. I opened the letter with my tears flowing down like mad.
"My beloved Calista, please don't cry when you get this letter. I just want to let you know that I will be happier at the place where I'll be going soon. God and my parents are waiting impatiently for me. I'm looking forward to see them again. I know how busy you've been these past few weeks and I really missed you terribly. I know how much U dreaded coming to the hospital although U never said anything. I felt it. To tell you the
truth, I've thought of ending my life at times to end the pain and loneliness that my illness had brought me. However, I remembered that life is bestowed by the love of God and it would be a terrible mistake to kill myself just to escape misery.
"Now, I'm glad God decided to take me away earlier. I don't want to be a burden to you and I can't thank you enough for all the love and patience that you had given me through the hard times and the good times. U love me just the way I am even though I cant even do a small thing like watch a movie with you. Please don't blame God for taking me away. He does it because He loves me, just as much as He loves you.
"Don't ask why all the time. Things are planned and they are meant to be this way. Don't keep thinking that God is unfair and stop bearing grudges against him. God is a fair God. Everything that you lost today will be compensated in another way tomorrow. Just keep on believing.
"Remember err that I'll always love you even when I'm not by your side. You're the most beautiful person that I've ever 'seen' in my life, even though you are always complaining about the way you look. Beauty comes from within. Just to tell u that u will always be a part of me that I can’t lives without. Thank you once again for your sweetness and your wonderful unselfish love.
P.S. I'm sorry that I can't celebrate Christmas with you. Here's a gift I've prepared for you ever since the start of December.
Love,
Luke.E.Pietra."
I tore open the package, sobbing all the while. Inside it was a picture made up of tiny stickers of stars. On top of the black paper was written 'LoveCalista'. He too had made up a constellation for me. I knew how much effort and time he must have put in making the gift since he wasn't able to see. I cried my whole heart out that night at the hospital.
It was Christmas Day, 25th of December; 1994.Luke was laid into the ground. The rain was coming down hard. Nothing could describe my sadness. I was filled with remorse. In my busyness, I had neglected Luke. I should have spent more time with him. I didn't even get to see him for one last time before he died. I didn't really treasure him until he was gone. I missed him so much now.
I wanted so much to hug him and to tell him how much I loved him. But it was all too late. I had let time slip by and it would never come back to me. I had lost Luke forever. Forever, that word suddenly sounded as strange to me as I watched Luke's coffin being lowered into the ground. I cried for the man who taught me the ways of life.
The one person who changed my views towards many things. The angel who taught me to overlook others' flaws and to see the beauty behind imperfections. The one who told me to accept whatever cards that were dealt to me. Now this one person had left my side forever. Gone like the two pieces of pictures that carried the words 'LoveLuke' and 'LoveCalista'. They were buried together with the memory of Luke.
Treasure what you have now before it becomes regret, when it becomes too late. Time always slips us by when we least realize it. Let the people you love know what they mean to you, because you never know what might happen......life is too fragile
Red Rose
Dedicate this Touching Love Story to Rose, a fan of my blog who request for more English Love Story.
Red roses were her favorites, her name was also Rose. And every year, her husband sent them, tied with pretty bows. The year he passed away, the roses were delivered to her door. The card said, "Be My Valentine," like all the years before.
Each year he sent her roses, the notes would always say, "I love you even more this year than last year on this day." "My love for you will always grow with each passing year." The year he passed away, she knew it was the last time that the roses would appear on her front door.
She thought he ordered the roses in advance before this day. Her loving husband did not know that he would die. He always liked to do things early, way before the time. In this way, if he was too busy, everything would still work out fine.
She trimmed the stems, and placed them in a very special vase. Then she sat the vase beside the photograph of his smiling face. She would sit for hours, in her husband's favorite chair while staring at his photograph and the roses sitting there.
A year went by and it was difficult to live without her mate. With loneliness and solitude that has become her fate. Then, at that same very hour, as on Valentines before, the doorbell rang and there were red roses sitting by her door.
She brought the roses in and then just looked at them in shock. Then, she went to get the telephone and called the florist that had delivered the roses. The owner answered and she asked him if he would explain why someone would do this to her, causing her so much pain?
"I know your husband passed away more than a year ago," the owner said. "I knew you'd call and you would want to know," he continued. "The flowers you received today were paid for in advance. Your husband always planned ahead, he left nothing to chance."
"The re is a standing order that I have on file down here. And he has paid, well in advance, so you'll get them every year. There is also another thing that I think you should know. He wrote a special little card which he did several years ago."
"Then should ever I find out that he is no longer around, that's the card that should be sent to you the following year." She thanked him and hung up the phone, her tears now flowing hard. Her fingers shaking, as she slowly reached to get the card.
Inside the card, she saw that he had written her a note. As she stared in total silence, this was what he wrote...
"Hello my love, I know it's been a year since I've been gone. I hope it hasn't been too hard for you to overcome. I know it must be lonely and the pain is very real. For if it was the other way, I know how I would feel. The love we shared made everything so beautiful in life. I loved you more than words can say. You were the perfect wife and the perfect companion."
"You were my friend and lover. You fulfilled my every need. I know it's only been a year, but please try not to grieve. I want you to be happy, even when you shed your tears. That is why these red roses will be sent to you for years."
"When you get these roses, think of all the happiness that we had together and how both of us were blessed to have each other. I have always loved you and I know I always will. But, my love, you must go on, you have some living still."
"Plea se, try to find happiness while living out your days. I know it's not easy, but I hope you find some ways. I know you will. You have always been there to cheer me up. The roses will come every year and they will only stop when your door's not answered, when the florist stops to deliver and knock on the door."
"He will come five times that day, in case you should be out. But after his last visit, he will know without a doubt, to take the roses to the place, where I've instructed him and place the roses where we are, together once again."
Red roses were her favorites, her name was also Rose. And every year, her husband sent them, tied with pretty bows. The year he passed away, the roses were delivered to her door. The card said, "Be My Valentine," like all the years before.
Each year he sent her roses, the notes would always say, "I love you even more this year than last year on this day." "My love for you will always grow with each passing year." The year he passed away, she knew it was the last time that the roses would appear on her front door.
She thought he ordered the roses in advance before this day. Her loving husband did not know that he would die. He always liked to do things early, way before the time. In this way, if he was too busy, everything would still work out fine.
She trimmed the stems, and placed them in a very special vase. Then she sat the vase beside the photograph of his smiling face. She would sit for hours, in her husband's favorite chair while staring at his photograph and the roses sitting there.
A year went by and it was difficult to live without her mate. With loneliness and solitude that has become her fate. Then, at that same very hour, as on Valentines before, the doorbell rang and there were red roses sitting by her door.
She brought the roses in and then just looked at them in shock. Then, she went to get the telephone and called the florist that had delivered the roses. The owner answered and she asked him if he would explain why someone would do this to her, causing her so much pain?
"I know your husband passed away more than a year ago," the owner said. "I knew you'd call and you would want to know," he continued. "The flowers you received today were paid for in advance. Your husband always planned ahead, he left nothing to chance."
"The re is a standing order that I have on file down here. And he has paid, well in advance, so you'll get them every year. There is also another thing that I think you should know. He wrote a special little card which he did several years ago."
"Then should ever I find out that he is no longer around, that's the card that should be sent to you the following year." She thanked him and hung up the phone, her tears now flowing hard. Her fingers shaking, as she slowly reached to get the card.
Inside the card, she saw that he had written her a note. As she stared in total silence, this was what he wrote...
"Hello my love, I know it's been a year since I've been gone. I hope it hasn't been too hard for you to overcome. I know it must be lonely and the pain is very real. For if it was the other way, I know how I would feel. The love we shared made everything so beautiful in life. I loved you more than words can say. You were the perfect wife and the perfect companion."
"You were my friend and lover. You fulfilled my every need. I know it's only been a year, but please try not to grieve. I want you to be happy, even when you shed your tears. That is why these red roses will be sent to you for years."
"When you get these roses, think of all the happiness that we had together and how both of us were blessed to have each other. I have always loved you and I know I always will. But, my love, you must go on, you have some living still."
"Plea se, try to find happiness while living out your days. I know it's not easy, but I hope you find some ways. I know you will. You have always been there to cheer me up. The roses will come every year and they will only stop when your door's not answered, when the florist stops to deliver and knock on the door."
"He will come five times that day, in case you should be out. But after his last visit, he will know without a doubt, to take the roses to the place, where I've instructed him and place the roses where we are, together once again."
Friday, July 16, 2010
八子测骨命轻重 [袁天罡称骨歌]
你的骨重为 31 钱。 称骨歌曰：忙忙碌碌苦中求，何日云开见日头，难得祖基家可立，中年衣食渐能周。
称骨算命法是唐代著名的星象预测家袁天罡称骨的预测方法。这种方法同四柱算命一样，能确定一个人一生的吉凶祸福、荣辱盛衰，准确率很高，又便于掌握和运用。
一个人出生的年、月、日、时各有定数，年、月、日、时的重量都有具体规定。只要把年、月、日、时的重量加在一起，按照“称骨歌”一查，就可确定这个人一生的命运。
一个人出生的年份按年干支（即甲子年、乙丑年，丙寅年等）来确定重量。出生月按月份（即正月、二月等）来确定重量。出生日按日数（即初一、初二等）确定重量。出生时辰按子、丑、寅、卯、辰、巳、午、未、申、酉、戌、亥十二时辰确定重量。
现代的每二个小时是古代的一个时辰。
十二时辰换算成现代的时间，就是：
子时——晚11点钟到凌晨1点钟；
丑时——1点钟至3点钟；
寅时——3点钟至5点钟；
卯辰——5点钟至7点钟；
辰时——7点钟至9点钟；
巳时——9点钟至11点钟； 午时——11点钟至下午1点钟；
未时——下午1点钟至3点钟；
申时——下午3点钟至5点钟；
酉时——下午5点钟至7点钟；
戌时——下午7点钟至晚9点钟；
亥时——晚9点钟至11点钟。
例：一人出生在甲子年正月初一日子时
甲子年骨重一两二钱
正月骨重六钱
初一日骨重五钱
子时骨重一两六钱
年、月、日、时骨重加在一起（1.2+0.6+0.5+1.6=3.9），此人总骨重是三两九钱。查看三两九钱的“称骨歌”，就是这个人一生的命运。
袁天罡：唐初益州成都（今四川成都）人。善风鉴，累验不爽，曾仕于隋，为盐官令。唐时，为火山令。著有《六壬课》、《五行相书》等。通志著录，其有《易镜玄要》一卷。久佚。
信息来源：中华农历网：http://www.nongli.com/item5/augury/qi1-10.htm
[先贫后富近贵艺术衣食足用之人] 忙忙碌碌苦中求，难得祖基家可立；何日云开见日预，中年衣食渐无忧。
上文释义：您的祖辈留了占家业给您，但成家立业还是很辛苦，整天忙忙碌碌，都不知道什么时候能好点；日子慢慢过去，您晚年时家业经营得比从前稍好。
称骨算命相传是唐朝周易预测大师袁天罡先生所创，将人的出生年、月、日、时计算相应的“骨重”，然后根据“称骨”的总值来进行算命，据说有一定应验度，预测结果仅供参考。带＊号的时间骨重较高！
http://www.buyiju.com/cgsm/
称骨算命法是唐代著名的星象预测家袁天罡称骨的预测方法。这种方法同四柱算命一样，能确定一个人一生的吉凶祸福、荣辱盛衰，准确率很高，又便于掌握和运用。
一个人出生的年、月、日、时各有定数，年、月、日、时的重量都有具体规定。只要把年、月、日、时的重量加在一起，按照“称骨歌”一查，就可确定这个人一生的命运。
一个人出生的年份按年干支（即甲子年、乙丑年，丙寅年等）来确定重量。出生月按月份（即正月、二月等）来确定重量。出生日按日数（即初一、初二等）确定重量。出生时辰按子、丑、寅、卯、辰、巳、午、未、申、酉、戌、亥十二时辰确定重量。
现代的每二个小时是古代的一个时辰。
十二时辰换算成现代的时间，就是：
子时——晚11点钟到凌晨1点钟；
丑时——1点钟至3点钟；
寅时——3点钟至5点钟；
卯辰——5点钟至7点钟；
辰时——7点钟至9点钟；
巳时——9点钟至11点钟； 午时——11点钟至下午1点钟；
未时——下午1点钟至3点钟；
申时——下午3点钟至5点钟；
酉时——下午5点钟至7点钟；
戌时——下午7点钟至晚9点钟；
亥时——晚9点钟至11点钟。
例：一人出生在甲子年正月初一日子时
甲子年骨重一两二钱
正月骨重六钱
初一日骨重五钱
子时骨重一两六钱
年、月、日、时骨重加在一起（1.2+0.6+0.5+1.6=3.9），此人总骨重是三两九钱。查看三两九钱的“称骨歌”，就是这个人一生的命运。
袁天罡：唐初益州成都（今四川成都）人。善风鉴，累验不爽，曾仕于隋，为盐官令。唐时，为火山令。著有《六壬课》、《五行相书》等。通志著录，其有《易镜玄要》一卷。久佚。
信息来源：中华农历网：http://www.nongli.com/item5/augury/qi1-10.htm
[先贫后富近贵艺术衣食足用之人] 忙忙碌碌苦中求，难得祖基家可立；何日云开见日预，中年衣食渐无忧。
上文释义：您的祖辈留了占家业给您，但成家立业还是很辛苦，整天忙忙碌碌，都不知道什么时候能好点；日子慢慢过去，您晚年时家业经营得比从前稍好。
称骨算命相传是唐朝周易预测大师袁天罡先生所创，将人的出生年、月、日、时计算相应的“骨重”，然后根据“称骨”的总值来进行算命，据说有一定应验度，预测结果仅供参考。带＊号的时间骨重较高！
http://www.buyiju.com/cgsm/
Saturday, May 8, 2010
福虎双致，天下第一。
在國家重點文物保護單位恭王府秘云洞內，珍藏著一塊號稱“天下第一福源”的福字石碑。每天，來這里請福的人絡繹不絕，人人都想親手摸一下這公認為 “天下第一靈驗”的福字，好“沾一沾福氣”。
康熙十二年（公元1673年），孝庄太后六十大壽將至，不料突染沉可，康熙查知上古有“承帝事”請福續壽之說，意思是真命天子是萬福萬壽之人，可以向天父為自己“請福續壽”，遂決定為祖請福，在沐浴齋戒三日之后，一氣呵成了這幅傾注了對祖母摯愛的“福” 字，并加蓋了“康熙御筆之寶”印璽，取意“鴻運當頭、福星高照，鎮天下所有妖邪”。
孝庄太后自得到了這“福”字，百病全消，十五年后，以 75歲高齡得以善終。民間俱稱這是康熙“請福續壽”帶來的福緣。事后康熙几番重提御筆，卻再也寫不出其中的神韻，所以民間盛傳此福為“天賜鴻福”。
令人拍案稱奇的是，這幅御寶有意無意間，創造了許多空前的紀錄，細品之下，真有佳作天成的味道。
此“福”的書寫不同于民間常用的飽滿方正，其字形窄而狹長，為瘦，音諧“壽”，民間稱之“長瘦福”，即長壽之福。
俗語稱“有福必有壽，有壽必有福，有福沒壽是為無福可受”。但是，由于“福”、“壽”二字字形差異太大，因此，自古從來沒有哪個書法家可以把“福”“壽”合為一字書寫，在這幅御寶右半部正好是王羲之蘭亭序中“壽”字的寫法。故而，這幅字也成為了現存歷代墨寶中惟一的將“福”“壽”寫在同一個字里的福字，民間稱之為“福中有壽，福壽雙全”之福。
更不可思議的是，此福與民間稱作“衣祿全、一口田”的福字截然不同，其間包括了“多子、多才、多田、多壽、多福”數個漢字，是古往今來獨一無二的“五福”合一之“福”字。由于其中的“田”部尚未封口，因此是鴻福無邊、無邊之福。孝庄太后稱其為“福之本源”，民間則稱“五福之本、萬福之源”。
花园正门为大理石雕花拱形门， 欧式风格，雕刻得非常精致.是北京仅存一处完整的欧式风格拱门。入口处堆砌着一些假山，这些假山石都是当年从太湖运来的，其中有一块高高耸立着，酷似一女人，背对大门，低着头，抱着一小孩，导游说这块送子观音石是从千百块太湖石中选出，未经任何人工雕凿.传说当把这块石头放入后花园之后，多年无子的和绅终于得偿所愿，有了一子，乾隆赐名：丰绅荫德，并把钟爱的十七公主嫁给了他.
假山前面是一个水池，形似一蝙蝠，又似一元宝，取名蝠池，“蝠”字谐音“福”；池的四周种满了榆钱树，榆钱树开花后，大大小小的榆钱坠满树枝，风吹过后纷纷扬扬的榆钱随风掉进池塘，这样，池塘天上地下全是"钱".水池的中心点正对着后面的镇宅之宝福碑，与之遥遥呼应；池水只 能从东往西流，不能反向，不然的话就意味着钱财的流失，可见和砷的良苦用心.流杯亭下来，穿过安善堂，前面是一座亭子，叫“邀月 台”，两侧有两条“升官路”通往亭子，所谓的“升官路”，就是两条坡度很陡的斜坡走廊，这种走廊在中国的古建筑中也是绝无仅有的.据说和砷在短期内连升九级跟这条“升官路”不无关系.
亭子前有许多太湖石，湖石连成"双龙戏珠".假山下面安放着镇宅之宝——一块刻着一个“福”字的石碑。这个 “福”字可不同一般，当年孝庄太皇太后生病，百治不见效，康熙听从臣子意见，写一“福”字,意：“赐福”给自己的祖母，愿她身体康健，长命百岁。这个 “福”字，一气呵成.这一个字中就包含了 “子、才、多、田、寿、福”六个字，幸福人生缺一不可.字上方正中是一枚完整的康熙御印.至于和绅是怎么把这个字弄到手的也无从得知了.和绅把它拓在石碑上，同时基于这块石碑建造了一座“二龙戏珠” 的假山，也正因为如此，当初嘉庆抄和绅家的时候，也没能把这块石碑取走，因为一取石碑，山即塌，龙即灭，是不吉祥的.身旁的解说员说此碑有佛光，游客排队上前摸碑，希望摸一摸这 “福”字也能沾一点福气.再后面 是一座蝠厅，窗户上、门上都是蝙蝠的图案，据统计此园中一共有9999只蝙蝠.皇上为"万岁",和绅想要成为"万福",故园中的福字连同假山下的"福"一共有一万个.
在600多年的歷史長河中，瞻園幾易其主。清代，中山王府改成江寧布政司所在地，瞻園由私家花園變成行署園林。1853年，太平天國定都南京，這裡成了東王楊秀清的東王府。太平天國失敗後，瞻園遭到清軍破壞。同治四年、光緒二十九年曾兩次重修。新中國成立後的1960年，在建築學家劉敦楨教授的主持下，瞻園得到修整，前後歷時六年，到1966年，建成目前所見的面貌。
在瞻園的觀魚亭入口處右邊墻壁上有一巨形草書“虎”字碑。這塊碑寬約兩尺，高一米半。碑上的虎字乃一筆揮就一氣呵成，字是虎，形也似虎，猶如一隻猛虎在咆哮。
除此之外，這虎字裏暗藏玄機，虎字裏藏有四個字：富甲天下。中國的書法歷史源遠流長，其中也不乏一筆揮就的作品。王羲之當年就一筆寫成一個“鵝”字。據園內的導遊介紹，細觀此“虎” 字，一虎端立，雄視生威，虎頭、虎嘴、虎身、虎背、虎尾，清晰可辨，仿佛仰天長嘯，人稱其為“天下第一虎”。
民間傳說：摸摸瞻園的虎頭，吃穿不愁；摸摸虎嘴，驅邪避鬼；摸摸虎身，步步高升；摸摸虎背，榮華富貴；摸摸虎尾，十全十美，虎諧音福，實乃威武鎮邪之靈物。那麼這個“虎” 是哪位書法家寫就的呢？這塊碑的下端落款為“劭道人”三個字。“劭道人”又是何方人士呢？
作者是神秘劭道人？
筆者就此向園內的導遊小姐詢問。導遊介紹說這個虎字來自明初，是一個叫劭道人的人寫了送給大明開國元勳徐達的。劭道人是劉伯溫的師傅。相傳，著名將領徐達年輕時，曾跟劭道人學習用兵布陣之法。學成後，徐達投奔朱元璋。臨行前，劭道人送徐達一個錦囊。徐達跟隨朱元璋南征北戰十幾年，為大明王朝立下赫赫戰功，自己卻毫發無損。據說都是靠此錦囊保祐。
後來，大明江山已定，論功行賞，朱元璋封徐達為中山王，為其興建王府，即今天瞻園的前身。徐達功成名就，欲求其子孫萬世富貴，他請求劭道人滿足其願望。劭道人就草書一個“虎”字。讓徐達將此字刻于石碑上，藏在後宅，即可榮華萬代。
據說，徐達得此字後整天面壁沉思，悟出許多人生哲理。甚至於躲過殺身之禍。朱元璋取得天下後，對曾經和他患難與共的戰友兄弟大開殺戒，歷史上有朱元璋“炮打慶功樓”的傳說。其實就是朱元璋在慶功樓事先預埋好炸藥，邀請群臣，徐達也在邀請之列。不過，他在去赴宴前面對“虎”字近一個時辰，他領悟到此行必須和皇上寸步不離才能脫險。就這一個“虎”字，保了徐達家十八代子孫的富貴吉祥。清代乾隆皇帝評價其為“天下第一虎”。
筆者聽了導遊對此“虎”碑來歷的介紹，得知虎字碑的傳說如此精彩，很感興趣。這個字確實有特色，此“虎”字威嚴、霸氣、吉祥，字形奇特優美，一筆揮就，字中藏字，暗含“富甲天下”四字，筆力渾厚，遒勁有力，且構思巧妙。
康熙十二年（公元1673年），孝庄太后六十大壽將至，不料突染沉可，康熙查知上古有“承帝事”請福續壽之說，意思是真命天子是萬福萬壽之人，可以向天父為自己“請福續壽”，遂決定為祖請福，在沐浴齋戒三日之后，一氣呵成了這幅傾注了對祖母摯愛的“福” 字，并加蓋了“康熙御筆之寶”印璽，取意“鴻運當頭、福星高照，鎮天下所有妖邪”。
孝庄太后自得到了這“福”字，百病全消，十五年后，以 75歲高齡得以善終。民間俱稱這是康熙“請福續壽”帶來的福緣。事后康熙几番重提御筆，卻再也寫不出其中的神韻，所以民間盛傳此福為“天賜鴻福”。
令人拍案稱奇的是，這幅御寶有意無意間，創造了許多空前的紀錄，細品之下，真有佳作天成的味道。
此“福”的書寫不同于民間常用的飽滿方正，其字形窄而狹長，為瘦，音諧“壽”，民間稱之“長瘦福”，即長壽之福。
俗語稱“有福必有壽，有壽必有福，有福沒壽是為無福可受”。但是，由于“福”、“壽”二字字形差異太大，因此，自古從來沒有哪個書法家可以把“福”“壽”合為一字書寫，在這幅御寶右半部正好是王羲之蘭亭序中“壽”字的寫法。故而，這幅字也成為了現存歷代墨寶中惟一的將“福”“壽”寫在同一個字里的福字，民間稱之為“福中有壽，福壽雙全”之福。
更不可思議的是，此福與民間稱作“衣祿全、一口田”的福字截然不同，其間包括了“多子、多才、多田、多壽、多福”數個漢字，是古往今來獨一無二的“五福”合一之“福”字。由于其中的“田”部尚未封口，因此是鴻福無邊、無邊之福。孝庄太后稱其為“福之本源”，民間則稱“五福之本、萬福之源”。
花园正门为大理石雕花拱形门， 欧式风格，雕刻得非常精致.是北京仅存一处完整的欧式风格拱门。入口处堆砌着一些假山，这些假山石都是当年从太湖运来的，其中有一块高高耸立着，酷似一女人，背对大门，低着头，抱着一小孩，导游说这块送子观音石是从千百块太湖石中选出，未经任何人工雕凿.传说当把这块石头放入后花园之后，多年无子的和绅终于得偿所愿，有了一子，乾隆赐名：丰绅荫德，并把钟爱的十七公主嫁给了他.
假山前面是一个水池，形似一蝙蝠，又似一元宝，取名蝠池，“蝠”字谐音“福”；池的四周种满了榆钱树，榆钱树开花后，大大小小的榆钱坠满树枝，风吹过后纷纷扬扬的榆钱随风掉进池塘，这样，池塘天上地下全是"钱".水池的中心点正对着后面的镇宅之宝福碑，与之遥遥呼应；池水只 能从东往西流，不能反向，不然的话就意味着钱财的流失，可见和砷的良苦用心.流杯亭下来，穿过安善堂，前面是一座亭子，叫“邀月 台”，两侧有两条“升官路”通往亭子，所谓的“升官路”，就是两条坡度很陡的斜坡走廊，这种走廊在中国的古建筑中也是绝无仅有的.据说和砷在短期内连升九级跟这条“升官路”不无关系.
亭子前有许多太湖石，湖石连成"双龙戏珠".假山下面安放着镇宅之宝——一块刻着一个“福”字的石碑。这个 “福”字可不同一般，当年孝庄太皇太后生病，百治不见效，康熙听从臣子意见，写一“福”字,意：“赐福”给自己的祖母，愿她身体康健，长命百岁。这个 “福”字，一气呵成.这一个字中就包含了 “子、才、多、田、寿、福”六个字，幸福人生缺一不可.字上方正中是一枚完整的康熙御印.至于和绅是怎么把这个字弄到手的也无从得知了.和绅把它拓在石碑上，同时基于这块石碑建造了一座“二龙戏珠” 的假山，也正因为如此，当初嘉庆抄和绅家的时候，也没能把这块石碑取走，因为一取石碑，山即塌，龙即灭，是不吉祥的.身旁的解说员说此碑有佛光，游客排队上前摸碑，希望摸一摸这 “福”字也能沾一点福气.再后面 是一座蝠厅，窗户上、门上都是蝙蝠的图案，据统计此园中一共有9999只蝙蝠.皇上为"万岁",和绅想要成为"万福",故园中的福字连同假山下的"福"一共有一万个.
在600多年的歷史長河中，瞻園幾易其主。清代，中山王府改成江寧布政司所在地，瞻園由私家花園變成行署園林。1853年，太平天國定都南京，這裡成了東王楊秀清的東王府。太平天國失敗後，瞻園遭到清軍破壞。同治四年、光緒二十九年曾兩次重修。新中國成立後的1960年，在建築學家劉敦楨教授的主持下，瞻園得到修整，前後歷時六年，到1966年，建成目前所見的面貌。
在瞻園的觀魚亭入口處右邊墻壁上有一巨形草書“虎”字碑。這塊碑寬約兩尺，高一米半。碑上的虎字乃一筆揮就一氣呵成，字是虎，形也似虎，猶如一隻猛虎在咆哮。
除此之外，這虎字裏暗藏玄機，虎字裏藏有四個字：富甲天下。中國的書法歷史源遠流長，其中也不乏一筆揮就的作品。王羲之當年就一筆寫成一個“鵝”字。據園內的導遊介紹，細觀此“虎” 字，一虎端立，雄視生威，虎頭、虎嘴、虎身、虎背、虎尾，清晰可辨，仿佛仰天長嘯，人稱其為“天下第一虎”。
民間傳說：摸摸瞻園的虎頭，吃穿不愁；摸摸虎嘴，驅邪避鬼；摸摸虎身，步步高升；摸摸虎背，榮華富貴；摸摸虎尾，十全十美，虎諧音福，實乃威武鎮邪之靈物。那麼這個“虎” 是哪位書法家寫就的呢？這塊碑的下端落款為“劭道人”三個字。“劭道人”又是何方人士呢？
作者是神秘劭道人？
筆者就此向園內的導遊小姐詢問。導遊介紹說這個虎字來自明初，是一個叫劭道人的人寫了送給大明開國元勳徐達的。劭道人是劉伯溫的師傅。相傳，著名將領徐達年輕時，曾跟劭道人學習用兵布陣之法。學成後，徐達投奔朱元璋。臨行前，劭道人送徐達一個錦囊。徐達跟隨朱元璋南征北戰十幾年，為大明王朝立下赫赫戰功，自己卻毫發無損。據說都是靠此錦囊保祐。
後來，大明江山已定，論功行賞，朱元璋封徐達為中山王，為其興建王府，即今天瞻園的前身。徐達功成名就，欲求其子孫萬世富貴，他請求劭道人滿足其願望。劭道人就草書一個“虎”字。讓徐達將此字刻于石碑上，藏在後宅，即可榮華萬代。
據說，徐達得此字後整天面壁沉思，悟出許多人生哲理。甚至於躲過殺身之禍。朱元璋取得天下後，對曾經和他患難與共的戰友兄弟大開殺戒，歷史上有朱元璋“炮打慶功樓”的傳說。其實就是朱元璋在慶功樓事先預埋好炸藥，邀請群臣，徐達也在邀請之列。不過，他在去赴宴前面對“虎”字近一個時辰，他領悟到此行必須和皇上寸步不離才能脫險。就這一個“虎”字，保了徐達家十八代子孫的富貴吉祥。清代乾隆皇帝評價其為“天下第一虎”。
筆者聽了導遊對此“虎”碑來歷的介紹，得知虎字碑的傳說如此精彩，很感興趣。這個字確實有特色，此“虎”字威嚴、霸氣、吉祥，字形奇特優美，一筆揮就，字中藏字，暗含“富甲天下”四字，筆力渾厚，遒勁有力，且構思巧妙。
Friday, February 5, 2010
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