A Perfect Family: In God We Trust ®

不知不覺，這個blog竟已許久未曾更新，藉口依然是那麽乏味可陳——忙，忙，忙！

又是不知不覺，我已通過博士首年答辯，並被正式冠以“學者”頭銜三月有餘。

再次不知不覺，母親前來新西蘭已兩月。過去的兩個月我竟能由各類瑣碎家務中完全解脫，由衷感嘆——娘親真偉大！

還是不知不覺，我們的小Aurick來到這個世界已經整整一周了！就是這個生來就是新西蘭公民的小傢伙，令媽咪深受懷孕之苦，甚至曾在早期急救入院。Aurick的加入，讓我們這個家庭規模一下子擴大了三分一，Melson也借此升級作了哥哥。只是弟弟比起哥哥，出生時明顯大了幾號。難道這真的反映出新西蘭和香港在飲食上的異質性？

Aurick的出生給我們每一位家庭成員帶來了無限喜悅。忙於餵養之餘，對未來也充滿了憧憬和希冀。伴隨著新西蘭的藍天白雲碧海紅沙，這個小肥仔一定會像他的日耳曼式名字所預示的那樣在神的呵護下茁壯成長，和哥哥一樣擁有快樂、健康、堅毅、成功、虔誠、幸福的人生。

5月31日，奧克蘭的寒意已經很明顯了，晚上外面的氣溫只有3-4攝氏度，氣象局警告說今年的6月會比往年冷。好在我們的小家很聚氣，雖然外面已是手不出袋，家裏卻仍是春意綿綿，龢仔和我甚至還剛剛享用了朱古力雪糕。大概是暖得舒服，已經在媽媽肚裏四個半月大的小寶寶也動得歡快起來。

不知不覺，今日已是我抵達紐西蘭一周年。這一年真是充滿感慨。短短一年的時間，紐西蘭對於我們已經由一個遙遠陌生的國家變成了新的家，我們這個小家庭也終於不用再顛沛流離天各一方了，前瞻包容的紐西蘭接納了我們，並為我們提供了落地生根的機會和環境。同樣是這一年，我已經由一個懵懂無知的博士申請人成長為對自己的課題理解深入的博士候選人。

抵達紐西蘭一周年，這是充滿挑戰卻又收穫豐富的一年。無論對於家庭還是事業，這一年都值得銘記。未來的日子想必不會缺少新的挑戰，但同時也必定迎來更多的成就。生活有了希望，於是便勇往直前了。

明天，太太的生日，今年的這一天恰逢英女王壽辰，紐西蘭全國放假，倒是對於我來説，慶祝太太的生日意義遠大於那位硬幣上的君主。

At the threshold to March, autumn is approaching without much awareness from us.  The night-long storm from yesterday evening was fierce and destructive, though it couldn't be matched with those catastrophic ones that swept across New Zealand last winter.

Melson was the only one who had a profound sleep over the storming night.  He is so innocent and ingenuous that even the horror of storm would be reluctant and unwilling to disturb him.  Melson is my soul, my life, my everything!  I can't help loving him at all times no matter where I am and what I am doing.

 

As for the external world, social and natural, he still has a lot to learn.  Even within this family his learning is never terminating.  For the time being, he doesn't know how to be a responsible and loving brother in particular, for example.  He even doesn't get the concept of siblings in general.  Parents as we are, Rita and I take the honor and responsibility to help him adapt to his prospective brotherhood.

 

Recently I am suffering from the daunting mental uncomfortableness whose etiology roots essentially in my scrupulosity about the probable deprivation of love from Melson for his forthcoming brother or sister.  In effect, throughout the "welcoming new-born campaign", it's not merely Melson who is to learn and explore.  Moreover, it's a considerable challenge for us to learn "family sociology", parenting righteousness in essence.

 

Melson is such a perfect gift from God that I can never love him too much by any means.  I still have a rather long journey to go in terms of being a father.  To date, at least one thing is explicit -- in the past years it is Melson who has been teaching me from time to time, rather than the other way around.  A second thing is more legible -- Melson is a best teacher of life! 

I was finally able to take yesterday off so that I could take Melson to the Royal New Zealand Plunket Association for his first "Well Child" clinic visit.  Located on the first floor of the Jubilee Building of the Parnell Community Centre, the Plunket clinic is not spacious with a medium-sized play room and a smaller nurse office.

 

Upon his arrival, Melson jumped out of his stroller and showed immediate interest in the toys.  He headed directly for and grabbed the toy bricks from the table beside the nurse, even before Rita and I said hello to her.  The consultation was not different per se from those previous ones we did in Hong Kong, if the difference between the Cantonese and English languages is not considered as an essential measuring instrument.  At the end of the visit, Melson's growth and development was satisfactorily reflected in the comments made by the nurse.  Surprisingly and rejoicingly, she awarded Melson a "smiling star" sticker by affixing it on his Well Child Book.  This is the very first physical award that Melson has got in New Zealand from a non-family member!

 

Melson grows fast both by size and mind.  Even compared with the kids born and bred locally of European or Maori descent, Melson is still a tall boy.  Reflected by his outstanding enthusiasm towards numers and music, Melson is more than good at logic and ratiocination.  Gifted by God, his intelligence and brightness is unattainable.  Full of pride and glory, I speak out that Melson is entirely the grand significance and merit of my life.  It is out of question that Melson's Well Child Book will be full of "smiling star" stickers in that he is the favoured one of God the Almighty!

Repeatedly reminded by Rita, I'm finally aware that it's my birthday today.  OK, another birthday in my 30's.  This is the first time that I spend my birthday in an "overseas" country -- if Hong Kong is officially considered part of China and a permanent resident of New Zealand, as I am, is not for the time being regarded as a New Zealander.

 

As I stayed up till late last night (or "early this morning"?), I was not able to get up before 8:00 as planned.  Melson got up even prior to me.  The very first words he said to me this morning was "Dad's birthday"!  I am not sure how he knew this, but he certainly did provide my "today" with a happy start.

 

I've not been used to remembering, let alone celebrating, my birthday since my early childhood.  However, Rita is overemphasising birthdays through her path of life.  To please her, and especially our little Melson, I have agreed to put aside my PhD for a while and arrange some family functions.

 

Since Rita and the two of her younger sisters celebrated my 30th birthday in Hong Kong a couple of years ago, I've explicitely felt the ageing effects on myself, both physically and psychologically.  Optimistically, Melson's grown up and it is the second-to-none happiness in the world to witness and share his robust and fast growth!

 

My own birthday is by no means important compared with Melson.  The justification is straightforward and watertight: he is the extension of my life!  I love you for ever, Melson!