爱情天梯 Ladder of Love Part 2 of 3

陳艾玲 悲秋 -- 秋天的故事

陳艾玲 悲秋 -- 秋天的故事
曲:黃國倫 詞:黃國倫 主唱:陳艾玲 獨白:黃國倫
《悲秋》

主唱：陳艾玲 由/詞：黃國倫 獨白：黃國倫

男白：我不知道，你是怎樣離去？ 是悲傷無奈還是哭泣？ 終於，我真的失去了你。 唉，該來的還是躲不及。

女白：你說分離，不需要原因。 一如相愛，沒有道理。 哼，我說你真的天真的可以呀！ 我們相愛，何需要分離？

女唱：我在過去中尋找你，我在未來中等待你。 但是現在你在那裡，你在那裡？ 我在記憶中尋找你，我在盼望中等待你。 告訴我你不會變心，不會離去。

男白：突然一切，都變得清晰。 迷夢一場，終於驚醒。 現在我才真正的知道。 唉，我是多麼愛妳！

合唱：我們的命運，早已註定。 你我都沒法抗拒。 就像美麗的故事，都是悲劇。 花好總須凋零。

女唱：我在過去中尋找你，我在未來中等待你。 但是現在你在那裡，你在那裡？ 我在記憶中尋找你，我在盼望中等待你。 告訴我你不會變心，不會離去。

陳艾玲的[悲秋]是她眾多歌曲中,給人們留下最深印象的歌曲,[秋天的童話]也是一張不朽之專輯,整體而論,作曲,填詞,編曲和演釋,均能達到靈,魂,體,一致的高水準,­能超越時間和空間送到你我心靈深處,為可會有這樣大的感染力?這因烏陳艾玲有著一個跟常人不一樣的經歷1980年9月陳艾玲和林育如一起考上了協和工商美工科為同班同學，­開始的時間,彼此還看對方不順眼，林育如的個性活潑開朗，陳艾玲則是內向、謹慎, 後來因同時加入了民謠社，天天一起練唱,最後成為了生死莫逆之交，開始了走進兩人的歌唱生命的一生。在高二、三時兩個人常代表學校去參加比賽，畢業後陳艾玲考進大學，林育­如在雜誌社從事美編工作，晚上二人在西餐廳演唱，林育如負責彈吉他，陳艾玲彈鍵盤，後來越唱越有興趣，陳艾玲最終放棄升學，林育如辭去白天工作,二人成為專職歌手。兩個人­的合作默契也越來越好。1984年6月參加中視六燈獎民歌彈唱，長達半年比賽，得到十八次衛冕成功，同時在西餐廳的演唱極受歡迎。因而在西餐廳演唱的連續長達到四年多之久­，與此同騎兩人都有些職業倦怠，正在此時,鄉城唱片公司找她們出專輯，並且以『芝麻龍眼』的名字在1988年1月版他們的第一張專輯「動不動就說愛我」，引來外間很大的迴­響。『芝麻龍眼』名字的由來則是有一次到公司時睡眼惺忪的陳艾玲眼睛和大眼睛的林育如有很強的對比，於是『芝麻龍眼』的暱稱就這樣叫開了。1988年11月再推出第二張專­輯「重新愛一次」，這一次她們發揮了美工的所長，參與了專輯的封面和內頁的計設。這張專輯同樣銷售不錯，於是唱片公司再接再勵於1989年1月推出第三張專輯「民歌往事」­，其中還特別收入了她們第一次合作的歌曲「想你」。1989年1月28日早上[芝麻龍眼]、 王默君 及宣傳人員 陳中 參加華視的春節特別節目「把愛還給大地慈善禮讚」義演活動，從台北搭機飛往高雄小港機場，出機場時搭乘由孫姓司機駕駛的計程車前往國賓飯店，沿路司機一路飆車，並跨越雙黃­線，在行經中山四路200巷口時，與左轉的 貨櫃車相撞，當場造成坐在後座右方的[王默君]當場死亡，坐在中間的龍眼[林育如]腦部嚴重傷昏迷，而前座的陳中則鎖骨斷裂。經緊急送醫後，與死神搏鬥昏迷14天的龍眼[­林育如]，於2月11日下午1點15分逝世於高雄醫學院附設醫院，享年只有25歲，而讓歌迷留下無限的遺憾。 1990年7月沉寂了一年半之久，慢慢走出傷痛 陳艾玲, 推出了個人專輯「一個人唱歌的時候」，其中特別收錄了龍眼的兩首歌詞。而後又出了「心夢淚痕」、「民歌小唱」等專輯，其間並與吳宗憲在禮拜日下午主持一個綜藝節目[五光十­色]。而後在鄉城唱片結束時，加入異果音樂公司，其間推出了「秋天的故事」、「紅顏花蝶戀」、[紅薔薇]專輯，現在陳艾玲已經完全退居幕後工作。陳艾玲現職於台灣環球唱片­國語部製作經理

天梯 The Ladder of Love

四十年代重慶真人真事六歲的時候他認識了比他大十歲的她。 縱使受盡白眼和閒言閒語，在十六歲那一年他跟她說：「讓我照顧你一生一世好嗎？」 為了避開俗世，他們遠離塵世到深山定居，過著艱苦但快樂的生活。 上山下山步步艱難，為了怕妻子受傷，他決定用雙手開墾石級。 結果用了五十多年的時間，鑿了一條六千多級的石梯。 終於在02 年一隊登山隊發現了這條偉大的天梯和這個驚世的愛情故事。 故事主人翁劉國江先生在07 年與世長辭，她的妻子決定留在深山，終生與天梯廝守。 謹把此曲獻給建造這偉大的愛情天梯的劉國江先生。


A real story in the 40s in China - a 6 years old boy met his signature half who was 10 years older than him. Although there were so many rejecting voices and unfriendly looks, the boy told his girl friend when he was 16, "Let me take care of you for the rest of your life. Would you give me your hands?" She was just become a widow at that time. They went to the mountain and built up their own home there. Climbing up and down the mountain was pretty hard. To avoid his wife having accident, the man started to build a stone ladder with his bare hands. A ladder with more than 6000 steps was completed in 50 years. This ladder was discovered by a group of mountain climbers in 2002 and their story was then known. The man died in 2007 and his wife decided to stay in the mountain where their home was and where the old man was buried. This man was named Kwok-Kwong Lau and his wife was Chiu-Ching Chui. This song was written based on this great love story.

Talent in China - a 23-year-old little girl's dream

http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMTkyODA4MTQw.html

Talent in China again - a 23-year-old girl who looks like a 11/12 years old. She is short, with a baby face and a little girl's voice. She participated in the talent show with the support of her 24-year-old boy friend. Her voice is angel-like and her smile is sweet.

When the judge asked her if her appearance is an obstacle of her love relationship. She said no and she believed that she will have her luck to find a good future as many people like her. She does not complain about her abnormality and she appreciates what she owns. Definitely, she will be happy as she chooses to.

Chinese Talent - a piano player with no arms

http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMTk2NDIxNzYw.html

A Chinese young guy who had lost his arms in an accident when he was a teenager. He learnt to use his foot to do everything that he used to use his hands to do. He started learning piano when he was 19 and now he participated in a show "Chinese Talent" which is just like American Idols in US, You Get Talent in UK. His name is Wei Liu. He piano performance is much better than many people who have learned for so many years. More important is that he knows to appreciate life and what he owns, "I only have 2 choices - either to die or to live as good as I can". Definitely, he chooses the latter and decides to devote all his efforts to something that he likes. He wants to show to the others that he is not disabled.

Chinese New Year Parade

Warren used to perform Lion Dancing since he's in high school. He practiced and performed in Chinese New Year parade every year until around 10 years ago. In the past few years, he did not bring us to the parade as he thought that the kids were too young. This year, he felt like to reconnect with his old team friends. I asked him if he could connect with his old team and have a performance in Spencer's school. He called his friends and then lined up the participation in the parade this year.

Yesterday, he took Spencer to Tony's house to help out making the float. Then, after we put the 2 kids to sleep for an hour. We headed down to downtown and looked for his friends. Both Spencer and Amanda were so excited to see the drum and the lion heads. They wanted to play the drum and I think that they could be good players in the future if we can train them well. Amanda seems to be quite aggressive and determined, she is stubborn and fearless. Spencer is passionate and learn fast but he needs a lot of encouragement and confidence.

The parade started at 5pm and we stood in the float truck. The kids were so happy to see people around and the lions performance. There're at least 20 lions in Warren's troupe. He said that his team members earned these lions from different competitions and all the major players are the 2nd generation of the troupe. Tony's son is 6 or 7 and he played in the parade, pairing up with another older boy to play the lion. I took a lot of pictures and videos. Although the standard of performance is no comparison with the professional or amateur players in Hong Kong and China, Warren's troupe members are pretty good.

My whole family had good times in the parade and the 2 kids are actually asking to go again. But one bad thing is that Amanda caught a cold and has been having high fever of nearly 103 degree since yesterday night. We need to give her half dose of the adult Tylenol to lower her temperature. Hope that she can break it tomorrow.

How much is enough?

How much money do you need to consider enough?
I have seen so many families ended up split into pieces because of money.
Brothers and sisters, uncles and nephews...fight for money after the parents passed away.
Husbands and wives argued on how to split the processions after they divorced.
Money is lovely when you need it and you will be happy that you don't have to earn it the hard way.
Money is devil when you are controlled by it; if you don't know why you want more money but just try to grab some more, it is the most stupidest thing in your life.

Recently, I have seen some good examples of money being a devil. It's so sad to hear these stories.

1st story: relatives fighting for money after the grandmother passed away

The grandmother had 2 sons and 5 daughters. The 2 sons used to take care of the mother (actually lived next door of her home) and her properties. Her husband worked hard to buy 2-3 apartment buildings, he died young and left all the processions to his wife. This grandmother gave the apartment buildings to the 2 sons who appeared to be close to their sisters when their mother was still alive. They had gathering all the times and everyone seemed to be so caring and friendly to the others. After the grandmother died, the 1st son was given the rights as the executor of her will. There was $200,000 cash left to be divided amongst 13 people, namely the 2 sons, the 4 daughters (one of the daughters died young), 3 son-in-laws (1 son-in-law passed away and 1 daughter had divorced) and the 4 grand-daughters (the daughters of the 2 sons). This grandmother had many many grandsons and granddaughters but the grandchildren of the daughters were not included in her will. She preferred the 2 sons because of old thinking that only the sons carry the family name.

The 1st son had spent one whole year to decide what much each person would get. In this one year, this family was not the same any more. There was no more gathering. The brothers and sisters argued on how to split the money for so many times. Eventually, some of the children of this grandmother have bigger shares because they "watched" their mother. Someone found out that the will had been rewritten one year before the death of this grandmother and she was already 95 years ago at that time. Her ability to judge was queried.

After one year, one of the son-in-laws, whose wife (the grandmother's daughter) died 40 years ago, was given $25,000. He has 4 children and a 2nd wife that he married for 39 years. This man decided to split the whole amount into 6 shares and each child and his wife received a bit more than $4,000. His step-wife complained about that and she believes that she should have 50% of the $25,000 that her husband received. She folded a feet, screamed at the husband, refused to cook and complained to the other relatives how mean her husband treated her. To me, I consider that she should have nothing because she has no relationship to this grandmother. She is not her daughter and the money was given to her husband because of his ex-wife.

2nd story: husband and wife argued after divorce

My husband's best friend cheated on his wife several times. Finally, his wife kicked him out from the house and asked for divorce. The husband felt guilty and decided to give everything to his wife. However, the husband's family got involved and made the case very complicated. First of all, the mother of the husband talked to the wife and asked her to return the jewelry that she gave to the daughter-in-law when she married her son. They have been married for 13 years. Secondly, the husband's sister said to the wife that she must have done something bad that made her brother cheat on her. On the other hand, the wife's family also interfered. The wife's father refused to return the money that the husband has invested through him. Then, he promised to buy the husband's share of the house but then he said that he's talking about the original price of the house regardless of the inflation and increase of property value.

Finally, the husband and wife promised to split everything in half and they also split the expenses for raising their son such as tuition. They keep seeing each other every week but they argue on everything about how to share the bills. I know that they still love each other but they both admitted that it's impossible for them to be husband and wife again. With all the argument in a roll, it is hard for them to realize that there's still love in their eyes. I feel sorry for their son who will never able to celebrate his birthday or Christmas with the presence of both parents because the extended families hate each other.

Wedding banquets

I have recently attended 2 wedding banquets, one was my cousin's party and the latest one was that of my friend's son. They are both at their late 20's or early 30's. There's nothing to do with age but their maturity of thinking. The 2 parties have some common things:

1) No respects to the parents or the older generation
2) Very self-centered
3) Little consideration of the guests

First of all, the parents were not arranged in the head tables. Only the bridesmaids and friends were sitting together with the new couples. Secondly, the seat arrangements were not well considered. I believe that everybody prefers to sit together with someone they know, not strangers or at least not someone not speaking the same language. Thirdly, all the arrangements were so messy. For example, the cake was not big enough to feed all the guests; the speeches were too long; the hosts could not even pronounce the names right when they introduced the relatives of the couples; no consideration of the volume of the AV facilities, etc.

Maybe I'm too old-fashioned and actually too old to understand the thoughts of the younger generation. Wedding banquet is a party of the new wed couples but also a special dinner to celebrate with their parents. Other than the couple, the ones who would be very happy will be their parents. For me, I would rather to make my parents happy and consider from their points of view. My wedding banquet was not perfect, and I could say not a happy one because there're too many people involved. I and my husband had planned out fine but just too many other people being so enthusiastic to offer help which made it too overwhelming. But overall, it was a memorable night.