Chinese New Year is here in Anaheim, California at a local library when our grandson Julien saw a sign of GUNG HAY FAT CHOY and a costume lion used for traditional lion dance.
中国新年的味儿已经在美国加州安那罕一个图书馆蔓延。我们的小外孙在图书馆见到了“恭喜发财”的中国新年贺辞以及舞狮的道具。
Seeing off the Year of the Rooster, we are embracing the Year of the Dog. We have gained much in the Year of the Rooster. Our job to take care of our grandson is more time consuming but enjoyable after retirement. Our grandson Julien is the SUPREME LEADER in the family and we have to take care of our grandson and our dog Guai Guai. Yes, life is painful but enjoyable. The laughter and cry of a baby in the family make our family life more meaningful.
送走鸡年,迎来狗年。回顾鸡年,也称得上硕果累累。我们两口子虽然退了休,但照顾外孙的任务更为艰巨当然也更为有趣。外孙是我们家的“最高领导人”,我们这一对老虎却虎落平阳,每天还要为家里的狗狗乖乖服务。这就是生活,没有孩子的笑声与哭闹声,天伦之乐也不完美。
This is a scene at Bellagio in Las Vegas where the Chinese New Year is celebrated yearly. We like the festival atmosphere and would like to use this photo for our own celebration.
拉斯维加斯的Bellagio大赌场每年都庆祝中国新年。狗年未到,场景已经布置妥当。我们借用这张照片来为我们的节日增添气氛。
Now it is Guau Guai’s turn to make a show, but he is still playing the supporting role. Julien is so lucky to have a new Porsche. What a wonderful life!
这下该轮到乖乖出场了,沾狗年的光。不过,风头还是在Julien这边。爸妈刚给他买了一辆新的保时捷。想想我们小时候,有泥巴玩就不错了。
Mom is always the first one to support her son and is willing to let her son step on her shoulder to climb higher.
母亲总是儿子最有力的支撑,让他踩着自己的肩膀爬得更高。
Wah! He looks like a little journalist. It is fun to report news, but when he grows up, robot may have replaced human to report news.
哇,看起来像个小记者,长大后像姥爷一样当个记者也不错,就怕到时候记者的饭碗早被机器人抢走了。
OK, we have to seize the day, seize the time and run with the train.
好吧,我们要只争朝夕,跟火车赛跑。
We visited Canada in July and look, Julien is so popular even in a small town in Quebec. He is smiling to almost everyone.
我们在7月到加拿大一游。每到一地外孙看到人总是笑脸相迎。你看,他在魁北克受到游人的欢迎。
It is so enjoyable to have dinner on the street! Look at the back, the couple tries to steal a show from Julien!
在魁北克街头吃晚餐好享受。只是后面那对夫妇还想抢我们宝蛋的镜头呢!
We also visited Japan in late December. It is in Tokyo, the Chinese characters say GATE OF THUNDER.
我们一家五口也于12月底到日本自由行。这是在东京的浅草寺。
Julien stands before a temple in Japan, with all his winter clothes.
小外孙在日本全副武装御寒。
It is always fun to play with water.
在日本也不忘玩一玩井边的水。
It is the first time that we came back to my hometown in Anhui together with our daughter Helen, son-in-law Tony and Julien. Helen is talking with her grandparents before their resting place.
第一次全家五口一起回安徽歙县老家祭祖。女儿与女婿一起在爷爷奶奶墓前点一柱香。这里是我们的根,不可忘记。
Our family is the miniature of China: seniors, middle aged, and babies. We come from Los Angeles, Zhenjiang, Hangzhou, Hefei and other places for a get-together.
我们鲍家就是中国的一个缩影,有老人、中年人及抱在手上的婴儿。尊老爱幼,团结互助,家和万事兴。
Tanyue is where the Bao family came from.
到棠樾老家去看看吧。鲍家就是从这里来的。在鲍家宗祠前留个影。
The only village in China where the Chinese emperos authorized 7 stone archways to be built for the Bao family.
鲍家所在的棠樾曾有辉煌历史。是中国仅有的由皇帝下旨连建7座牌楼的村子。明清两代出过不少名人。不过,那都是过去了,鲍家后人要想有所成就,还要靠自己的不懈奋斗。
The remains of Baiqing’s parents were placed in Hefei, Anhui. Helen, Tony and I braved the strongest snow storm in 10 years to climb to the cemetery to pay respects to them.
柏青父母的骨灰安放在安徽合肥市的大蜀山烈士陵园。冒着10年未遇的大雪,女儿女婿和我一起爬上山去扫墓。
Helen has so many words to tell her grandparents who were so dear to her while together.
女儿有太多的话要对姥爷姥姥说。不论我们走到何时何地,根都在我们心里。姥爷姥姥的爱永存心底。
Besides visiting with the family, I also did something else: accompanying Hollywood director Richard Anderson to give a lecture at Hebei Institute of Communications.
除了陪家人回老家寻根祭祖外,也做点工作:陪好莱坞名导演安德森先生到河北传媒学院讲课。
Let’s celebrate the Year of the Dog which will bring happiness and good fortune to everyone of us.
让我们共同庆祝狗年的到来,同时还带来幸福与好运。