I was married in 1982. In 1985, Hilary was born. Erminia became a mother and mother instinct took over her role as my wife, my helping hand. Of course, Erminia continues to be my helping hand but naturally, the kids need her more than I do.
These years, when the kids are more or less grown up, Erminia can spend more time with me, giving me more feedback which I have been badly in need. Yesterday (December 27), the St. Marians lost to the DGS in the Annual Inter-School Band Competition organized by the Music Office, I was able to spend two days with Erminia in Macau to make up for her defeat. Otherwise, she would have gone to the Grand Final today. Actually, the result was announced only at 10 p.m. last night. Therefore, our trip today was quite impromptu.
Early in the morning, we attended the Sunday Mass at 8 a.m., had a quick breakfast at the McDonalds and took a bus to Tsim Sha Tsui. We managed to book a ferry at 2p.m. We had nearly 3 hours to spend in Tsim Sha Tsui, as local independent tourists. Erminia was very eager to show me the different dining locations there. Since we had more than ample hour in hand, we spent more than an hour in Tom Lee. When we board the ferry, we had purchased more than $400 of music books and brought them all the way to Macau! What an omen!
When we arrived, we had missed the shuttle bus to our hotel. The man at the enquiry desk advised us to take the shuttle bus of Grand Emperor Casino because our 3-star hotel was just a 3-minute walk away. After checking in, we began our relaxing, aimless trip. We retraced our previous track, with new a twist into the bookshop run by the St. Paul Sisters. They were stock-taking tomorrow, December 29. I picked up a few books on St. Paul and I asked the nun if there were any book on Ethics. She introduced me to the author Rick Warren, a Protestant pastor. I had a good chat with her. She was really inspiring. She assured me that I was gifted and I should share. Married life should consist of 4 rings: engagement, wedding, suffering and sharing. And the last one sustains our married life, A Purpose Driven Life, the book I bought at her advice. What an omen!
We visited the Casa de Lou Kau. A young gentleman was our guide and he did a wonderful task in explaining in great details every characteristic of this age old mansion. It was an eye-opening guided tour and we understood the features of the architecture of this once rich man's house. After dinner, we went window shopping in Yaohan and spent more than one and a half hour with the slot-machines in the Grand Emperor Casino, breaking even. We returned to the hotel and ... The next morning at 9:20 a.m., we woke up. In the morning, we paid a visit to the Cemiterio S. Miguel. The gravestones of husbands and wives erected by their surviving spouses impressed us a lot. In particular, a newly erected gravestone of a wife by her loving husband touched Erminia in particular. An angel embraced the wife with a love ode from her husband who felt her constant presence around him. Erminia, I love you. Your love will always cherish and cheer my depressed heart.
We returned to Hong Kong to our children. Once we landed, Erminia reminded me that my pace had quickened suddenly. Saturnia opened a bottle of red wine to welcome us. Alex is a refreshed and contented old man.
Dear Lord, I have chosen a married life. Bless our family so that we may live up a Holy Family. Amen.
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