大俠行天下日記 我見我聞我思 08/23

巨大橡樹的遐想

週末應友人之邀，來到德州南端的石港市，並走訪了全美最老的千年橡樹，這𥚃的景色和海岸代表了美國人富有的群體， 他們生活在海水連天的美景中， 世俗之事似乎暫時和世界隔離。

這棵號稱千年老橡樹是目前全美最大也是最古老的橡樹， 它曾経歷過二O一七年哈威颶風 ，仍然安然無恙， 多少年來 ，無數人在此瞻仰， 它面對廣闊的墨西哥灣 ，在此沉睡了近千年。

我們走在伸向大海的長廊上， 一片廣大的濕地 ，每天秋天都有成千上萬做帰鶴回來這裡避寒， 通往小鎮的原始森林小道上， 我們得慢緩行駛， 因為路上経常有小驴出現 ，大片未被破壞的生態園林到處可見奇鳥飛翔， 噢， 這是個多美的畫面啊。

真的， 在這新冠病毒恐襲及戰爭奪權的混亂時期 ，我們來到這片寧靜安詳之淨土， 面對千年巨樹 ，心中感到無比的興奮，愉悅之外 ，更意識到人生之短暫和渺小。

來到美洲大陸匆匆數十載， 實在是太少機會來到這片美艷又十分樸素的勝地小鎮， 面對浩瀚的海洋 ，依靠在千年橡樹的長勁上， 看著盛開的向日葵花， 雖耀陽高照 ，熱氣逼人 ，仍然让人沉醉在大自然的懷抱中。

諺語云 ，退一步海闊天空， 也正是今日之寫照 ，願千年樹永久長青， 世代的過客在此默祷， 祝願大家心想事成， 幸福滿滿。

2021 年8月21日於石港鎮

“Big Tree” Blessing

We visited the Big Tree at Rockport, Texas, this weekend. It’s one of the most famous live oaks in the world. After being named, “Texas State Champion Virginia Live Oak,” in 1969, the tree retained that title until 2003 when a larger oak was discovered in Brazoria County, Texas. That big tree is still thought to be one of the largest live oak specimens in the United States. This tree has survived a category 4 hurricane that hit Rockport on August 25, 2017.

Many people came here in the past to worship and make a wish for themselves. With the huge tree having lasted almost a thousand years, we felt that people's lives are just so short to compare with this tree. 

Rockport is a such beautiful town which is located along the Gulf Coast of Texas. There is a rich history of settlement on the bay there, including Native American and European immigrants and the present day cities of Rockport, Fulton and Aransas Pass. A lot of seafood including shrimp, fish, oysters and crabs are found in or near the bay and up until today, continue to support the local economies.

When we walked along the Rockport beach with the clear water and white sands, the beach was calm, quiet and very clean.

There are many fishing piers along the bay and people can fish and picnic close to the piers.

Frankly, I have been in Texas for more than four decades and this is the first time I have discovered that we have such wonderful beaches and nature in this small Texas city.

Today the COVID-19 virus is still attacking our community. There are many political disputes that continue around the world today. We are so lucky that we can be so blessed by the Big Tree and by the bay at Rockport, Texas.

As an old saying goes, “Life is too short to enjoy.” I hope all of us can fill our lives with more pleasure and joy. We also need to find peace in this world.