美國新冠疫情日記 04/09/2020 美國精神

             美國精神

每年四月上旬是德州州花藍帽花盛開的季節，每年此時我們都會到離休城不遠的新都必宜鎮拜訪。

今天和年逾八旬的吉米醫生通上電話並向他致候，他仍然在電話另一端傳來豪爽的笑聲，並對目前的疫情表示萬分之憂慮，但是他說我們一定會克服困境。

認識吉米醫生已經是多年前的事了，他在離開休斯敦市以西的一個三百畝的丘陵地規劃了一個1862年代的西部牛仔小鎮，並劃地自設小鎮定名為新都必宜，依照十八世紀德州牛仔時代收集了當年之銀行、警察、酒吧、妓院、馬車之真品，陳列在近二十棟自建的木屋中，成立了市政府辦公室自任市長兼警察局長，並也任命我是副警長。

吉米是位德州大學畢業的馳名牙醫，也是早年老布什總統的牙醫，在他灰塵滿布的舊牙齒诊所𥚃 珍臧了布什總統的親筆函件。

吉米在小鎮旁蓋了一座代表西部牛仔的豪宅，和他結婚近六十年的老伴在景色绮麗的農莊歡渡晚年。

多少年來我曾介紹給吉米許多好友參訪，他都非常親切接待，臉上永遠帶有微笑，身着牛仔裝有股西部牛仔不怕艱難之氣質，這不就是美國精神嗎？

   American Spirit

Every year early in April, the Texas state flower Bluebonnet will be blooming in Texas. And every year we must visit the city of New Dubina to see my dear friend Dr Jimmy Helms. But unfortunately this year because the Coronavirus, we cannot make it.

A couple of days ago I called Jimmy and asked him if everything was fine with him and he was so happy and answered with such pleasure and loud excitement. But he also is very worried about the vicious pandemic and how it has hurt our society, but he also told us this country has the ability and confidence to overcome it.

Jimmy was a famous dentist and became a private physician to the late President George Bush. After he retired, he built a Texas old wild west town in Dubina, Texas, and gave it a new name and called it New Dubina. The town has 22 small wooden buildings where he has remodeled an old 1860’s bank, a sheriff’s office and items from an old antique bar to turn the town into a real Wild West Texas small town. He also named himself as Mayor and Sheriff of the city.

Jimmy also built a very old western villa next to New Dubina with a beautiful view of the sunset. They are really enjoying life.

I have brought a lot of friends to visit Jimmy, his museum and the old Wild West town in his backyard. He has always treated us so friendly and always with a smile on his face.

Jimmy was born in Texas with the cowboy character. We feel his personality really represents the American Spirit.

Jimmy we love you.