社評0902 吉米的溫情友誼

吉米的溫情友誼

一位美國友人之寫照

週五上午在一個耀眼陽光普照之炎熱氣候，我和五十多位由內人擔任會長之中山女高校友會及周宏女士領導的休士顿亞裔耆英學社之華裔長輩， 乘做兩部巴士浩浩蕩蕩駛往近百英里外的「新都比」牛仔鎮，做了一次歡心快樂之旅。

當我們大家到達時，自封為市長的吉米早已在門口迎接。好久不見的這位牛仔醫生和我擁抱，他說：“ 李副市長您好久沒有來了，副市長一職是他封的， 也让我們結下不解之緣。”

早在十多年前，我在出任休斯敦國際節委員時和剛退休的吉米認識，他邀請我們到他擁有近百畝之莊園參觀。由於自己對西部牛仔之醉心，於是自建了一個西部牛仔小鎮，透過二十二楝建築來保存一八九O年代之牛仔實體風貌。 其中包括監獄、酒吧、銀行、馬槽、妓院、郵局、收銀機、留聲機、家庭用具及教堂、墳墓等。

多年來，我們早帶友人前往參觀，尤其是四月下旬在德州藍帽州花盛開的季節，我們在诺大的花海中，座在吉米的豪宅後院搖椅上看著湖光及夕陽，這是多麽美麗醉人之美境。

吉米曾經有過非常顯赫之經歴，他曾經是老布什總統家庭牙醫，在他的案台上有許多布什總統之合照和親筆信，他常向我展示和老总統之舊照，敍說一些往日交往之趣事。

今晨我帶來了一對漆有龍风之精美中式茶具及一個寫上福字之紅包，代表大家致贈給吉米。今午收到了他的短訊， 他說「我們有如此精彩而難忘的一天， 感謝上蒼我們今天之相聚。」

告別時， 我們再次相擁抱，吉米是一位標準而又熱愛生命的美國人， 他對我們之友好是真誠永恆的，我們今天在這塊土地上生根， 也更是我們共同的家園。

Jimmy’s Warm Friendship

On a hot summer Friday, we took a group of Asian seniors to New Dubina to visit our old friend Jimmy’s cowboy ranch.

When we all first arrived, Jimmy who was the self-proclaimed mayor, had already greeted us at the front door. I gave the cowboy doctor I hadn’t seen for a long time a big hug. 

As early as more then ten years ago, when I was a board member of the Houston International Festival, I met Jimmy who had retired and had built his own western cowboy town in nearby New Dubina. In 22 small buildings he housed prison bars, a post office, household appliances, a church and tombs.

Over the years we have taken our friends to visit Jimmy, especially in late April when the bluebonnets were in bloom and all over the ground. We always sat in the rocking chairs in the backyard of Jimmy’s mansion watching the sparkling lake and glorious sunsets. 

Jimmy once had a very prominent experience. He used to be the senior dentist for President Bush. There were many photos and handwritten letters from President Bush on his desk. 

This morning I bought a pair of  exquisite Chinese tea cups with a dragon and the wind on them and included a red envelope with the word, "Happy" on the envelope to him. 

After we said "Goodbye," we hugged each other in the afternoon and I received a text massage that said,    “ Wow!! What a wonderful and memorable day. Such great fun with God’s Angels!"

"Jimmy,” I replied, “dear Jimmy, such a wonderful trip for my wife and friends. You really made our days. You are our Hero.”