社评 0130 二十七届春节园游会

二十七届春节园游会

週六上午七时，我们到达美南新闻广场时， 天空已经飘着细雨， 接到许多人之电话，查询是否要继续举办 。我告诉他们一定要如期进行， 广埸上之大舞台及摊位是週五晚上就搭好的， 此时天已大亮 ，但是还是下着小雨， 工作人员穿上雨衣继续各项準备工作。 一大批年轻朋友志愿者正在忙着吹汽球， 张贴广告牌， 试音响做最后之準备工作。

由於上週预测百分之八十有雨， 我们改期到本週， 可是还是有阵微雨 ，但是我们仍然要如期举行， 也别无选择了。

九时半许多社区人士到达现场 ，大㕔中同仁们贵宾们戴上金黄色圈巾， 虽然细雨偶而中断，但还是阻挡不了他们的到来 ，还未到十点 ，市长特纳 、德州参议员威德迈 、学区总监梅尔博士， 及国际区同仁都先后到达 ，我為他们介绍了刚得到联邦储备银行批准的环球第一银行及即将破土兴建之美南金融中心大楼 ，同时向市长简报国际区未来之建设蓝图 ，包括天桥 、国际文化博物馆及室外演出廰等。

我们和市长準时在十时半登上大舞台 ，上天似乎是庇护我们， 雨已经停了。 在锣鼓声中舞狮揭开序幕， 一连串的国际社区表演节目在风雨中进行， 台下仍然有许多热情的观眾不断叫好。

这是我们二十七年来首次在间歇之雨中进行庆祝新年之活动， 我们感激数十个赞助厂商及演出人员， 真是风雨见真情 ，令人难忘。

We All Danced In The Rain At The 27th Texas International Lunar Festival

When I arrived at our Southern News Group grounds at 7:00 am Saturday morning, the sky was already drizzling. I received many phone calls and was asked if the festival would cancel. I told them no. Rain or not, we would continue. The night before many people came to set up our stage and booths and posted billboards and all the final preparations were ready.

Due to the forecast last week of 80% chance of rain, we changed to this weekend, but we never thought about still more rain for this week.

At 9:30 am many were coming. Leaders and guests arrived at the VIP reception  and we put golden ring scarves on them. Although the drizzle occasionally interrupted, it still couldn’t stop their arrival. About 10:00 am Mayor Turner, State Senator Whitmire and Alief School Superintendent Dr. Mays arrived, one after the other. In the VIP party I introduced the guests to our newly approved Global One Bank and told them about the planned building of the Financial Center in front of our media center. I also briefed Mayor Turner about the new plans for the International District, including the new bridge, the international culture museum and outdoor theater.

When we all moved to the outdoor stage at 10:30 am, God seemed to approve. The rain had stopped The Lion dance and the sound of gongs and drums kicked off. A series of international performances were held in the wind and rain. There were still many in the enthusiastic audience sitting under umbrellas who were watching the performances. This was the first time in 27 years that we have celebrated the new year in intermittent rain. We are so grateful to all those sponsors and performers. It was really an unforgettable time in my life.