MY AMERICAN DREAM 我的美國夢

“The American Dream is that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement.” ~James Truslow Adams

美國夢是指在這片夢想的土地上，每個人的生活應該更好、更豐富、更充實，每個人根據其能力都有機會圓夢。

盛年不重來, 一日難再晨, 及時當勉勵, 歲月不待人。青春須早為, 豈能長少年。花開堪折直須折，莫待無花空折枝。人不學不成才。少時不經勤學苦，老來方悔讀書遲。莫等閒，白了少年頭，空悲切。

Time and tide wait for no man. You should, therefore, seize the opportunity to study and work hard in your youth. Gather ye rose-buds while ye may. Don’t waste time, otherwise you will achieve nothing but feel sad when you are old. Man must be educated before he can attain great achievement. Aristotle: “The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet.”

丈夫志四海, 萬裡猶比鄰。香港城外湛山寺, 日半鐘聲到客機。 浮雲游子意, 志在千里。浮雲終日行, 遊子久不至。君問歸期未有期。是離愁, 别是一般滋味在心頭。離別不堪無限意，離愁正引千絲亂。

I resolved to travel to a faraway land, the United States, to acquire a higher education and pursue my American dream. I departed my hometown on a jet plane on a summer midday fifty-four years ago, not knowing when I would return. A traveler meanders like a floating cloud, drifting through the sky all day. This cloud might, like a wanderer, never come back. I felt exceedingly melancholy. Parting sorrow is absolutely distressing. George Eliot: “Only in the agony of parting do we look into the depths of love.”

八千里路雲和月, 更隔蓬山一萬重。獨在異鄉為異客，每逢佳節倍思親。 遙知兄弟登高處，遍插茱萸少一人。人有悲歡離合，月有陰晴圓缺。海上生明月, 月光如水水如天, 夜吟應覺月光寒, 明月不諳離恨苦。何時長向別時圓, 我寄愁心與明月, 何人不起故園情。西北望鄉何處是，東南見月幾回圓。舉頭望明月, 低頭思故鄉。故鄉今夜思千里。 露從今夜白, 月是故鄉明, 明月何時照我還?

I was eight thousand miles from home, separated by mountains, valleys, plains, rivers, lakes and a vast Pacific ocean. Being alone as a stranger in a distant foreign land, I missed my family dearly especially during the times of festivals. The bright moon slowly rose from the sea with her silvery reflection casting on the water which apparently met the sky at the horizon. Many a night, I looked up at the sky and gazed at the bright moon. Bowing my head, I missed my hometown, having homesickness. The luminous and silent full moon undoubtedly stirred the memories of home; and it also compassionately shared the solitude with me. Carl Sandburg: “The moon is a friend for the lonesome to talk to.”

春夏秋冬轉不窮, 春有百花秋有月，夏有涼風冬有雪。少年辛苦終身事, 莫向光陰惰寸功。一寸光陰一寸金，寸金難買寸光陰。三更燈火五更雞，正是男兒讀書時。書中自有顏如玉, 書中自有黃金屋。富貴必從勤苦得，男兒須讀五車書。鳥欲高飛先振翅，人求上進先讀書。立身以立學為先，立學以讀書為本。書山有路勤為徑，學海無崖苦作舟。苦讀勤學，不畏艱難，夜以繼日，廢寢忘食。孟子: “故天將降大任于斯人也，必先苦其心志，勞其筋骨，餓其體膚，空乏其身，行拂亂其所為，所以動心忍性，曾益其所不能。” 千淘萬漉雖辛苦，吹盡狂沙始到金。十年窗下無人問, 三十功名已得到。懸壺行醫, 救死扶傷, 濟世為懷, 盡忠報國。

Time went by and by, from spring to summer, and summer to autumn and came winter. It was comprehended that studying hard would unquestionably be richly rewarded in the future. I wasted no time, often burning the midnight oil. I spent many years burying myself in voluminous text books in college and medical school. I undertook protracted and grueling internship, residency and fellowship, many a time missing meals and quite often losing sleep while on call at the hospitals. Helen Keller: “Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired, and success achieved.” Ultimately, I attained the long due success, completing the medical training in my thirties, having published papers in medical journals. With hard work, perseverance and self-belief, there is no limit to what you can accomplish. I dedicatedly served my adopted country as a VA physician, taking care of our veterans who fought for our freedom until my retirement. I was the recipient of the VA Secretary’s Hands and Heart Award twice, as well as several other professional awards, during my career with the U.S. government.

少壯有努力, 老大徒享福。駕轎車，踏到佛州灘處。朝看水東流，暮看日西墜。眼前流水自悠悠，歇臥偷閑戀綠疇。閑看庭前花開花落，漫隨天外雲卷雲舒。晚年惟好靜, 萬事不關心, 自顧無長策。歲月忽已晚, 黄河却有逢清日, 白髪應無返黑時。年年歲歲花相似，歲歲年年人不同。夕陽無限好, 只是近黄昏。幸有老伴執子之手，與子偕老, 白頭不相離。在天願作比翼鳥, 在地願為連理枝。天長地久有時盡，此愛綿綿無絕期。

I worked extremely hard during my youth and middle age. Having fulfilled my American dream and my calling as well, I can enjoy the fruit of my labor at my old age. Maya Lin: “To me, the American Dream is being able to follow your own personal calling. To be able to do what you want to do is incredible freedom.” My wife and I came to the decision of spending our golden years in Florida. We packed up and drove to the Sunshine State from Indianapolis. We have been enjoying our relaxing and tranquil milieu, watching the river flowing eastwards in the morning and admiring the spectacular sunset in the evening. We appreciate the serenity and quietude without any far-reaching plans. The setting sun is fabulous, but twilight is impending. Fortunately, my beloved wife resolutely stands by me, holding my hand firmly and caringly to spend the rest of our lives happily together. We wish we were, each of us, birds with only one wing, so that we could only fly hanging on to each other tightly. And two trees with branches interlocked. There would be the end of the world one day, but our true love will go on forever and ever.

Author’s note:

天下無不散宴席。All good things must come to an end. This is my final article, my swan song. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Mrs. Agnes Wolverton, the editor of English page, for granting me the opportunity to write a column for IAAT since March 2010, with over 220 pieces published. I am equally proud to be a columnist and physician, contributing to humanity in different ways. I am extremely grateful to my beloved wife, Peggy, for her encouragement and unmatched tender loving care. Last but not least, I am greatly appreciative of all my readers for their support in the past 12 years.

Dr. Patrick Lau was born in Hong Kong and immigrated to the U.S. after high school. He retired from the VA Northern Indiana Heath Care System where he served as Chief Radiologist and moved to Florida with his wife in 2011. He was an active member & contributor of IACA and ICMA while in Indiana. Dr. Lau is also a scholar of art and literature and a prolific writer, he has been a dedicated columnist for Indy Asian American Times since 2010.