Chinese Version
03-02-2020， Tuesday，sunny and strong wind，temperature below frozen point.
Ruth, the veterinarian of Kara (our cat Princess), is an Israeli poet. Ruth said that she had a talent for writing poetry ever since she was a child. She also told me that poems should be read slowly to sip and taste the beauty of every word in the poem.
In January, when I went to her clinic to buy prescription cat food for Kara, I bought one of her poetry collection books called Cyclamen, I asked her to read me a poem on her book, and also asked her to sign her book for me.
Ruth thought for a moment and wrote for me: “To Jing, To never ending end. Ruth M 01-20-21″
I asked curiously, “What does ‘To never ending end’ mean?”
Ruth said, “Our life will end, and the written words can last forever. We can make life ‘never end’ by writing the stories of life. For example, this collection of poems is dedicated to Jacky, my son’s elementary school teacher who died young.”
After listening to Ruth’s explanation, I understand that “to never ending end” means “without ending”. Ruth’s words: “We can make life ‘never end’ by written the stories of life” stayed with me.
At the end of February, Zhenzhen, one of my high school best friends, mentioned her childhood neighbor friend Xia Ruiqiu in our online chatting group. I immediately remembered Xia Ruiqiu, because she was my classmate in Zigong No. 1 middle school. I remembered she was pretty with sweet smiles.
Thinking of the past in 2011, while preparing for our 30 years high school graduation reunion, Zhenzhen searched and found me who had lost contact with her for more than 20 years and invited me into our high school online chatting group, I wanted to help Zhenzhen find Ruiqiu. I thought it would be a happy story and I would find a long lost friend for Zhenzhen who was far away in Australia, just as Zhenzhen found me nine years ago.
I learned from one of my friends graduated from Zigong No. 1 middle school in Beijing that Ruiqiu became a teacher in a university in Chengdu after graduating from college. Then I reached out to one of my old colleagues in Shuguang middle school back in 1980s, because she is a professor in the same university as Ruiqiu is now. After a long search, my old colleague told me that Xia Ruiqiu committed suicide after a heartbreaking love in 1988.
When Zhenzhen heard this sad news, she sighed, “It is very sad to hear this. She was very smart. She started to swim in elementary school and has excellent physical coordination. I could not imagine her dying in this way!! ”
After learning the news, the friend in Beijing said, “She is introverted… It’s sad! In fact, first love is not necessarily the best! Many young people don’t understand… ”
Although the news was more than 30 years late, I felt that my classmate died so young was just like a flower that had faded before blossoming. I felt very sad and thought for a long time. The catchy “Liberty and love, These two I must have. For my love I’ll sacrifice, My life. For liberty I’ll sacrifice My love. by Sandor Petofi” in the 1980s, has not been questioned, and may have misled some pure souls…
Life is the most precious thing. “We can make life ‘never end’ by writing the stories of life. ”
May Ruiqiu find true love in heaven.
Little Episodes
1. “Cyclamen” poem collection book signed by Ruth, the poet：
2. Our princess Kara is looking at the rain outside the window.
3. “Liberty and love!” by Hungary poet Sandor Petofi
Liberty and love,
These two I must have.
For my love I’ll sacrifice,
My life.
For liberty I’ll sacrifice
My love.