(Through Rose-Coloured Glasses)

If You Could Read My Mind, by Gordon Lightfoot, is one of the most covered songs in popular music history, having been recorded by stars like Barbra Streisand, Olivia Newton-John, Duane Steele, Petula Clark, Kenny Rogers, Gene Clark, Don McLean, Liza Minnelli, Johnny Cash, and – in disco versions – by Viola Wills and Stars On 54.

This is one of Lightfoot’s most personal songs, mourned the break up of his first marriage. You can feel his anguish, lost and confusion. He did not know why their feelings for each other were gone, and could never get it back again. He wanted to move on, but like a ghost in a wishing well, his sorrow imprisoned him for life.

If You Could Read My Mind

©1969 by Gordon Lightfoot

If you could read my mind, love,
What a tale my thoughts could tell.
Just like an old time movie,
‘Bout a ghost from a wishing well.
In a castle dark or a fortress strong,
With chains upon my feet.
You know that ghost is me.
And I will never be set free
As long as I’m a ghost that you can’t see.

If I could read your mind, love,
What a tale your thoughts could tell.
Just like a paperback novel,
The kind the drugstores sell.
Then you reached the part where the heartaches come,
The hero would be me.
But heroes often fail,
And you won’t read that book again
Because the ending’s just too hard to take!

I’d walk away like a movie star
Who gets burned in a three way script.
Enter number two:
A movie queen to play the scene
Of bringing all the good things out in me.
But for now, love, let’s be real;
I never thought I could feel this way
And I’ve got to say that I just don’t get it.
I don’t know where we went wrong,
But the feeling’s gone
And I just can’t get it back.

If you could read my mind, love,
What a tale my thoughts could tell.
Just like an old time movie,
‘Bout a ghost from a wishing well.
In a castle dark or a fortress strong.
With chains upon my feet.
But stories always end,
And if you read between the lines,
You’d know that I’m just tryin’ to understand
The feelin’s that we lack.
I never thought I could feel this way
And I’ve got to say that I just don’t get it.
I don’t know where we went wrong,
But the feelin’s gone
And I just can’t get it back!

假如您能看透我的心, 親愛的,
正想着, 是個怎樣的故事。
如一套陳年電影,
一個躲在許願井裡的幽靈,
在黑漆的古堡, 堅固的城樓,
上了腳鐐。
您可知否, 那幽靈就是我。
永遠被監禁,
那您永見不到的幽靈。

假如我能看透您的心, 親愛的,
正想着, 是個怎樣的故事。
如一本流行小説,
藥房出售的那種。
當您讀到, 令人痛心的地方,
那英雄就是我,
多次失敗的英雄。
您不再重温那書,
結局實在太難受。

我巳離去。 如電影明星,
燒傷, 在一個三角劇裡。
進場, 是另一位
影后, 扮演她的角色,
鼓勵我的長處。
現在, 親愛的, 應面對現實。
從沒想到, 我的感情, 弄至如斯。
聽我細訢, 我想不通,
我們錯在那裡,
感情早巳淨盡,
也沒法挽回來。

假如您能看透我的心, 親愛的,
正想着, 是個怎樣的故事。
如一套陳年電影,
一個躲在許願井裡的幽靈,
在黑漆的古堡, 堅固的城樓,
上了腳鐐。
故事終會完結,
字裡行間,
您定能體會, 我渴望了解,
這貧困的感情。
從沒想到, 我的感情, 弄至如斯。
聽我細訢, 我想不通,
我們錯在那裡,
感情早巳淨盡,
也沒法挽回來。

(Through Rose-Coloured Glasses)

I have a dream, a strange dream.

I was at the animal shelter. A noisy demonstation was going on outside.

The shelter has just announced their plan to euthanize 350 of their care, due to an outbreak of ringworm, which actually was not a worm, but a fungal skin condition, a contagious stubborn disease. Yes, it’s treatable, but at great economic cost and manpower.

I saw a puppy, with sad dopey eyes, crying and listening quietly to a flamboyant private eye with a borrowed red Ferrari.

“Listen, I have no smoking gun on you, no evidence of your wrong-doing. It’s not me who exiled you here.”

Puppy whined, “I did nothing wrong, must be a misunderstanding.”

“It’s all optics. With all the embarrassing gaffes you and your husband mustered recently. It’s bad optics.”

“I know nothing about his business.”

“This political ringworm business is highly contagious, not fatal, but can spread like wild fire, has to be contained quickly and efficiently. House cleaning, sweeping all dirts under the political carpet.”

“Show me the allegations, show me now.”

“It really doesn’t matter. Sorry your political life is on the euthanization list. Casualty of war.”

“He cannot dump me just like that. I am a legally elected representative of my constituents.”

“Sorry, hun, cannot turn back the clock. He has more important maneuver to steer. Look at the thousands of believers at Parliament Hill last week. More managable crusaders to lead, more profitable alliances to establish and new direction to enforce.”

“How about me, what am I to do?”

“I don’t know. Join the Wildrose Party?”

Zoomed. The red Ferrari was gone.

(Through Rose-Coloured Glasses)

In a historic ruling, Speaker Peter Milliken ruled the Conservative government could be considered in contempt of Parliament for refusing MPs a look at secret records on Afghan detainees, and gave the government and opposition two weeks to work out a compromise over the release of the documents. And after much fighting and threatening, MPs finally agreed on a legal framework of releasing those documents. Here is a glimpse of what an un-redacted document will look like :

A PREVIOUSLY REDACTED DOCUMENT

AND NOW AN UN-REDACTED DOCUMENT

(Through Rose-Coloured Glasses)

小的時候, 母親喜歡逛公司, 終日無所是事, 拖着我們走遍港九大街小巷。凡是有東西賣的地方, 也有我們的足迹。有時, 腳倦了, 渴望停下來, 吃點糖果, 雪糕, 但就算躺在地上大哭大鬧, 也是於事無補。還是一邊哭啼, 無奈地跟着她走。

追女朋友時, 就更不在話下。二仔底死跟, 亦歩亦趨, 更害怕有其他人跟了上來, 就嗚呼哀哉了。結果, 就是拼命地跟着走。

出來做事, 又是跟班一族。既沒有領導之才, 更沒有做老板的資本, 受人二分四, 低着頭, 唯命是從, 點到那裡, 就跟到那裡。

為人老豆, 還是脫不了跟班命。小小孩童, 不知天高地厚, 興之所致, 亂闖亂碰, 結果苦了父母親, 不只要跟, 還要跑步追上去, 免致闖禍。

孩子大了, 以為可以透過氣來, 誰想到, 還是要跟。只不過換個形式, 駛着汽車為司機; 送他們去玩足球, 棒球, 游泳, 溜冰, 學琴, 補習, 甚至上電影院, 同學生日會, 都一一包辨。總之, 又挨上了十年八載。

到孩子真的有毛有翼, 離家入大學, 進入社會做事, 以為命運應有所改變。但和老伴二人世界, 還是乖乖的跟着她, 去逛百貨公司, 超級市埸。

噢! 來了, 來了, 走慢點可以嗎?

沒奈何, 生來就是跟班命。

(Through Rose-Coloured Glasses)

The first time I heard of this song, I was in a palliative care conference. When you are standing on the brink of eternity, this song brings you hope, courage, and a fighting chance. Stand proud, and keep dancing.

Lee Ann Womack – I Hope You Dance

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat
But always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed
I hope you still feel small
When you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me you’ll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Living might mean taking chances
But they’re worth taking
Lovin’ might be a mistake
But it’s worth making
Don’t let some hell bent heart
Leave you bitter
When you come close to selling out
Reconsider
Give the heavens above
More than just a passing glance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
(Time is a real and constant motion always)
I hope you dance
(Rolling us along)
I hope you dance
(Tell me who)
I hope you dance
(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)
(Where those years have gone)

I hope you still feel small
When you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me you’ll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
Dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance
(Time is a real and constant motion always)
I hope you dance
(Rolling us along)
I hope you dance
(Tell me who)
(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)
I hope you dance
(Where those years have gone)

(Tell me who)
I hope you dance
(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)
(Where those years have gone)

我切望你能翩翩起舞
我切望, 你永遠不會, 失去那”奇蹪的意識” 。
你將巳腹飽,
但始終肌餓。
你永遠不會, 把每一口氣, 為理所當然。
上主不會, 令你的愛, 空手而回。
我切望, 你仍然覺得, 缈小;
當你站在大洋岸邊。
每當一度門関閉, 叧一度, 又會打開。
答應我, 你會給信念, 一個機會。

當你需要, 作出决擇, 等待下次, 還是起舞。
我切望你能翩翩起舞。
我切望你能翩翩起舞。

我切望, 你永遠不會, 對遙遠的峻嶺, 感到恐惧;
永遠不會, 選擇最易走的路。
活着, 可能就是冒險,
但, 這是值得的。
愛, 也許是個錯誤,
但, 這也是值得的。
不要讓那悪心的傢伙,
令你感到苦澀。
當你將要放棄,
請再三思,
不要給上蒼,
草率的考慮。

當你需要, 作出决擇, 等待下次, 還是起舞。
我切望你能翩翩起舞。
(時間, 真實地, 不斷運行, 直至永遠 )
我切望你能翩翩起舞。
(推動我們滾滾前進)
我切望你能翩翩起舞。
(請告訢我, 誰)
我切望你能翩翩起舞。
(需要回顧年青時, 奇怪)
(那年代往何處去了)

我切望, 你仍然覺得, 缈小;
當你站在大洋岸邊。
每當一度門関閉, 叧一度, 又會打開。
答應我, 你會給信念, 一個機會。

當你需要, 作出决擇, 等待下次, 還是起舞。
我切望你能翩翩起舞。
(時間, 真實地, 不斷運行, 直至永遠 )
我切望你能翩翩起舞。
(推動我們滾滾前進)
我切望你能翩翩起舞。
(請告訢我, 誰)
我切望你能翩翩起舞。
(需要回顧年青時, 奇怪)
(那年代往何處去了)

(請告訢我, 誰)
我切望你能翩翩起舞。
(需要回顧年青時, 奇怪)
(那年代往何處去了)

(Through Rose-Coloured Glasses)

The cultural revolution, Canadian style, has already begun.

The root of the problem is, pure and simple, the naked and vicious Power Struggle; crushing of all dissents, and by all means possible.

Look at the Gang of Three, signed a pact the year before, trying to take over the power of parliament. PM retaliated, by prorogation of parliament. It worked. Liberal changed leader, and the alliance fell apart.

Then came the Afghan retainees issue. The ‘cover-up’ storm brewing, and the ‘torture’ snowball rolling, almost into an international proportion, bordering on war crime potential. The magic wand of prorogation was pulled out once again and waved. It was with partial success, and bought some breathing space.

Then the Jaffer/Guergis affair. PM first tried to ignore and contain it, but the time bomb kept ticking. Finally with the slightest excuse, on rumour from a gumshoe, J/G were dropped like a hot potato, discarded and swept under the dirty political carpet swiftly. Now keep an eye on the Shory story.

The power struggle continues. The cultural revolution deepens.

Triggered by the Liberal’s own blunder and lost the vote on the abortion issue. Suddenly PM saw a glimpse of a lifeline, a break in the opposition’s rank, a rare opportunity, and seized it. He suddenly proclaimed, for Canada, world women’s health does not include abortion, although all along, he claimed not to re-open this issue. This signalled Canada is making a “Right Turn”. Power struggle is crystallizing, precipitated into an ideology war. Onward with the slaughters of gun control, gay support ….. delineation of ideology is finally set, stirring and splitting the oppositions.

Cultural revolution warfare required slogans and directives, a kind of home grown “Mao Tse-tung Thought”. The PMO is already issuing “Talking Points” memo on a daily basis, to its faithful, centralizing and promoting its righteous ideology. Eventually may be these will be compiled into a little “Blue Book”, the quotations from the PM/PMO. Every faithful should have one, and to be waved in the coming election.

China had the “revolutionary models” to set examples, and so in Canada, we have already started testing the propaganda machine. We have looked at those arm’s length organizations and have sent in an army of new directors and managers, to replace and to guide such organizations towards new directions. If you don’t toe the party line, then out you go. Or better, trying to muzzle any dissent opinions. Senator Ruth has put it neatly, “shut the f___ up”, otherwise ……. Funding cuts have already begun.

The cultural revolution is on. The power struggle continues.

But you asked, what happened to the motto: To serve the people? The only and real measuring yardstick.

Well, who cares actually, in such turbulent time !

Long live 為人民服務.

Just remember this, in the next election.

(Through Rose-Coloured Glasses)

Just last week, we were busy trying to squeeze two funeral services into one weekend. I guess at my age, this is becoming more frequent. The first one is the mother of an old friend, and the other is a relative of a relative. As a matter of fact, I have never met this vague relation before. We ended up going to one visitation on Friday, and the funeral service of the other on Saturday.

Friend’s mom was 95, as everyone said, she lived a long full life. We stood around and chatted up a storm; shaking hands, hugging, and reconnected with friends we haven’t seen since our university days, and promised ourselves we shoud be in contact and get together more frequent, but are also well aware, we will meet again under such circumstances.

Relative’s relative also had a full life. After retirement, he actually threw his whole energy and dedication to the development of several construction projects and of the training of numerous engineers in China. His daughter’s eulogy touched my soul and opened my eyes. She said, the essence of life, is not the numbers of breath you take, but the numbers of moment that take your breath away. Yes, that completely took my breath away. Food for thought, for an old man.

Only a few months ago, we said goodbye to another old friend. We were closed, but drifted apart after graduation. We saw him just the Christmas before, in a gathering. He was complaining about a back pain, but blamed it on too much snow shovelling. Then we heard, he was in hospital, diagnosed with recurrence of kidney cancer. He was surrounded and well looked after by a group of dedicated friends, who took care of his finance, and ran all his daily chores , visited him daily in hospital, brought him his favourite food, newspaper and DVD, to ensure his comfort. I visited him once in hospital. He was wasted away slowly, but content. A few weeks later, he was gone, surrounded by his faithful friends.

Ming was the only child of my good friends. We even took him on our trips in the summer. People always thought he was our eldest. A year ago, I got a call from his dad. They were in China, and Ming developed this cough and xray showed shadows in the lung. TB, I jumped to conclusion. He came home. Further testing were inconclusive and took over a month to find the cause, malignant lung cancer, so virulent that spread quickly and destructively. I wished it was TB, at least that was curable. Within a few months, he was gone. His funeral was the most excruciatingly painful one. It was attended literally by hundreds and hundreds of people, and mostly young people. We tried to comfort the parents. In silence, we felt their pain and loss. We uttered no words. Life was so unjust. We shaked our heads slowly, murmuring, only the good died young. He was not even thirty.

And now something to cheer about. The big date is almost upon us. Our classmate Donny (WYK 65) is getting married tomorrow. The lovely couple met on the dance floor, and have not stop dancing ever since. So you think you can dance? Ask Donny first. Last time I was in Calgary and called him up, he was naturally on the dance floor again, with his significant other half, talking to me on his cell. They plan to take a cruise, after the wedding, to sail into the sunset, while dancing on the cruise deck. What a fairy tale ending, and live happily ever after. Congratulation, Don & Eliza. A new drug has just come out, Don, for your special occasion. Priligy, that’s the name, check it out. In the mean time, to commemorate the event of the year, here, this is for you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9pdnSy_nWQ&NR=1&feature=fvwp

(Through Rose-Coloured Glasses)

長命百歲, 歷來都是人們夢眛以求的境界。追尋青春之泉, 返老還童術, 隨着”更年期”大軍的急劇膨脹, 現在更是迫切的課題。

人生歷程, 從嬰孩到老年, 不外是幾十年。就算在醫學昌明的今天, 巳戰勝了無數頑疾, 但人類生命的極限年齡, 還是大約一百一十五而矣。人體機能, 到了七八十歲就開始衰退; 過了一百, 就巳透支淨盡了。

在人類不斷進化的過程中, 為什麼還不能使疾病, 衰老被途汰消失呢? 進化論者認為, 在進化過程中, 如果因子(Gene)能提高人類壯年時期的生存與生產能力, 就會被自然選擇(Natural Selection), 遺傳下來, 就算這因子到晩年會對人體有害。

舉例: 色素性肝硬化, 是人類一種吸收太多鐵質的遺傳病, 弄至肝硬化, 中年死亡。但這遺傳病對年青, 有生育能力的女性, 卻又甚為有利 —- 女子經期失血太多, 這病使患者能大量吸收鐵質, 造血補充, 以保生存能力。

舉例: 在生物學研究, 有生物學家繁殖甲蟲, 如果只選早產多子的甲蟲, 四十代後, 甲蟲雖然都能多產早產, 但也老死得特別快。又有科學家繁殖果蠅, 但卻專選遲產者, 結果這類果蠅壽命較長, 但產子卻較少。

舉例: 又有科學家研究報告, 在實驗室飼養老鼠, 如果把老鼠處於半飢餓狀態, 其壽命會延長三成, 但卻大大減低了生產能力。

這都説明, 衰老並非是遺傳的錯誤, 而是進化過程的妥協。為了加強人類生存的能力, 就要面對衰老這難関了。

其實, 只要我們生活得美好, 八九十年巳很足夠, 還是大有作為的。

(Through Rose-Coloured Glasses)

疏離 ( Alienation ) 是個六十年代的思潮。

那時代的青年人, 尤其是中產階級的, 受專上學院教育的青年, 大多數都不滿現實, 不願意走上父母的老路, 去追求那 “亞美利加” 拜金主義的美夢, 成為 “反叛的一代” 。

他們反越戰, 寧做 “和平主義” 的逃兵, 搞黑人運動, 學生通動; 他們的理想就是反政制, 追求 ”烏托邦” 的樂園 。

也有不談政治的嬉皮士 (Hippies), 投入毒品文化 (Drug Culture), 吸食 LSD, 大蔴, 来尋求自我的 high和解决。主張 Make Love, Not War. 對金錢全無興趣。Money, can’t buy me Love.

消極者更趨向虛無, 甚至遠訪印度法師取經, 或與社會疏離, 或組公社羣居。就算生活在社會, 喧嘩的人羣中, 還是感到孤獨, 與人隔絕, 不作溝通。正所謂 “各家自掃門前雪, 莫管他人瓦上霜 “的心態, 過着疏離, 寂寞的歲月。

到了七十年代後期, 八十年代, 社會漸漸平靜下來, 一般的年青人, 早巳大學畢業或 dropped out, 巳成家立業, 思想來個一百八十度大轉灣, 由嬉皮士搖身一變而為野心勃勃的入皮士 (Yuppies). Young Upward-mobile Professionals, 是列根的經濟政策 (Reaganomics) 的惡果。他們被認為都是貪婪, 過於現實的物質主義者, 又有自大狂, 自戀狂 (Narcissistic), 又是對社會和環境麻木不仁的野心家。他們深信, 金錢就是上帝 (Money is God) , 是地道的ME Generation 唯我主義者。

到九十年代 DOT-COM 泡沫破滅和近年世界性金融危機, 引至經濟大衰退, 再加上大企業貪婪 (Corporate Greed), CEO 都先中飽私嚢, 這都拜入皮士思想的遺毒所賜。

這次由美國 Sub-Prime Mortage 崩潰, 引起世界經濟大衰退, 影響尤大。Baby Boomers, 也許是以前的嬉皮士, 辛苦工作了數十年的公司, 突然裁員, 甚至倒閉関門。差不多巳到退休之齡, 卻突然失業, 加上金融危機, 退休金早以少了一半以上, 養老與將來, 都失去保障, 使人心惶惶, 又開始與社會疏離, 再感到孤獨, 與人隔絕, 不作溝通。

報載, 在紐約, 有一位流浪漢為了阻止賊人傷害一名女子, 結果自己受刀傷, 卧在路邊, 沒人理會, 因而死亡。

報載, 在多倫多, 在地鐵, 有一位七十九歲老翁, 被两名少年歐打, 還搶去銀包。而全車卻沒有人援手。

報載, 在温哥華, St Paul醫院, 最近設立一停放處, 無條件, 保正不作追究, 方便接納棄嬰。

疏離, 這個六十年代的思潮, 又再重現了。

(Through Rose-Coloured Glasses)

連日来天雨連綿, 出門都要携帶雨傘, 以備不時之須。

下雨打傘子, 是人類一大發明。

在古時, 下雨了, 人們用蕉葉遮頭, 漸漸進化成為油紙, 布蓬, 再改進成為能夠開関的雨傘。 最後, 為了便於携帶, 更推出了縮骨遮。

傘, 能起保護作用, 但又不似樹底, 屋簷下, 雖然可以避雨, 卻不能給人自由行動。傘子可以陪伴你, 保護在你的身邊。

你曾否見過, 熱戀中的情侶, 打着傘子, 在雨中漫步。既能起護花作用, 更俱羅蔓蒂克的氣氛。

傘, 更能是隨身武器。還記起, 那電影的畫面: 一個老太婆, 拿着傘子, 猛力打在賊人頭上。

傘, 又是地位的象徵。英國紳士, 不是人手一柄的嗎? 小小的花布遮, 更是英國上流社會, 窈窕淑女的流行時裝, 不可缺少的標緻。

在東南亞, 傘, 又可以用來遮擋猛烈的太陽, 所以又名晴雨遮。

但是在北美, 人們喜歡曬太陽, 認為棕色才是健康的膚色, 結果, 傘子在夏天就不派用場了。

現在還會看到, 在傾盆大雨之下,有人卻施施然, 在街頭漫步, 早巳成了落湯雞, 還是尤然自得的。

難道傘子又會被途汰嗎?