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Cherishing the One We Love
Last night, lying in bed to sleep, listening to the sound of rain, thunder, and the water flowing down from the tiled roof, I recognized those familiar sounds from my childhood, when I was carefree and safe at home. Pulling the blanket over myself, lying down and breathing deeply to listen to the rain, I felt happiness, understanding that if there were no rain, life would be arid; the raindrops are seeping into the earth, helping the bamboo shoots to sprout up all over Upper Hamlet, Lower Hamlet, and New Hamlet, and that sound still resonates within our parents and ancestors.
The short novel Mrs. Stoner and the Sea tells the story of Mrs. Stoner, who deeply disliked the sea, while Mr. Stoner dreamed of watching the waves. Instead of a honeymoon by the sea, the couple only went to Niagara Falls for three days:
- the day of travel
- the day staying to watch the falls
-
the day of return
She gave birth to three children (two daughters and a son), took care of the family meticulously, while he immersed himself in magazines about the sea. One morning, intending to quit his job and go to the sea alone, he had a car accident and passed away. At the funeral, hearing the pastor’s praise, she realized that his dream had not been fulfilled and felt deep regret.
In the end, she decided to go to the sea alone, choosing Stone Harbor, a hundred kilometers away, sitting on the bus for many hours to get there. Arriving at the sandy shore, watching the waves crash, dipping her hand into the pure salty water, removing her hairpin to let her hair flutter in the wind and listening to the sea breeze caressing her, she felt his presence deeply. The story invites us to read and contemplate like Mrs. Stoner, to know how to live each moment happily—like listening to the rain or enjoying the sea—so that every moment of our life becomes a legend for our children and grandchildren.
