When Children Come Home

In the past, our children used to come home during their school
breaks, but now, with their families, they come home during the
holidays. This particular holiday was another joyful Christmas family
reunion, and although the old “nest” is back to its usual quiet state,
I am still reminiscing about the joy of being together.

This holiday, we watched the grandchildren open their favorite
Christmas gifts and saw the thrill and joy on their smiling faces.
The scenic drive together along the California Central Coastline was
pleasant and enjoyable. The grandchildren were amused by the "big
nose" giant Elephant Seals and their little cute pups at Piedras Blancas
seal rookery, and the children were impressed with the "Enchanted
Hill" on the top of San Simeon.

While the grandchildren went to "In-N-Out" with their father for their
favorite burgers, our daughter took us to “Morimoto Napa” in town
for a delicious lunch. We walked the old town and strolled along the
river bank, trying to remember the good old days despite the fact
that the town has undergone much change since the year she left for college.

The day before they left, we brought the grandchildren to their
mother's former elementary school and watched them play in the
playground. They were fascinated as they peeked through the old
classroom windows where their mother used to sit.

The most memorable experience was watching video clips together
with our grandchildren sitting on my lap singing along. Their favorite
videos were “Snake and Lizard”, “How to Train Your Dragon”, ..... for
the older grandchild, and “Twinkle Twinkle Little Stars”, “The Wheels
on the Bus Go Round and Round”, “Thomas the Tank Engine”, ..... for the younger one.

We look forward to their next home visit to the "old nest".

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Home, Sweet Home

Written By: John H. Payne (1791-1852)
Music By: Henry R. Bishop (1786-1855)

Mid pleasures and palaces though we may roam,
Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home;
A charm from the sky seems to hallow us there,
Which, seek through the world, is ne'er met with elsewhere.
Home, home, sweet, sweet home!
There's no place like home, oh, there's no place like home!

An exile from home, splendor dazzles in vain;
Oh, give me my lowly thatched cottage again!
The birds singing gayly, that came at my call
Give me them-and the peace of mind, dearer than all!
Home, home, sweet, sweet home!
There's no place like home, oh, there's no place like home!

I gaze on the moon as I tread the drear wild,
And feel that my mother now thinks of her child,
As she looks on that moon from our own cottage door
the woodbine, whose fragrance shall cheer me no more.
Home, home, sweet, sweet home!
There's no place like home, oh, there's no place like home!

How sweet 'tis to sit 'neath a fond father's smile,
And the caress of a mother to soothe and beguile!
Let others delight 'mid new pleasure to roam,
But give me, oh, give me, the pleasures of home,
Home, home, sweet, sweet home!
There's no place like home, oh, there's no place like home!

To thee I'll return, overburdened with care;
The heart's dearest solace will smile on me there;
No more from that cottage again will I roam;
Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home.
Home, home, sweet, sweet home
There's no place like home, oh, there's no place like home!

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世界民謠 甜蜜的家庭
("Home, Sweet Home", the Chinese version)

我的家庭真可愛，整潔美滿又安康，
姐妹兄弟很和氣父母都慈祥。

雖然沒有好花園，春蘭秋桂常飄香。
雖然沒有大廳堂，冬天溫暖夏天涼。

可愛的家庭呀！
我不能離開你，你的恩惠比天長。


Yeh Tze