心不老的湯米

I began my very first class at ODU yesterday. I still feel odd that I am really going back to be a student again. Sitting in the classroom and having students around makes me feel younger and more passionate.

As you guys may have noticed from my photo albums, I bought an used car last week and had named it as "Little White". Haha...sounds a little childish ma? Ya...maybe a bit...but you know...that's the way who I am. It is a 2007 Nissan Santra with a white and cute outlook. If some of you still haven't met it, please pay a visit to my photo album IMMEDIATELY!!!^^

The semester is still just newly born and the air still smells fresh. I don't know how long I can keep feeling that once assignments and tasks are coming...hey...we'll see.

Other than campus life, everything else has been just very similar to the one I had in St. Louis. Life is just slowly paced and filled by ESPN and FOX Sport...haha...you know...baseball & football games!!! They are just as much important as air, water, and the sun to me, especially in such a small town like Norfolk.

I have been a little lazy lately so haven't updated my situation and posted new articles for a while. My bad...man...please forgive me for that. By the way, my dear friends....., just don't forget leave something when visiting here. (You know...I didn't mean "something"...haha...)

So, I guess I'll see you guys in my next post. See ya all.

Finally...I am moving into my new apartment and settling down here. This apartment reminds me so much about the apartment I used to live in St. Louis. This one is a little smaller, but just fine for one person. The carpet is brand new and still smells fresh. The walls are re-painted so look so white and clean. I can't tell whether I am falling in love with this new place. However, it has been so far so good.

There are not many things set up in place yet. I am still trying to get the furniture and kitchen stuff to make this place home. Haha...so...there is not much for me to say about this apartment yet. When everything is in its place, I'll tell you more about my new home and how I feel...Look forward to it lor!!!

Oh...by the way...there is a swimming pool outside. Hopefully, that will help me try to swim more often. ^^

Hey...my dear friends! I have just arrived in Norfolk, VA two days ago and am busy for settling down as soon as possible. Meanwhile, I have taken few pictures on campus of ODU where I am going to spend next few years. Please take a look at them.

I was very busy before taking off so that I couldn't have many chances to say goodbye to many of my friends. Please forgive me ^^.

The weather here is pretty similar to Taiwan because the city is really close to the Atlantic Ocean. Beautiful sea views and lots of boats.

These are what I have got so far since it's only the third day here. I will take as many pictures as I can and share something about my life here with you guys. Have a wonderful day...my all dear firends!!!

Tommy

Although I am not a Christian, still be strongly touched by this song.

It is an old song which has been sung by many singers.

No matter which singer you like, I believe this song is always as great as itself.

Amazing Grace! how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I'm found
Was blind but now I see

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed

Through many dangers, toils, and snares
I have already come
'Tis grace that brought me safe thus far
And grace will lead me home

When we've been there ten thousand years
Bright, shining as the sun
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we first begun

It is a time-consuming task for me to pack my stuff, either those sent home or those shipped to the US. Physically, it has taken me few weeks do that. However, emotionally, I believe it will take much longer to recover.

Before I was packing, there were two boxes which had quietly sat on the floor of my apartment forever. They contained most of my stuff sent back to Taiwan from the US three years ago. But now, they will be shipped back to the US again. Thinking of this, I was laughing and sighing. So many memories I had put behind my mind suddenly came up. They just came up so badly and harmfully. At first, I couldn't handle it. They were just too much, just too much for me to digest. So I stopped. Stop suffering from those memories and refuse to travel by this unexpected time machine.

Several days later, when I felt better and thought ready to encounter them again, I opened these two boxes. I slowly picked and looked at each single item. Everything meant something to me, even though it was just a wrapping paper. This time, I convinced myself to get on this time machine and happily went to anywhere it took me.

Then, I saw a beautiful arch in downtown St. Louis; I saw many penguins swimming in St. Louis Zoo; I saw so many trees along on Lindell Blvd and whthin Forest Park; I saw a huge crowd gathering in front of Ted Drew; I saw the red sea covering the Busch Stadium; I saw Albert Pujols homering to the Big Mac corner in the left field; I saw my hand touching Biliken's belly; I saw friends and I having dinner in a breakout room before class; I saw driving on I-64 west and I-270 north to Joseph's house; I saw we two driving on I-55 to Chicago just for some Chinese foods; I heard "Next!" from a man in "The Black's Steak House"; I saw smiles when shopping at Target or West Field Mall; I saw we reading at the Starbucks on the corner of Wydown and Henry Ave; I saw snow covering the grass in Hampton Garden's; and most importantly, I saw happiness.

Some friends experienced them partially and one person had them all with me. Those were precious gifts God had been giving to me. Boxes could be gone after years, but memories will survive forever. I've been given this unique time machine since I was born and I just didn't realize it. Everyone has one and I believe everyone has an unique one. When I am getting on this time machine to travel next time, will anyone, any of my friends, be willing to join me? Coz it will be easy...just close your eyes and leave the wheel alone. It is going to take you to anywhere you want. That's amazing! Don't forget to share your experiences with me after doing that. Just remember.....

詞曲:徐佳瑩

又來到這個港口  沒有原因的拘留
我的心乘著斑駁的輕舟  尋找失落的沙洲

隨 時間的海浪漂流  我用力張開雙手
擁抱那麼多起起落落  想念的還是你望著我的眼波

我不是一定要你回來  只是當又一個人看海
回頭才發現你不在  留下我迂迴的徘徊
我不是一定要你回來  只是當又把回憶翻開
除了你之外的空白  還有誰能來教我愛

又回到這個盡頭 我也想再往前走
只是愈看見海闊天空  愈遺憾沒有你分享我的感動

我不是一定要你回來  只是當又一個人看海
疲憊的身影不是我  不是你想看見的我

我不是一定要你回來  只是當獨自走入人海
除了你之外的依賴  還有誰能叫我勇敢

除了你之外的空白  還有誰能來教我愛

It's getting close to the day I will leave for the U.S. I have been busy for packing my stuff and being prepared for the new life. With all of those things beiing settled down, I feel more and more confident that I am going to be fine in the future. Even though I am still not sure whether to come back or not after graduation, I realize there is only one thing I can do right now...determination.

Determination comes from confidence, motivation, goals, wishes, and faith. No matter what will be blocking in my way to succeed, I will do my best, anything within my power, to overcome and to go through it. Happy to have all of my friends around. Thanks!

Tommy

PS: Taking off on July 26th.

It's 4:00pm in a very wet afternoon in City of Taipei. Sitting in the coffee shop and looking at the busy street through the window, nothing can stop me from wondering whether I am ready to do all of these things ahead of me. With the school confirmed and flight seat booked, it seems that everything has been in its place and looks so perfect for me. Lately, I have dreamed a lot. Most of dreams were about what I will be doing in Virginia and what my life will look like then. It's still one and half months to go from now on, but I almost can begin feeling the pressure and being worried about the uncertainty.

I haven't written anything on my blog for over one month. It was because I didn't know what to write and wasn't even sure I would write again. However, here I am now. From now on, I will write as often as I can to document my future life and to let everybody, including myself, know what's going on with Tommy. It is tough for me to express my feelings and thoughts so openly because I used to keep everything inside my deep heart for past 33 years. Fortunately, I am trying now. I am trying so hard now. I will keep trying in rest of my life.

So...the answer is YES. I am ready to go now. I am so ready to encounter the brand new Tommy. I have been preparing for all of these. Yes! I am telling myself that Tommy is ready now! Maybe this is a little bit embarrassing. But I wanna thank my all dear friends and that special one for supporting me whenever I need thus far. I promise I won't let you guys down. I won't let my family down. Mostly importantly.....

Tommy will make you and himself proud again!!!

今天早上

被一陣刺耳的鬧鐘聲叫醒

眼睛微微睜開凝望著天花板

試著在最短的時間裡把焦距對好

然後把每天晚上都固定放在床邊的眼鏡戴上

一如往常的早上9點整

一如往常的另外一個明天

我也一如往常的吃著刻意跟前一天不一樣的早點

仿佛這樣可以讓這一個一如往常的明天有那麼一些些不尋常

但這一個被我刻意安排出不尋常的一天

還是想辦法用各種方式告訴我...這一天還是一樣一如往常

在公車上不斷的看到每天差不多時間出門的熟面孔

在路上聽到每天都趕著同一個時間上課的學生吵雜聲

在天空還是鋪著大聲宣告自己是台北市的白色朦朧

在空氣中依舊拌入了孤寂的味道

這一個我自以為不一樣的明天

仍然重重的甩了我一巴掌...明天還是一樣的明天...

也許明天就真的不是明天了

我每天晚上闔上眼去跟周公一起看棒球之前

都會這樣反覆地告訴自己一遍

雖然每一次鬧鐘聲開啟的明天

都跟它的聲音一樣...從來沒有變過...

可是...如果真的有那麼一次...

明天不是明天了

那個明天會長得什麼樣子?

公車上的人沒有一個我之前有看過?

學生不再需要大白天趕著上學?

天空突然想要當一下不同於台北市的角色而意外清爽?

空氣中也許因為"孤寂"這個調味包用完了而不再孤寂?

那我也許強迫自己吃一樣的早餐

也不可能讓這個明天一如往常的時候?

我會喜歡這個明天嗎?

還是等到那個時候

我又會告訴自己希望明天還是明天?

我不知道...也許永遠不會知道...

但...我在這一秒鐘突然發現...

當我寫下這些看似沒有意義的文字時

這一個明天已經不一樣了

也許明天不是明天...已經不是一個也許

它正在發生中...

無論我有沒有準備好

這個明天不再一如往常

而我自以為不知道的答案

竟變得如此的顯而易見...

愛到瘋癲 - 動力火車

作詞：Hebe、施人誠      作曲：Ella

空蕩蕩的房間 墳墓一樣安靜的夜
不肯撕去的昨天 陪著我還在等誰
你一定沒有變 一定還愛我對不對
眼角不能有淚水 下一秒你就會出現

愛到瘋癲 苦的酸的無所謂
看背叛爬上你不遮掩的臉 我竟然還覺得很美
愛到瘋癲 傷了痛了都沒感覺
你要我等你到哪個期限 我都奉陪

你下樓去買煙 然後迷路迷了幾天
這樣牽強的謊言 對我都是種慰藉
你一定沒有變 一定還愛我像從前
嘴角不能再流血 等一下吻你不方便

愛到瘋癲 苦的酸的無所謂
看背叛爬上你不遮掩的臉 我竟然還覺得很美
愛到瘋癲 傷了痛了都沒感覺
你要我等你到哪個期限
你要我再賠上多少尊嚴 我都奉陪

愛到瘋癲 苦的酸的無所謂
看背叛爬上你不遮掩的臉 我竟然還覺得很美
愛到瘋癲 傷了痛了都沒感覺
你要我等你到哪個期限
我都奉陪 我都奉陪