转眼送走了二月。日子就在这样不紧不慢中度过一个又一个星期，从周一盼周五，盼周末，不经意间，三月了。今天上班，越南同事对我说，中国新年过完了，上周五结束了，问我吃了什么，是不是芝麻汤圆，我含糊其辞。事实上，我连汤圆都没买，想着家中有黑芝麻，可以自己做的，后来发现要放很多黄油，想想不健康，一犹豫就错过了。这年越过越没有年味了。新年时，家里就两个人，冷冷清清，LD还加班，冰箱坏了，倒是吃了几次海鲜龙虾，请朋友过来喝喝茶，就算过过了。站在中西文化的边缘，节日越来越失去了它原先的意义，人也越来越懒，图简单省事。好在有文学城，大家还热闹一阵，好在有微信，可以看到家乡的元宵灯节和母亲桌上准备的元宵羹，让人记起“过节了”。
二月底三月初的那个星期(上星期)下了两场雨。今年雨水少的可怜，除了一月初的两天大雨，今冬好像就这四场雨。去年的今日，我们去了奇诺岗看青草满坡，山花烂漫；今年的山至今还是荒的，油菜花连叶子杆子的影子都未见到，更别提花了。而我，还是满心期待的，期待下个星期，下下个星期，期待一年中唯一的季节，让山有生机，让春光中有春色。
周日，窗外阳光明媚，雨后的天空湛蓝。我们驱车出门，并无明确的目的，因为尚不知山路是否依旧关闭，只想在春光中兜一兜，感受春的气息。沿路经过几个公园，发现山路重新开放了。欣然间，车开到一山脚下，走了一条新路，登上了熟悉的山顶。这是一个我们看过日落、看过朝霞的山顶，而在日光中远眺更有着别样的美－－远处的雪山被白云缠绕，分不清是雪还是云，不远处的海水蔚蓝宁静，孤帆远影，让人遐想不已。
在准备下山途中，还见到了加州鹌鹑，大大小小十几只，一只只从小树丛中走出来，头戴花頂翎，匆匆觅着食。这一切都有幸摄入镜头中，贴出来，分享于此。
昨日还读到梅子姐的一篇博文，触动我心底的那根弦。或许人生真正属于自己的时间就这几年，可以静下心来看点书，记录点东西。在我，除了珍惜还是珍惜。
It is March, the month when the mountains used to turn green and flowers blooming. However, this year the scant rainfalls in winter and prolonged heat and drought deter the arrival of spring.
When we drove out and ascended to the Top of the World yesterday, the mountains in front of us are still bare and bleak, with the withered branches and grass from last year dominating the sight. But looking closer, we know spring is in store. The scattering new grass are shooting from the mud. Soon they will outgrow the old lifeless plants, carpeting the mountains with a new layer of lush green. Thanks to the two recent rainfalls last week, we are hopeful.
We saw Californian quails today, more than ten of them, one after another, coming out of bushes to search for the food on the roadside. They must be of a family, with adult quails having bigger crowns and the young tiny ones. We stood still across the road, holding our breath while our cameras were zooming and clicking.
Yesterday’s hiking was strenuous and short, a new route leading to the same destination. Sweated, we climbed up the steep slope, breathing loudly and laboriously. Forty minutes later, we reached the top. Looking down upon the zigzagging trails below, the vast stretch of placid azure sea on one side, and snow-capped mountains afar on the other, we felt rewarded. How many times have we been here, to witness the glorious moments in the dawning sky, the stunning sunset in the dusk, and the beauty of broad daylight manifested in the sun and the breeze? And how many more times can I still come here in the future?
You may say, as many as you want. Maybe, maybe not. A post by Meizi from Australia stirred something deep inside me. As a generation who waded through all the hardships, we are like sandwiches, having aged parents in our shoulders and a future new generation in our mind. Perhaps these are the only few years that I can wholeheartedly own to myself, when I can loiter time online and over my blog, doing things at my free will.
Hopefully with the financial freedom we strive to achieve today, life can be better taken care of in the end.
