Gwen T. Sun

So my mom was an English major in college and she just showed me a publication by the English Department at Soochow University, for which she was the editor and contributed 3 articles. I’m just so competely in awe of her right now that I had to share one of them. Here is her essay entitled “Things I like.” Which she wrote when she was around the age I am now, 23. 

“Things I like” by Mom ;) (Unedited, but my favorite parts bolded)

     I like a sunny day because then it seems that life has no sorrows, only joy.  With sunshine, the sky is particularly blue and God’s beautiful cloud-banks inspire a painter to bring out his best brushes, his most vivid colors and a new white canvas. A sunshiney day, in my opinion, is God’s greatest gift to his children. Then I feel as if I am riding a cloud floating as light as the breeze that passes by.  

     I believe I am a dreamer.

     I dream that someday I shall own a small place, where I, a country girl, can show my skill as a good gardener.  To me, a flower is as beautiful, and lovely as a poem. The notes of music from the wisteria on my flower-stand is a song to me; the dancing keys of a piano sing like the ripple of a country stream. These clear my mind and make me enjoy life more. I like to do beautiful things and the intention in my heart makes everything worth while. 

     In the early morning I like to walk along the long dike. One of the most interesting sights is a round, wide-awake sun chasing the sleepy moon to bed. I can breath deeply on my walks along the dike. The carpet of green grass on which I am walking is soothing and makes my mind clearer, my thoughts sweeter and it belongs to me wholly. 

     I the silence of night I sit at my desk and pull my day’s actions and thoughts, my dreams from the depth of my heart to the pages of my diary.

     I like to read.  I like to sprawl out on the sofa in the most unlady like but confortable position and read my book. Sometimes magazine articles interest me as do books on philosophy. Reading leads the way to man’s intelligence in my opinion. 

     I like to sit and dream best when there is a background of soft classical music. My feelings of the beauty of the music are beyond description. I fully appreciate Nietzsche’s expression “The beautiful voice is soft, it flows quietly through the clear soul.” So music flows through my mind as a perfect, beautiful tune. 

     I love flowers, almost every kind of flowers. What a drab, dreary and colorless world this would be without flowers? Can you imagine the odors of the world if they did not have the fragrance of the blossom? If a man were to send me flowers everyday I might marry him! 

     Another great force in my life is brought by letters from my friends. To receive letters daily is a secret longing and my desk top is never so lonely without a new letter, any kind of letter—a common letter with an ordinary greetings or a long letter from my friend. They make me equally happy. I often read and re-read them just to prolong the happiness in my heart. 

     Among my more interesting dreams are those about the man who I will marry. I am not sure who he will be but he must be conscientious, responsible, have filial piety to his parents and love and consideration for me. This is usually the way I distinguish the character of a person. If a man is not a good son, how can we ask him for other things? If he does not love his parents, how can I expect him to love me?

     Man is a social creature, therefore he must be polite to everybody and willing to help others. He must be kind , prudent, have a broad mind and to talk over problems calmly. The Arabic proverb is true—“A wise son reflects the pride in teachings of a great mother.” I would be happy to comfort him when others treat him badly or when he is in depth of despair. Like the end of above quote Arabic proverb I should like to be like—“The wise daughter follows in the footsteps of a mother who is a true housewife and who will cherish her husband, family and home like pure gold.”

     My husband-to-be should be a lover of books and reading. I hopw he has an encyclopedic knowledge and much learning. We should be able to discuss problems, exchange ideas and live in an atmosphere of love and mutual understanding. Of course he must be a gentleman at all times. 

     About his appearance I think it is not really important. When I was a little girl, I hoped that my husband would be as a handsome as a prince. Now that I am grown up and am an adult, I realize that appearance does not represent the whole person as it lasts just a short time. Only inward beauty is eternal and everlasting. 

     I know it is impossible to find so perfect a person, but I can dream, can’t I? However the most important thing is that he must love me and love me alone. 

     What I love best is my parents’ home because it is full of warmth and affection. I like to see my parents’ kind smiles of approval and when their words correct me I know it is because they love me. I like to be with my four sisters and brother. I will always remember the old, kind and comfortable furniture of my parents’ home. I hope that someday I will love another home or maybe I shall be one of the parents in that home. I hope the home will be kind and comfortable also but my dreams of my parents’ home will be warm and sweet forever. 

     Of course, there are still many things that I like, but for the moment, I hope never to lose the things that are dear to my heart now.

July 1, 1976.

I’ve always loved and truly appreciated my mom, but I think I can now say that I love her soul and her heart, which I don’t know that I could say before. 
<3 <3 <3 <3