Catherine – Liu Ting - #0505020133

“If winter comes, can spring be far behind?”---A line from Shelley’s poem reminds me of the worst storm in my lifetime.

During my childhood, winter was a wonder land with snowflakes, snowballs, and snowmen, which I regarded as amazing creatures and gifts. Whenever I saw the cute little crystals dangling in the trees so bright and delicately shaped, and whenever I felt the pure white snow covering the ground, soft and fuzzy, I had the illusion of being in Heaven and was awed by the great creator. I indulged myself in enjoying the holy time. But last year, I lost the passion for winter.

It was considered the worst storm in the past half century. A similar “scene” happened in my childhood and the memory came back with many unexpected pictures: power lines were snapped by slashing winds; wires were damaged with overburdening snow; farmlands were ruined under the torturing cold. Almost all manufacturing ceased. Tidings of the news of death reached our ears. It was reported that over 100 people died, 1,512,000 people were evacuated because of the disaster, hundreds of villages were in complete darkness for nearly half a month, the estimated figure of losses amounted to 111,100,000 Yuan. Every single new falling snowflake seemingly became the last straw. We Chinese people witnessed the ferocity of nature this gloom y dark winter.

I myself had planned to go to Hong Kong, which I thought might be a sanctuary for sitting out the storm, but my passport was delayed and the airport as well. I had planned to enjoy the hot springs near our city, but the highway was closed! All these seemed a signal that I should get through it to be together with my family.

Though my house was in a relatively safe place with water and electricity, we did the basic preparation for emergency. Every morning, dad would yell in the blue-black cold: “Fill the bathtub, sink and all washbasins…” Then slowly I rose and dressed and followed his instructions. Every day, I would help to prepare meals, mostly cleaning vegetables in running water. I could name nothing half as cold as this water, thus I was frozen stiff immediately when I sank one finger into it---suddenly, a crushing guilt aroused in me: I used to complain to my dad that he just cooked at a snail’s pace, nevertheless I totally neglected th at his cracked hands might have ached severely in the water. What did I know of love’s lonely duties?

Dinnertime is the most enjoyable moment of the day. Dad would comment on the national events concisely and hum o rously. He joked that I was the supreme president in the family while he was the Prime Minister and mom was the Financial Minister; I was the center of everything. Mom would vividly describe her day at work or what happened on the way, and however small incidents would amuse us, like some young lady falling down on the slippery frozen ground or some granny leaving her purchase in the shop after paying for them. It was the simplest happiness that I had never and ever known.

The worst storm whipping the whole country, which made many people homeless, let me know what to value the most and what the best is in my lifetime. It was like becoming mature in a night. I saw something clearly which I had ignored or taken for granted for a long time. Thanks to the lost chance of touring Hong Kong, so I could hug my dear parents every day, warm their slippers and water bags before they returned and stay together every day.

Sometimes, I selfishly regard the worst storm as an angel knocking at my door, delivering a message that family counts the most and I’m blessed with the love from the family.

Winter comes and spring can be near; with an easy wind rising, winter is gone and so is the thrust of the storm. My small family sits it out and so does our bi g family---the whole nation! They are both due to the love of family!