I visited an uncle who likes to collect. At his home, he has large custom built display cases showing off his various collections of stamps, coins, shells, libraries of music records, movies, books, etc. It is always his pride and joy to take visitors around his house, explaining to them in details about his collections. Of course there is always a story behind every single piece of his” prize” within each show case.
After talking for hours, we came to the dining room for some snacks. In his china cabinet, there are 3 rice bowls. One is of solid gold color, the other looks like it is made of stainless steel, and the third is made of bone china, like the ones you and I use everyday at home around the dinner table. So I asked my uncle what’s the story behind these 3 bowls.
He told me, the first bowl which is made of 24 carat gold is given to him for his 30 years of continual service. He remembers his boss and a group of his colleagues hosted a dinner and presented that golden bowl to him. He was very proud of it as there are very few people who have made that achievement at his place of work.
The second bowl, which is made of stainless steel, is also related to his work. He worked as a prison officer at Stanley for 35 years, and this is one of the bowls that the inmates used for their meals. He said, the prison started using these metal bowls to prevent the inmates breaking the china bowls and using them for weapons. These bowls have lasted for years and it saved the prison a bundle not having to replace them over time. So on his retirement, he took a set home, knowing that would be the last set of rice bowl he will ever have to buy. On the contrary, he stopped using them, as the rice never tasted good with the metal bowls because it cannot retain the heat. So it remains in the display.
The third bowl with some decorative floral design on it, is made out of bone china, looks like it has been used for quite a long time as there are crack lines visible inside the bowl. This was the rice bowl that my aunt used at the dinner table; she passed away 2 years ago. My uncle said although this is just an ordinary looking rice bowl to me, to him it is very special. It holds a lot of fond memories of their lives together. He said the rice still taste very delicious at the dinner table when he eats by himself at home.
Dear Mr Lowcock, it is my honor to be a DBS student under your time. We had the opportunity that very few students from other schools had, to be exposed to the things outside of the curriculum that are important in life. To be successful in the academic world is important, but to be ignorant to the world around us is dangerous. My parents were so glad to have sent me to your school, so I can sing, play the viola, take photos, throw the javelin, play tennis, badminton and ping pong, enjoy music and reading a novel in my spare time when I am not working as a dentist. As our 30th class reunion approaches this year, we all look forward to this special gathering of friends, teachers to share in your school spirit, reminisce in our fond memories of each other. (I am so glad I did get the feel of your cane at least once before I left!)
As you shared in your stories of the seven grains of rice, each of us has our individual journey and purposes in life. Trying our best and doing our best is what is important.
May we be your favorite rice bowl that contains your grains of wisdom and good memories of the love we experienced.
Frank Lo (Class of 82)
