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The dinging sounds were soft but clear in the midnight. I picked up the cell phone. It was 2:44 am, and the messages were from the family wechat group. Mom and the brother were exchanging the messages, the pictures and videos about the flood. I awoke to the disastrous scenes, where raging river overflowing the bridge, surging against the walls and plowing through the city ferociously. Strong and protective the fortress walls are, the city gate was slammed and the whole area was flooded destructively. The unexpected storm wreaked havoc across the city mercilessly.
Born and raised there, I am attached to the place, a city I have lived for more than twenty years. In my memory, typhoons made landfallst almost every summer, punching and gushing with winds and rains. When I was little, we were never shy of the news how typhoon caused damage to the rice field. But to an average resident like me, living in the sweltering summer without the air-conditioner in the early years, I actually looked forward to typhoon. The coolness after that gave us a relief from the intolerable summer heat.
Along with the global development comes deteriorating environment and more constant outbreak of natural disasters. When nature is out of balance, it is like an unchecked monster. A look at the catastrophic pictures reminds us to be submissive to it. To be kind to nature is to protect ourselves.
Visiting Starbucks in one of those ancient style buildings must be a unique experience.
Good to know the flood is receding and your family's OK.
"心系故乡" :)