At 9:40 a.m., I turned off the computer, took along the cellphone and keys, went out of the dorm. There's a opening mourning service on Yushu earthquake in front of the School Mottos Stele at 10:00 a.m.

 

    It was cloudy at the moment. On the way to the stele, many students in dark clothes also hurried to the same direction. Somehow I felt nervous at that time. I couldn't help scurrying along the road. Then when I reached my destination, there had been many students and teacher standing there. I whispered to myself "fortunately, I'm not late".

 

    The rite was operated in a simple way. A spokeman stood out and dilivered a short speech, tow students lowered the national flag, and then we were asked to mourn for three minutes.

 

    What's the concept of Three Minutes? How long does three minutes last? On this occasion, when we closed our eyes and then opened them, three minutes just passed away. But who can know what is going on during that period? Put aside three minutes, just a few seconds, like the earthquake took in Yushe, should claim thousands of lives, should ruin numerous houses and homes, should consulse a country. Human beings are vulnerable, aren't they?

 

    The moment we were dismissed, to my surprise, however, the sun came out and the sunshine hit me again. Then Priestley's words came to my mind:

 

     "Just the light of the sun. And yet how beautiful it was--how warming, how sparkling, how brilliant! I looked to see whether anyone else relished the sun's golden glow, but everyone was hurrying to and fro, most with eyes fixed on the ground. Then I remembered how ofen I, too, had been indifferent to the grandeur of each day, too preoccupied with petty and sometimes even mean concerns to respond from that experience is really as commonplace as was the experience itself: life's gifts are precious--but we are too heedless of them."

 

      The past and future are cut off, and only the presence remains. Since life is beautiful, why not treature evey moment and enjoy yourself.