My Letter to Mom

February 22, 2012

Dear Mom,

It's been exactly one year since you left me.  I often see you in my dreams and I still feel your presence in my life.  Nothing seems to be able to fill your place in my heart, and no one seems to be able to offer the wisdom you had given me over the years...  I miss you dearly. 

I talk to my cousins in China regularly, and you are still the center of our conversations.  Over the past year, I have come to realize how much you influenced all of us and how much you'd left for us to learn and to reflect.  Michelle is doing very well in college and she continues to make every effort to make you proud.  I left Alere after 7 years and took a new job earlier this year.  It was a tough decision, but to a certain degree, I did it for you and Dad because I knew you'd always wanted me to advance in my career, and I knew you'd always wanted me to put my best effort in everything I do.

I continue to pursue my love in photography, and my photographs have been published in multiple Chinese magazines.  They have also won national honors and have been published in the international photography gallery.  I thought about you each time when my work was recognized, and I wish you could celebrate with me each and every little progress I make...  I would never forget how excited you were each time when I told you some good news -- sometimes you were more excited than I was.  In a way, I do believe that you are still looking over us, and we are making you smile.

The truth is, you will forever live in our hearts.  You made us wise and strong, and you made us always want to try harder and be better.  I love you deeply, Mom, and always will.

Your Little Tang Pei



亲爱的妈妈，

到今天为止，你已经离开我整整一年了。这一年里，我常常在梦中见到你，而且觉得你还在我的生活中。这一年里，似乎没有任何东西能填补你在我心中留下的空白，也没有任何人能像你过去那样为我点播智慧… 我真的是很想念你。

我 现在还常给中国的表姐们打电话，而你却总还是我们谈论的中心话题。这一年来，我才意识到你对我们所有人有多大的影响，而且你为我们留下了多少值得学习和回 味的东西。阿宝在学校表现很好，她在尽最大的努力让你为她而骄傲。我今年初换了一个工作。做出这个决定并不容易，但从某种角度上讲，我也是为了你和爸爸才 做出的这个决定。我深知你们总希望我在事业上进取，你们也总希望我在做一切事情时都尽到我最大的努力。

我仍然在摄影上不断进取，而且我的作品已发表在几家中国杂志上。我的作品还在美国摄影协会获奖，并刊登在世界摄影画廊。每当我的作品得到摄影界的认可， 我总会想到你。我多希望你能和我一起庆祝我取得的每一点成绩… 我永远不会忘记以往每当我告诉你一点好消息，你有多高兴，有时你会比我还激动。从某种角 度讲，我觉得你还在不断地观望着我们，而我们也在不断地为你带来微笑。

事实上，你会永远活在我们心中。你为我们带来智慧和坚韧，你让我们不断进取和完善。妈妈，我深深地爱你，而且会永远爱你。

你的小汤培