Learning to play a musical instrument is like preparing a double-stewed soup. You need time and patience to bring out the best flavors of the ingredients. It is the same for music. It takes time for one to practice, polish and progress to finally perform moving melodies that lingers in the audience’s heart. I only started learning playing the flute after retirement. Given the short time, my skills are for sure not mature enough. Yet I persist in practicing every day, and was lucky enough to become part of TWGHs E Major Ensemble, taking part-time music night courses. I indulge myself completely in the process of boiling this double-stewed soup of music, and am looking forward to the day when the flavors sink in.   I studied music theory at a young age but lacked the chance to put it in use. After my retirement, I hoped to put what I learned into application, so I decided to learn playing the piano.

At the age of 55, I almost lost my life to a cardiovascular disease. When I left the ICU, I felt like stepping out of hell. Since then, I was forced to retire from being a restaurant owner and spent most of my time resting at home.   During the first two years of retirement, my health condition was less than ideal, I could only rest at home. I was depressed for not being able to do anything. One day when I was cleaning the house, I accidentally found the guitar that was put away for over 30 years. It seems to be a call for me, returning to the world of music that release me from the shadow of retirement and illness. Because of music, I met friends from different places; I became a volunteer to help the needed; I shared music with people, kept them and myself entertained. Later I joined E Major Ensemble as a percussionist, and had my first taste performing on stage. My retirement life has become colorful and meaningful.