2009 Easter Show

The Easter Show ran from the 10th April, Friday, through to the 13th April, Monday, this year. Easter is a very cultural and religious festival in western countries. Here in New Zealand, the school term break of a two week period coincides the arrival of the four day long Easter holiday. This makes the whole country immerse in a very peaceful and joyful holiday atmosphere when Easter comes around the corner.

About two weeks before the opening of Easter Show, Tessie asked us to make the 13rd April, Monday, free for her to treat us a day out to the show ground. As we would usually be attending the weekly Buddhist assembly in the morning on Mondays, so we asked her to come to meet us at the assembly hall in Greenland when it finished at the midday, and made the show ground activity in the afternoon. She agreed.

Soon came the appointed day out, the 13rd April. Early in the morning, a fellow Buddhist gave us a ride to the Buddhist assembly. There we meet weekly practicing mindful meditation in forms of chanting sutra, chanting Amitofuo, walking and sitting, aiming to achieve a complete mindfulness and thus to attain Paramita Wisdom.

Our two children knew we attended Buddhist assembly regularly, however, in spite of our urging them to join with us, they never showed any interest to know what the assembly was all about. So this day out offered by Tessie was an invaluable chance that we could pull her in to have a look of our religious group.

We had share lunch after the spiritual practices finished at midday. Tessie came in to see us when we were having share lunch. Our fellow Buddhist kindly scooped a bowlful of assorted vegetarian food for her. After the lunch we listened to recorded lecture of Di Zi Gui, Standards of Being a Dutiful Student, for half an hour to conclude the assembly.

Having said good bye to fellow Buddhists, Tessie drove us to the Easter Show ground which was nearby the meeting hall we had just left. Although it was the last day of the four day show, it was still full of people. It took us long time to find a parking place.

When Tessie and Chenny were in their childhood, I took them to this show a couple of times. The admission then was $5 or $8 per head as far as I could remember. But now, it is $18! Out of love, my wife instinctively fought to pay for the admission at the front of the box office. The girl officer faintly smiled at the sight of fighting for the payment. Tessie was a bit embarrassed with mum's odd practice, she seemed a little unhappy with mum's stubbornness though she understood it symbolized love. Tessie won the fight. She paid it.

We walked around the vast show ground in the stream of people, most of them were having something in their hand to eat, ice cream, pop corn, BBQ, drinks and etc while walking. We watched farm work competition, Chelsea Dog show, various farm animals and people playing in the carnival sideshow area. On shifting from show to show, Tessie always hugged my arm in her one arm and mum's arm in her another arm along the way. I thought she had sensed the aging process occurring on her beloved mum and dad that she treated us in this affectionate way.

Seeing that we looked tired, Tessie got into the long queue of a Danish Ice Cream to buy us a special ice cream as the last activity for the day out.

The significance of the show to me this year was that it was my first time since I became a father being taken out to the show ground for a treat by Tessie, my daughter. The feeling of being loved and cared for is especially strong when I am gradually losing the ability of driving a car due to my Parkinson's Disease.

So this is an unforgettable Easter Show to me and my wife.