致最爱的也是最爱我们的那个女人

20160509ou 一中两外锵锵三人行 今日话题： 致最爱的也是最爱我们的那个女人 -- 妈妈 妈妈 母亲节快乐 Brian: Today, or yesterday, depending on where you are in the world, is Mother’s Day, so Happy Mother’s Day to all you mothers out there. Yoyo: Yeah, Happy Mother’s Day! It is a celebration to honor the mother of the family and the influence of the mothers in society. It is celebrated on various days in many countries around the world, but most commonly in the months of March or May. In China people celebrate the day on the second Sunday of May, which is the past Sunday, May 8th. Nick: You said it’s on a different day in different countries, in the UK it was a couple of weeks ago, and it always catches me out when the second one then comes around and I see adverts everywhere saying “Mother’s Day is coming up, don’t forget”, and for me, it just happened already. Yoyo: So, when is it in the UK? Nick: It’s not a fixed date, but it’s always within the Lent period, coming up to Easter. Brian: Two Sundays before Easter. Yoyo: So how is it celebrated in China? We can see that there has been various commercialization of the day, and there can be flower stores or even people on the streets selling carnations. Right now I have some numbers about that. Americans will spend over 2 billion US dollars on flowers this year, with carnations. And also, over 4 billion US dollars on jewelry and 2 billion dollars on flowers and 2 billion dollars on gift cards. Nick: There is a value to that, in that it reminds you that the holiday is coming up, and you can’t forget about it, but it does risk all the holidays becoming very similar. Brian: Putting money in someone else’s pocket. Yoyo: That’s true, and also besides simply buying gifts, I think the most precious gift to mothers is simply to spend more time with her. Brian: Exactly, well said. I think pretty much every mother out there, that would probably be the one thing they would most want. Yoyo: So let me ask you guys a question. What do your mothers like the most for Mother’s Day celebrations? Nick: I would usually get a card, like we’ve talked about - Yoyo: Gift card? Nick: You mean, like a greeting card? Yoyo: You write a touching sentence on it. Nick: I’m not going to be writing poetry, yoyo, that’s getting a bit ahead of ourselves. Yoyo: As a British people, I thought you might. Quoting Shakespeare or something. Nick: I’m sorry to disappoint you. Brian: As the inventors of the English language, clearly they must all be Shakespeares. Yoyo: Yeah, and what about you, Brian? Brian: I’ll describe somewhat of an ideal day for her. She would wake up very late, very late, having slept in, and then after having awoken, relax in bed, and then when she is ready, maybe ring a bell – Yoyo: Ring a bell? You’re living in Downton Abbey? Brian: Not quite, but the doors open, and two sons, either myself or my brother, comes in carrying a tray of a wonderful breakfast, perhaps French toast or waffles or pancakes, some freshly-squeezed orange juice, some blueberries, these sorts of things, Hallmark. Yoyo: Having asked you guys, so I’ll give you the answer from me. I have a strategy. I ask her in advance, in the beginning of this month. I just ask her, “So Mom, what kind of gifts, or what kinds of things do you like the most, if you might receive a kind of possible gift from anyone?” Brian: Oh, that’s not transparent at all, that’s not obvious. Yoyo: It’s very vague. Nick: Very vague. Subtle, some would say. Yoyo: And she asked me, “Is it from you?”, and I said, “Possibly”, and then I kind of imagined she would say a new computer or a bag or something, but she said “Maybe a grandson?” and I said, “Really? That might take time, you know.” It might take time! You know Chinese moms? Nick: I think we’re working to a bit of a tighter deadline than that. Yoyo: And then finally I bought her some technical stuff, so she spent her Mother’s Day with a carnation in her hand, of course, and also I have to point out that the most kindhearted and nice, sweet gift a mother really wants is just simply for you to spend more time with her. Put down your cellphone while eating with her. Treat your mother as your beloved woman in the world and also care about her to phone her to talk with her. You can make it Mother’s Day every day. Brian: There we go, that’s a nice little thing, there.