The burden 包袱

Carrying Elizabeth's backpack at the airport
俯首甘为孺子牛，背着女儿的背包

The modern couples do not want many children, two is more than enough. The main reason is the heavy cost of bringing up children especially on education.

I have already reached the age of "knowing my fate", but still carry the burden of children's education - Elizabeth, my youngest daughter's education. The burden would be relieved upon her graduation only.

After two months of home holidays, she went back to Scotland last night by MAS flight via Amsterdam.

Due to carelessness, just before leaving for airport, we discovered her luggage was 28 Kg, way above the 20 Kg allowance. In an international route, overweight is very costly.

To be sure, we took out some items at the airport and weighed at the counter - it was 27 kg! The counter lady staff was very nice and friendly, she enquired what was inside the bag that weighted so heavy. My wife told her mostly necessity items for Elizabeth such as health care and stationary items. She asked the staff to allow the extra weight.

She took awhile to consider and replied:" Not 27 kg, but allowed you 25 kg only".

We were surprised by her kindness. But on the other hand, worried about the connecting flight from Amsterdam to Aberdeen (Scotland). The other airline may not allow 25 kg and the extra charges could be much higher than in Malaysia.

We voluntarily reduced to 23.2 kgs. It passed safely.

Another kind soul, another overweight problem solved, another occasion to thank our Blessed Mother. In fact, the moment I reached airport, I started praying:"Hail Mary, full of Grace, help Elizabeth's luggage overweight....Hail Mary, full of Grace, help Elizabeth's luggage overweight..."

Mother Mary got for us 25 kg, but we were too afraid to take it all..... thanks anyway Mother!

Elizabeth and her course mate, Jocelyn. 女儿和同学

现代的年轻夫妇，不会生的太多孩子，两个已经喊够了。其主要原因是抚养孩子的费用非常的高，特别是在教育方面。

给孩子最好的教育，是父母的责任，负担及使命。

我虽已进入知天命之年，但仍然要背负最后一个孩子 - 小女儿的教育。这包袱只有在她毕业之后，才宣告“释担”。

经过两个月的假期后，她在昨晚乘达马航回去苏格兰继续她的学业。

不知是她摆乌龙还是大意，在出门去机场的时候，才发现她的行李重28公斤，等于是超重8公斤。在国际航线里，每公斤的超重是相当昂贵的。

为了肯定，到了机场，在停车场拿了一些物件出来，然后到柜台秤秤，确是超重过多了- 27公斤！柜台的小姐非常友善，问问里面有什么东西这么多重。太太和她谈谈是女儿读书用品及一些保健品。再问问她可否通融，给予“过关”。

那位服务小姐思考了一会，“好吧，但决不能27 公斤，我给你25公斤吧！”

真是喜出望外。但我们心中又愣了一下，因为她还要到阿姆斯特丹转另一航空公司的班级，那里可能不肯接受25公斤，过重收费可比这里更高。

想了想，还是尽量的减吧！最后，自动的减到23.2公斤，轻易过关了！

这是又一次的遇到好人，又一次的过关，又一次的要感激圣母。。。。因为我一下车的时候，就开始念： “万福玛丽亚，你充满圣宠，求你相助，过重的包袱。。。” “万福玛丽亚，你充满圣宠，求你相助，过重的包袱。。。”

这次是圣母为我们拿到25公斤，但我们不敢全要，自动的减。。。。但还是要感谢圣母！

Cousin Aileen （2nd left), husband John (5th left) and children brought "yong tou fu" and roast duck for farewell dinner
表妹爱玲(左二）及丈夫若望（左五）及孩子，买了酿豆腐及烧鸭作为告别晚餐