A whole world of longing

She is a graduate of the University of Publishing, highly skilled in editing, and the chief editor of the book "A Whole Sky of Memories," which records many beautiful stories of friendship and love from the Kinh Bac region, and recollections of her middle and high school days in Hiep Hoa, Bac Giang (formerly). I was fortunate to obtain "A Whole Sky of Memories" when I visited her and her husband at 449 Phan Van Tri Street, An Nhon Ward, Ho Chi Minh City.

Illustration: Wise man.

On the cover, Cúc Hương wrote: “With love and respect, I dedicate this to the simple, humble people with open hearts in Mai Phong village, Mai Trung commune, Hiep Hoa district, Bac Giang province (formerly), who sheltered families during the fierce American bombing raids of 1965-1972. Especially to the teachers and friends from the same village and school who lived and studied together during those years in middle and high school.”

Fifty-five years of old school days, fifty-five years of friendships. So many touching stories, so many beautiful, bright images of a time of youth. The Thuong and Cau rivers, the homeland of Quan Ho folk music, have become legendary, so full of love and longing, encapsulated in three chapters of this book. The family of Mr. Tao and his son, Ms. Xuan, in Mai Phong, where the Institute of History's library is located, has maintained a deep bond of affection for over half a century. Mr. Tao's family treats the children who returned from Hanoi after evacuation and studied as their own, like their own siblings.

Being well-behaved, polite, respectful to teachers, and loving towards children are considered beautiful traditions and ways of life in the Kinh Bac countryside and throughout the country. Cuc Huong fondly recalls: "My group of 12th-grade friends from Hiep Hoa High School, on our way home from school, met our teacher. We all got off our bikes and greeted him respectfully. He was touched and reminded his students: 'You are all very well-behaved, but when participating in traffic, you don't need to get off your bikes to greet me to avoid dangerous situations.'" The principal praised them during the Monday morning flag-raising ceremony, making the students very happy.

In the autumn of Hanoi and the Kinh Bac region, Cuc Huong and her friends arranged to return to the capital to watch the parade and march celebrating the August Revolution and National Day on September 2nd, and to revisit Mai Phong, Hiep Hoa - a place that once sheltered them and where they could meet their teachers and friends during those turbulent times.

Wasp

Source: https://baobacninhtv.vn/ca-mot-troi-thuong-nho-postid424641.bbg