美国新冠疫情日记 04/09/2020 美国精神

             美国精神

每年四月上旬是德州州花蓝帽花盛开的季节，每年此时我们都会到离休城不远的新都必宜镇拜访。

今天和年逾八旬的吉米医生通上电话并向他致候，他仍然在电话另一端传来豪爽的笑声，并对目前的疫情表示万分之忧虑，但是他说我们一定会克服困境。

认识吉米医生已经是多年前的事了，他在离开休斯敦市以西的一个三百亩的丘陵地规划了一个1862年代的西部牛仔小镇，并划地自设小镇定名為新都必宜，依照十八世纪德州牛仔时代收集了当年之银行、警察、酒吧、妓院、马车之真品，陈列在近二十栋自建的木屋中，成立了市政府办公室自任市长兼警察局长，并也任命我是副警长。

吉米是位德州大学毕业的驰名牙医，也是早年老布什总统的牙医，在他灰尘满布的旧牙齿诊所𥚃 珍臧了布什总统的亲笔函件。

吉米在小镇旁盖了一座代表西部牛仔的豪宅，和他结婚近六十年的老伴在景色绮丽的农庄欢渡晚年。

多少年来我曾介绍给吉米许多好友参访，他都非常亲切接待，脸上永远带有微笑，身着牛仔装有股西部牛仔不怕艰难之气质，这不就是美国精神吗？

   American Spirit

Every year early in April, the Texas state flower Bluebonnet will be blooming in Texas. And every year we must visit the city of New Dubina to see my dear friend Dr Jimmy Helms. But unfortunately this year because the Coronavirus, we cannot make it.

A couple of days ago I called Jimmy and asked him if everything was fine with him and he was so happy and answered with such pleasure and loud excitement. But he also is very worried about the vicious pandemic and how it has hurt our society, but he also told us this country has the ability and confidence to overcome it.

Jimmy was a famous dentist and became a private physician to the late President George Bush. After he retired, he built a Texas old wild west town in Dubina, Texas, and gave it a new name and called it New Dubina. The town has 22 small wooden buildings where he has remodeled an old 1860’s bank, a sheriff’s office and items from an old antique bar to turn the town into a real Wild West Texas small town. He also named himself as Mayor and Sheriff of the city.

Jimmy also built a very old western villa next to New Dubina with a beautiful view of the sunset. They are really enjoying life.

I have brought a lot of friends to visit Jimmy, his museum and the old Wild West town in his backyard. He has always treated us so friendly and always with a smile on his face.

Jimmy was born in Texas with the cowboy character. We feel his personality really represents the American Spirit.

Jimmy we love you.