社评0325 敢於筑梦的人

敢於筑梦的人

毕伟利市民牛曼自称皇帝之故事

週六上午一个风光明媚阳光灿烂的清晨， 由中山女中休斯敦校友们组成之队伍， 从美南新闻广场出发向十号州际公路西行， 途经西莉市约一个半小时车程，我们巴士在毕伟利市大街上的一家麵包店停下。 这间面积不大之店面 ，可是人气沸腾， 生意兴隆。这家店之创办人牛曼可大有来头， 他自称是自己皇宫的皇帝， 并自建了一座佔地二十英亩之皇宫。

我们在柜柜台上缴付了二十美元之入塲卷之后， 巴士经市中心后不久即到达一座原始森林中， 一条泥沼小路仅够巴士通过， 抵达后见到一座四面环水之古堡型皇宫， 参观者已站满了访客。 一位导游开始讲述牛曼先生早年想要自称皇帝之故事，他在多年前即告知父母及亲友要在自己购买之二十亩土地上建造一座城堡式之皇宫，大伙以為他开玩笑。 他非常聪明地把自己在镇上经营之麵包店和观光皇宫结合， 要去参观者必须先到店裡付费并免费招待午餐， 他此一生意经， 真的实现了自己的皇帝梦。

这座城堡式之建筑物， 只有五千英尺， 堡内设有自己住的寝室及一些欧洲仿製之刑具， 一些房间都还未装修完工， 看来他的财务情形不是太好。

行前一週从他家人处得知， 牛曼先生已於三月十三日不幸去世。 然而在家人之支持下皇宫仍然开放， 今天我们一群华裔来到了他的皇宫， 并献上一束白玫瑰花表示哀悼， 已是一项敦亲睦邻之国民外交。

牛曼先生完成了他的皇帝梦，我们体认到人人皆应有梦， 筑梦成真，有梦真美。他带着美梦而去， 此生应无憾矣。

People Who Dare To Build Dreams:

The Story of Mike Newman.

On one sunny and beautiful Saturday morning, a team of Houston alumni of Chungshan Girls High School set off from the Southern News Group offices and headed west to Interstate 10. It was about an hour and one-half drive through City of Sealy where our bus stopped at a bakery store on Main Street in Bellville where the store was full of people. The owner, Mike Newman, claimed to be the "King of the Palace" he built not too far from the bakery. 

After we paid $20 dollars at the counter, the bus arrived at a primitive forest and soon thereafter we passed the city center. A muddy path was just enough for the bus to pass. After arriving, we saw an ancient castle-shaped palace surrounded by water on all sides. On the waiting grounds, the guide began to talk about how the owner, Mr. Mike Newman, stated that his dream was to build a castle and that he wanted to live in it as a king. He was smart enough to combine his baking business with  the castle and charge admission and provide lunch to all the visitors. The building itself is only about 5,000 square feet and includes Mr. Newman's bedroom and some imitation torture tools. Some of the rooms have not yet been renovated. 

A week before our trip, we learned from his family that Mr. Newman, "The King," passed away on March 13th. With the support from family members, the castle is still open. 

Today we also presented a bouquet of white roses to his sister to express our condolences. 

Mr. Newman completed his dream and we realize that everyone should have a dream. It is so beautiful to build a dream. There should be no regrets in his life.