Our big family in Beijing forms a small WeChat group, 10 of us, my mother and members from three of our sibling families. When I was in China, I noticed that one member disappeared from the group. I asked my sister who asked her son, the absent one.
The young man came to America when he was 23 years old. He must be very busy with his work and life here and find it irrelevant to stay connected with the going-ons of people he grew up with in Beijing.
It reflects the reality that as people pursue their careers and move away from their hometown, they may become disconnected from the loved ones they grew up with and the close bonds and relationships they once cherished. It makes me think of the Red River Valley song.
Sometimes the most precious things in life are free and abundant, like 蓝天，空气，亲情，微笑 (lán tiān, kōng qì, qīn qíng, wēi xiào) blue sky, fresh air, the bonding feeling from loved ones, and smile. Very often people take them for granted in the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
I may be old fashioned, still I wish people understood the importance of staying connected with loved ones, even across geographical distances, even amidst the heated pursuit of material wealth and success. Sometimes, it's essential to pause and recognize the intrinsic value of simple joys and meaningful connections.
By the way, the young man's withdrawal reminds me of what my sister said when I was in Beijing, that at my age I should start shrinking down my circle. On the contrary, the opposite is what I'm going to do.