roses / 玫瑰花

今天在回家的路上，買了一束玫瑰花。等捷運時，我仔細端詳粉色的花瓣，想到很久以前，去紐約市旅行，當時是留學生，對於金錢錙銖必較，看到擦肩而過的路人手裡拿著幾朶玫瑰，內心充滿羨慕之情，於是我對自己說，將來我也要常常為自己買花，因為它們的美麗讓我的一整天都鮮豔了起來。

This afternoon on my way home, I bought a bouquet of roses. When waiting for the MRT, I stared at the rosy petals and suddenly all the memories came back. A long time ago, on my trip to New York City, I was full of envy when seeing people buy roses for themselves. I was a poor student then, having no extra money for little luxuries like that. So I told myself, one day I am going to buy flowers for myself because they can brighten my day and make it so colorful.

迷人的女孩會說，等情人送花吧！可是到了我現在的年紀，我不在意有沒有人獻上花束，情緒低迷的時候，我若去到花市或行經路邊的攤販，便立刻逃離沮喪的泥沼，在我的情人出現之前，我得讓自己快快樂樂的。

Beautiful girls would say, I'll just wait for flowers from my lovers. I've come to such an age that I don't care if anyone sends me flowers. When I am blue, a trip to the flower market or a bouquet bought from a street vendor will lift me up. Before my lover shows up, I have to make myself happy.

多年以前，我希望可以住在像紐約那樣的城市，我的願望沒有實現。現在我住在台北，做著多年前夢想放棄的工作，身邊的人普普通通，卻讓我覺得很幸福。更重要的是，我時時都可以帶一束玫瑰花回家，儘管母親常嚷嚷過高的價錢，我會回以一抹安靜的微笑說，沒辦法，今天就是需要玫瑰花。

Many years ago, I wished to live in a big city like New York. My dream didn't come true. Now I live in Taipei, doing a job I wished to give up many years ago. People around me are so ordinary, but whenever I am with them, I feel loved. What's more important, I can bring a bouquet of roses home anytime. Though Mom would often complain about the prices, I would respond with a quiet smile, saying, sorry, I need a bunch of roses today, at any price.

於是玫瑰花束成為我對這個城市的回憶，極重要的一部分。

So bouquets of roses have become an extremely important part in my memories for this city.

﹝註﹞：圖中為小妞們和我遊花市的寫真。

PS: The picture is about our trip to Chien-kuo flower market, me and my girls.