my BIG dream / 我的大夢想

我想要一間房子，屬於我自己的房子，不用太大，也不必座落於最精華的地段，那些外在的小瑕疵，我都可以用創意改造。我的客廳有著溫暖的色調，紅色的沙發是我放鬆的好地方，而同時，客廳也是我的畫室，我可以隨心所欲地把畫架、畫桌和畫具四處擱放，完成的作品就一張接連一張地貼在牆壁上。客廳外有座小陽台，那是我抒壓的專屬地，需要沉靜時，我就盯著對面的樹林，心煩的事情自然會隨風而逝，如果有朋友來，我們就可以來一場兩三人的下午茶派對。而我的寶貝廚房，一定要是橘色調，無論我開心或低落，那樣的顏色和美味的食物會具有無限安撫和平靜的功效，夏天日落之後，我家的日光時間還持續著，而在冬日裡，來自廚房的一碗熱湯勝過情人的一個吻。位於二樓的浴室則是我的大海洋，在我就寢之前，土耳其藍色系的浴缸讓我高昂的情緒穩定下來，我一邊泡澡，一邊沉澱當日發生的點點滴滴，當身心都得到最好的照顧之後，我就要奔向最心愛的臥室，左面的牆上有著大海藍天的造景，如果這美景還不夠的話，睡前來一本書吧！右邊的書櫃都是我珍藏的作品。最後，入睡前，我總是要透過天井，和美麗的星星道晚安。

因為有屬於自己的美好空間，我的生活也因此繽紛。我，好想要一間自己的房子。

I would like to own a house, a house of my own. It doesn't have to be large, nor does it have to be located in a super popular area. I can mend these flaws with my creativity. The color tone of the living room has to give off a sense of warmth. I love to relax on the red couch. The living room is also my studio. I can place my brushes, paints and paper anywhere I want, and the walls are filled with my lovely works. There is a balcony right outside. It serves as a secret haven for quieting my mind. When I need to be alone, I would sit there, gazing at the woods opposite my little den. Then all my worries will be gone with the wind. When friends come, we can hold a small afternoon party. As for my beloved kitchen, it has to be orange in color. Whether I feel high or low, the food prepared by my own hands will never fail to calm or sooth me. Summer will go on and on in my kitchen that offers endless amount of sunlight. In winter, a bowl of hot soup there beats a kiss from any charming lover. The bathroom on the second floor is my ocean. Before hitting the sack, a bath in the turquoise tub is a perfect period to a long and exhausting day. When bathing, I go through the memories of the day, keeping only the quintessential ones. After being taken care of mentally and physically, I can't wait to run to my favorite bedroom. On the left side wall is the vast azure sea. If it's not enough, a book will accompany me to the dream world. The shelves on the right side of the room contain my most precious collections of books. Finally, before passing out, I won't forget to say goodnight to the stars.

If I have a house of my own, my life will become so colorful. How I long for a house of my own!

the "mature" travelers / 熟齡旅行團

昨天夜裡做了個夢，夢到自己和多年未見的友人告別之後，突然去到了台東，搭上一班神奇的海上公車，在海面上奔馳，眼前所見的美景令我大呼過癮，尤其是那蔚藍的海面，醒來之後嘴邊還掛著一抹微笑。

Last night I had a dream. In my dream, after I said goodbye to a friend that I hadn't seen for years, I found myself in Taidong. I took a magic seabus. It sailed on the sea so wildly. What I saw was more than a feast for the eyes, especially the azure seascape. I even woke up with a smile on my face.

最近沒有機會去東海岸，不過這個秋天裡，倒是和我的熟齡旅行夥伴John和Sharon隨意到處走走，三個總年齡加起來將近150歲的旅客，大概不對年輕人的胃口，但是有專屬司機和導遊John的貼心服務，還有辛辣的Sharon作伴遊，老實說，我還挺自在的。旅行最高境界便是：無入而不自得啊！

I have not had a chance to visit the east coast. However, in this autumn, I checked out some less known places nearby Taipei city with my "mature" travel companions, John and Sharon. Well, young people probably don't find it appealing to travel with three tourists whose total ages approach the colossal number 150. But for me, there is really nothing to complain about with a professional chauffeur and considerate tour guide like John and a straightforward, sometimes too straight, companion like Sharon. To be honest, I am quite in element with them. After all, the ultimate goal for traveling is: Have fun no matter where you go, as the old Confucius suggested.

涼爽的秋日裡，我們三人來到了之前冀望拜訪的金山，美麗的白沙灣已不再令人卻步，夏日的炙熱已褪，只有亮亮的陽光和涼涼的海風，時過三星期，和我們去和平島的感受完全不同，這樣的感受走到戶外甚為明顯。但是一心一意想吃鴨肉的熟齡旅行團心不在焉，我們催促著以慢動作著名的John先生，往下一個目的地前進。

On one cool autumn day, the three of us came to Jingshan, where we'd longed for going. The beautiful Baishawan Beach was no longer intimidatingly hot. The summer heat had faded. We felt nothing but bright sunshine and lovely breezes. Though only three weeks had passed by, the change of seasons was tangible. It was especially obvious outdoors. Yet we didn't have time to linger long. We were so determined to eat the famous ducks that John, who is always renowned for his slowness, was prompted to move faster toward our next destination.

誰知，行前，一向誠實得不能再誠實的Sharon除了闡述鴨肉的美味之外，並未告知其他遊客金山鴨肉莊空前絕後的人潮，所以一當我們踏進那有名的老街，我被恐怖的人群給嚇壞了，原來食客得眼明手快地在一旁等待空位，同時必須加派同團的人手自行至某地點取菜，從頭到尾，我都處於極度驚嚇的狀態，不過俐落的Sharon無畏於下午兩點半依舊流動的人海，迅速有效率地指揮、發號司令，使得熟齡旅行團在短短的二十分鐘內已有滿坑滿谷的菜餚可食用。

I'd always considered Sharon to be an extremely honest person. However, before the trip, she didn't say anything else besides emphasizing the beauty of the duck meat. I had no clue about the CROWDS waiting for us there. As soon as we arrived at the famous Old Street, I was literally terrified by the gigantic number of visitors there. To successfully enjoy a duck feast, the tourists have to not only wait for seats available but also send their fellow tourists to get the dishes somewhere only the insiders were aware of. From the beginning to the end, I was in a over-shocked state. Fortunately, Sharon was as clear-headed and fast-moving as usual. She worked more than efficiently, even trapped in seas of people struggling for food even at 2:30 pm. We had tons of food in front of us within less than 20 minutes.

我面對著大盤地不像話的菜餚，有些不知所措，但對面的陌生旅人以自顧自、很認命的態度〈店內不提供白飯〉，一人對著一盤菜，認真地啃了起來。我盯著鴨肉，心想就是還有一口氣留著的鴨子，見到黑壓壓的人群，就是想逃也會感到前所未有的無力吧！

I was sort of at a loss facing dishes that were larger than the description of words. Strangers sitting across from me dug hard into the food with a nonchalant and resigned attitude. (Rice is no offered in the restaurant and that can confuse us more than non rice-eaters can imagine.) I stared at the duck meat, wondering how helpless they would feel even if they still had a breath. It would be impossible that they still felt like flying away, confronted by the presence of so many hungry human beings.

之後讀了Peter Mayle寫的French Lessons，有關他對法國飲食文化的觀察，相對於法國人的悠閒和優雅，如果梅爾有機會寫一本Taiwanese Lessons，風格應該會截然不同，不過每餐總是吃馬拉松式三小時很累人呢，有時也要來點直爽的、大快朵頤的東西，兩種風格相互交替才好，記得，過而不及啊！

I was reminded of our duck experience after reading Peter Mayle's French Lessons, a book on his observation of French eating culture. If he had a chance to write Taiwanese Lessons, it would be drastically different. After all, we are not a people famed for being elegant and carefree like French people.

My advice is, it can be tiring to have three-hour-long marathon meals all the time. If we can have something as straight and fast as Taiwanese-style meals, it should be fun. But never go to extremes. Bear the wisdom of the ancestors in mind: The Middle Way is the best!

my handicraft / 我的手作品

美燕小姐的民宿要開張了，這些是我的小貢獻！

Meiyen's B & B is about to open. These bottles are my humble gifts!

tender moments III / 溫柔時刻 III

今年夏天參加的moleskine旅遊札記本來到台北巡迴展了，在充滿涼意的秋天裡，我要送你一張機票，前往你想要的城市和國家！

The travel journal I made for the Moleskine contest is on exhibition in Taipei at this moment. In the cool and breezy autumn, I want to give you an airplane ticket and you can choose your own destination!

雖然當時一完成作品，我很清楚地知道自己可以做得更好，不過因為受限於時間，我的確盡力了。展期已經過了一半，連我的專屬經紀人John和Sharon都為我探路過，我拖了兩個星期才親自去信義誠品。雖然我面對於幾個月前的自己，有些不好意思，但是我從其他人的身上看到許多很棒的靈感和表現方法，我要加油啊！

As soon as I finished the work, I was so clearly aware that I could have done a better job. But time was running out then and I think I did my best. The exhibit has been here for more than two weeks. Even my personal agents John and Sharon had checked it out for me. Yet it took me a while to go there in person. I was rather shy about looking at what I had done a few months ago, but I was very glad to learn from other contestants' works. I have to work harder!

雖然我不怎麼以自己為傲，想到城市的另一端，有我的片段，在這個有時令人失望的城市裡閃啊閃的，心就會暖暖的。

I am not too proud of myself. However, on thinking that part of me lives and sparkles at the other end of the city, my heart warms up in this somehow dark city.

MOLESKINE
Invitation au Voyage
Exhibition 2007--TW

展覽日期：
28/9-28/10/2007

展覽地點：
誠品信義店2F精品區
誠品敦南店B1F文具館

tender moments II / 溫柔時刻 II

我的腦中總是充滿著圖像，也可以在一段經歷之後，立刻用創作表達我的想法和感受，不過有人生的大主題，我始終拖啊拖的，我的觀察對象變化之速，讓我跟不上腳步，便安慰自己說，讓他長大吧，等到有一天他夠大了，我再回頭看，一定可以把他的人生重點做最精華的紀錄。

My mind is always full of images. I have no problem expressing myself through art after experiencing even a minor incident. Yet there was a huge theme I kept putting off. My object of observation had changed so fast that I couldn't catch up with him. I then told myself, let him be. One day, when he is old enough, I will surely record his life in the most concise manner when I look back.

最近我終於覺得自己準備好了，計畫把小方的一歲生涯用五張圖表現出來，一邊執行我的想法時，有種醍醐灌頂的領悟，我這樣看著這小子出生、長大、學習，一張圖卻包括了一年又一個月裡的觀察，對別人來說，那只是一張圖，對我來說，那是充滿愛的過程，每個小細節都是身旁的大人用雙眼和心的體會。

Lately I've had the feeling that I am ready. I planned to come up with 5 pictures encompassing Von's one-year-long life. While I was putting down my ideas, I had an epiphany--for others, every picture is no more than an image. For me, every picture includes what we had learned about Von within the past 13 months as I watched him come into the world, grow, and learn. In this long process, it takes love and keen observation to capture each little detail.

所以，我可以了解，越深的愛，越言簡意賅，因為再怎麼形容，都不夠。

So, I've realized the deeper the love is, the harder it is to describe it with words because no matter how much we say, it will never suffice.

這架鋼琴要獻給小時候渴望學鋼琴、卻無法圓夢的你。

This piano is dedicated to you, who desired so much to learn playing the piano yet failed to when you were little.

tender moments I / 溫柔時刻 I

九月初，某個在課堂上聲嘶力竭之後，回到辦公室，桌上放著一朵美麗的白玫瑰，我便有預感，你來過了。我在校園裡用力地尋找著你的蹤跡，你看到我時，笑著說要給我一個擁抱，我有點羞赧地伸出雙臂，儘管如此，你知道我有多麼開心。為了養白玫瑰，我還特地手繪了個花瓶，盡可能地延長她的動人。

On one early September afternoon, after my extremely exhausting "stage performance", I found a lovely white rose on my desk upon coming into the office. I had a feeling that you were here. I searched hard for you in the campus. The first moment I saw you, you offered to give me a hug. Despite my shyness, you must have known how happy I was. To keep the rose, I made a vase in the hope of making her charm last as long as possible.

就在我以為你已經悄悄地離開，某個午後，辦公桌上又多出一朵紅玫瑰，你說是來和我道別的，到了這個年齡，我都要習慣人們的來來去去而不放在心上了，你跛著剛開完刀的腳，千里迢迢地來說一聲再見，那二十出頭的真摯令我很羞愧也很感動。我們沒有咖啡，也沒有小酒館的昏黃燈光和音樂，就只有從冰箱裡拿出來的東海大學優格，很不浪漫地偷借隔壁同事的椅子，卻也同樣盡興。

Then I thought you had returned to the U.S. without saying a word. One afternoon, I found a red rose on my desk. You came to say goodbye. At my age, I am already so numb to people's coming and going. You struggled a long way, with your leg that had just undergone an operation, just to bid farewell. I felt ashamed and touched by your twenty-something sincerity. We had neither coffee or the dim orange light and music of cafes. With the yogurt I found in the refrigerator and the chair of my colleague, we had as much fun.

這些年來，學生做過不少像瘋狂的感謝舉動，我感謝著他們的熱情，雖然我站在講台上總是有些不知所措。但是百分之九十五的人離開之後就遺忘了，我也感謝著他們的遺忘。而你，從頭開始就知道我不完美，還是一直一直地鼓勵著我，看重我的優點，在時空的雙重距離裡努力地記得我，我都深深地記在心上。

These years, students have done many crazy acts for many sakes. I thank them for their enthusiasm though I am always sort of ill at ease when they do that. But about 95% of them forget me after they leave. I thank them for forgetting me as well. You have known from the beginning that I am not perfect, yet you have never stopped encouraging me and told me how you like my strengths. You even try to remember me even though we are in different time and space. I am aware of every good will of yours.

再見又是一年以後的事，分手時我像是和明天還會再見的朋友一樣，雲淡風輕地離開，可是當我坐的公車疾馳而過，我捕捉你坐在校門口等待的神情，很後悔剛才沒有提議給你一個擁抱。但是那溫柔時刻餘留的美好在空氣中繚繞著。

I won't see you until at least one year from now on. When we said goodbye, I pretended you were someone I would still see tomorrow. But when the bus with me on it passed by the school gate and I saw you waiting at the same spot, I regretted not having offered you a hug earlier. Despite this, I felt the soft sweetness left from the tender moment circling in the air.

我是如此地以你為傲，也感謝我們的相遇‧‧‧

I am so proud of you and thankful for our encounter...

along the way / 沿途風景

每年到了這個時候，心總是癢癢的，對於旅行的一切有著無可救藥的嚮往，可能是因為暑假剛結束，很明白有好一陣子走不開了，當身體必須長期停留於某一地時，只好放「心」去飛揚。

Every year at this time, my heart itches. I long for everything about traveling desperately. It might be that the summer break just ended. I am keenly aware that I won't be able to get away for a while. Since my body has to stay fixed to the same place for a long period, I have to let my heart go.

這幾天想著曉寧之前在北美公路旅行捎來的明信片，你從倫敦和巴黎寄來的問候，上個周末又看了Jessie和Celine幾乎是10年前在火車上的邂逅﹝註一﹞，我對旅行中的任何一種移動方式及氛圍都那麼熟悉，也可以想像那時空裡的空氣味道，那些都是被我珍視為人生裡的美麗片段。

I've been thinking about the postcards Alison sent on her road trip to Toronto a while ago and the greetings you sent from London and Paris. Last weekend, I spared some time for reviewing the encounter of Jessie and Celine on the train to Vienna almost ten years ago (note 1). I am so familiar with every form of moving from place to place during the trip. I can even imagine how the air smells at that moment. These are what I regard as the most beautiful fragments in life.

雖然都只是回憶，還好有你，一面形容給我正在進行的生活片段，即使是發生在幾千里遠的城市，我卻清晰地感受到你的能量和喜悅，讓我期許自己，得為我平淡的生活增添一點樂趣，你的離開像漣漪般，積極效應一圈圈擴大，可能是你無法想像的。

These moments are no more than recollections. Yet I have you, so I get to know the life that is going on thousands of miles away. Even so far, I can strongly feel your energy and happiness. Thus, I expect myself to do my best in enjoying every second. Your absence has brought ripple-like effect on others' lives. You might not have expected this.

謝謝你，讓我看到了美好的沿途風景，因為最後我記得的，不是最終的目的地，而是一路遊走的心情。

Thank you for showing me the scenery along the way. What I usually remember is not what I saw at the destinations, but what I experienced when getting there.

﹝註一﹞：「愛在黎明破曉時」

(Note 1): Jessie and Celine are the characters in the movie Before Sunrise (1995).