the "mature" female travelers / 熟齡旅行團之熟女日記

身為熟齡旅行團的團員之一，我努力地尋找出遊的好機會，眼看美燕位於新社的民宿就要開張了，我興沖沖地邀請John和Sharon和我同行，誰知這輩子從未拒絕過我的John大叔居然冷冷地回答：「台中太遠了，你還是自己去吧！」雖然我有些落寞，卻沒想到這其實是上帝為我開了另一扇窗‧‧‧

As one of the three group members of mature travelers, I open my eyes wide and seek opportunities for fun all the time. As Meiyen's B & B was about to open, I couldn't wait to invite John and Sharon. Well, John, who had never turned me down in this life, only replied nonchalantly, "Taichung is too faraway. Why don't you go by yourself?" Though I felt kind of disappointed, I didn't know that there was something else God had in store for me.

於是我得到和一群熟女同車的機會，沿途的樂趣請待下回分解。過了兩個多小時愉快又自在的車程，我們終於來到了傳說中已久的民宿。在感人的開幕典禮中，美燕解釋，這棟美麗的房子源自於她想要為父親圓夢，因為王爸爸一直嚮往定居於風光明媚的鄉間，美燕和友人便排除萬難，其間也經歷過各式各樣的挫折和考驗，但是數個月之後，在許許多多人的幫忙下，終於實現了王爸爸的夢想。

Then I won a lovely chance to travel together with a car of beautiful, mature ladies. As for the story, please read my next post. After a little more than two hours, we finally came to the legendary B&B. In the heartwarming grand open ceremony, Meiyen explained that the inspiration for this house actually came from her father. He had longed to spend his old age in the scenic countryside. Meiyen, with the support of her enthusiastic friends, overcame all sorts of difficulties. Several months later, she finally fulfilled her dad's dream. Of course, many kind-hearted people gave her a hand along the way to make the dream come true.

就當我們一如往常地生活，還只是在作夢時，美燕不時地往返台北台中，從大都市到鄉下的路途沒有直達車，她卻和朋友默默地朝著原本認為不可能的夢想前進，一日復一日，我們抱怨著無所作為時，她的夢想有了架構，然後生根、茁壯。有這樣的朋友，我覺得自己很幸福，我也要如此腳踏實地去築夢。

As we lived our day-to-day life and daydreamed without taking any action, Meiyen traveled between Taipei and Taichung. She had to transfer from the big city to the country, but she and her friends got closer and closer to her dream silently. Day after day, while we were still complaining that life didn't give us anything, her dream took shape, was rooted, and even grew. I feel very lucky to have such a friend. Seeing what Meiyen has achieved, I am encouraged to go after my dream with such down-to-earth spirits.

美燕給我為民宿盡一份心力的機會，再加上有慧眼的美鳳為我的手繪瓶子選擇了很棒的背景，這是民宿裡浪漫的玫瑰角落，來訪的友人們紛紛於此攝影留念。

Meiyen gave me a chance to do something for her house. Meifong, who has always been insightful, chose an excellent spot for my hand-painted vases. This is the romantic rose corner in the house. Many visitors were eager to take a photograph here.

民宿附近就是迷人的花海區，最近(11月17日)花季才正要開始，亮麗的波斯菊已經等不及了喔！

Near the B&B is the charming flower field. The flower festival is about to start (November, 17th). The brightly-colored coreopsis can't wait!

the "mature" travelers II / 熟齡旅行團之二

某個周末，有點悶的John又有了出遊的念頭，我為他出了個難題，有鑑於上回金山之旅的恐怖人潮，我說，這一次我們一定得選人煙稀少之處，John身為智囊團團長，立刻便想到有趣的景點，我和Sharon二話不說，自然就搭上了John的遊覽車。

On a certain weekend, John, who was rather bored, felt the desire to take a short trip again. In light of the crowds we ran into on the trip to Jingshan last time, I gave him a difficult question. This time we gotta choose a spot rarely visited. As the head of our think tank, it didn't take him a long time to figure out a place that could meet my demand. So without further ado, Sharon and I got in John's professional coach car and set forth.

下著毛毛雨的周六午後，我們三人沿著人跡越來越稀少的汐止前進，原來John特地為我們選定白雲森林小學，雖然我對教育說不上那麼熱衷，對於遠離城市、一心想執行教育理想的森林學校多少也有些嚮往，所以心裡還挺期待的。不過待我們接近目的地時，只有偶然經過的一兩部車，要住在這樣的山上過學習的生活，還真是出世。

On the drizzly Saturday afternoon, we three headed for Xi-tse. The further we went, the fewer people we saw. John chose White Cloud Summerhill School for us. Well, to be honest, I am not so passionate about education, but I was rather curious about this kind of free schools. It wouldn't hurt to find out how to carry out the ideals of education by living away from big cities. Yet as we got close to our destination, there was hardly any car passing by. Such a life is quite secluded, I thought to myself.

我們三人想下車一探究竟時，大門口突然衝出校狗衝鋒隊，我們越接近，狗吠就越猛烈，我立刻打消進去一探究竟的念頭，天不怕地不怕的Sharon也本能性地躲到一邊，只有勇夫John還不顧一切的往門內瞧，並且想用他的特殊身分請求值日的老師通融，果然是從事教育數十年如一日的中流砥柱啊！

When we were about to get off the car and take a closer look, the guardian dogs lunged forth. Seeing us approach, they barked like crazy. Born with an innate fear for dogs, I didn't feel like going in there anymore. Even Sharon, who is hardly afraid of anything, ran for shelter. Only the brave John insisted on going nearer. He even thought of talking to the teacher on duty with his "special" status. What could we say? He is always so devoted to education.

受不了我和Sharon的命令砲轟，John識趣地回到車上，雖然我們的校外教學有些失望，但是我想上帝大概是要說，休假日時，先把那些教育的偉大議題放在一邊吧！畢竟來日方長呢！

Bombarded with orders from me and Sharon, John didn't have any choice but to get in the car. Our field trip was sort of disappointing, but I took it as a message from God--Put aside the issues on education on weekends. After all, the future days are long!