十二月收到展覽的邀約，我想了很久，怎麼樣都想以樹為主題，在網路上搜索之際，找到了台北市最老的楓香樹，1694年植生，所以算起來也將近三百二十歲，而且這棵樹似乎就在離我很近的木柵路四段，抱著強烈的好奇心，我和蕙玲便踏上尋找楓香樹的小旅行。
I received an invitation for an exhibition back in December. After brainstorming for a while, I decided to work on the topic of trees. I accidentally found that the oldest tree in Taipei, planted in 1694, is in the neighborhood of my school. Prompted by curiosity, Huiling and I embarked on the trip of looking for the Formosan Sweet Gum.
雖然根據一些部落格的描述，這棵楓香樹的位置似乎很好辨識，但是我們兩個轉入木柵路四段159巷之後卻找不著，當地的警衛也表示沒有聽說過，加上我有另一個誤抄的地址寫成149巷，於是我們倆又傻傻地走到那，附近的居民努力地幫我們打聽，並且指向一座躲在新建地後面的山坡，我和蕙玲正要走入山坡口時，前面出現一對夫婦，他們很有警戒心地問我們要去哪，我們說明來意後，他們很大方地回答︰我們家只有相思樹，沒有楓香樹。我不禁在內心喃喃：你們擁有整座山坡啊？我們又跟著夫婦到山坡頂，果然只有一座紅磚屋，他們指了屋子正前方的兩棵龍眼樹，要我們看看是不是要找的樹。雖然沒有找到楓香，但誤闖桃花源的經驗很值得。
Though the location of the tree, according to some blogs, seems to be easily found, but we were at a loss when we turned into lane 159 from the 4th section of Muzha Road. We inquired about it, but even the guard working right there said he had never heard about the tree. Meanwhile, I had another address indicating that the tree should be in the 149th lane, so we turned that way without any skepticism. The residents tried to help us out and pointed to a hill, believing that's where the tree might be. As we were about to go up, a couple in front of us kept turning back cautiously. They asked us where we wanted to go. We told them about our intention. To our surprise, they answered, "Oh, we've only got an Acacia tree." I couldn't help thinking, "What? You own a hill?" We then followed them to their red-brick house at the hilltop. Again they showed us the two longan trees in front of the house, wondering if they could be the trees we were looking for. Although we didn't find the sweet gum tree, it was an unforgettable experience to have met the couple.
正當我要放棄時，美燕幫我聯絡在博嘉國小的同事，果然一問，在地人便表示知道楓香的存在，於是我們再度從159巷沿著陡峭的小路上山，就這樣和台北市最老的樹相遇了！楓香長得又壯又美麗，站在樹面前，我有種說不出的感動。
Right when I was about to give up, Meiyen contacted our ex-colleague who is now working in Bo-jia Elementary School. It turned out that her colleague does know about the tree. The following week, we climbed up the steep path from lane 159 by car. Voila, there was the oldest tree in the city, in front of my eyes. I was moved beyond description.
我試圖從不同角度拍攝楓香，如果它會說話，它會說什麼呢？它見證了台北這個城市三百多年的演進，一定有很多故事可以分享。
I tried to take photos of the tree from different angles. If it could talk, what would it say? It has witnessed the city's change over the course of more than 300 years. I bet there must be loads of stories to tell.
帶我們上山的大哥說，其實沿路來的柏油路是為楓香開的，不過目前沒有明顯的指標，盡量保持自然的樣子，而楓香也一度生病了，還好請了樹醫生來為它治病。大哥說，這個季節葉子都掉光光，秋天和春天的時候，它都很美麗，我說︰它現在也很好看！
Our guide told us that the asphalt road leading to the tree was constructed because of it, but to keep everything natural, there are no blatant signs. And in fact, the tree fell sick once. Fortunately, the tree doctors cured it of the disease. When he said that the tree is obviously more beautiful in fall and spring, I said, "I think it's also beautiful now!"
其實在我第一次出發去找楓香時，展覽的邀約因不知名的原因而取消了，可是我因此遇見了台北市最老的樹，我多麼幸運。
In fact, before I set out to look for the tree for the first time, the exhibition was cancelled for some unknown reason, but I thus encountered the oldest tree in the city. How lucky I am....
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