老人與醫院

斜入門，30度左下角，一個歪嘴斜眼的老太太，好奇
的坐看我們母女倆走進去。

媽很習慣地往裡頭找位子坐，以方便聽電視打發時間；
我則一如往常站立在大門入口處，較易看到燈號的地方。
老太太又看了我一下，終於開口說：「妳陪妳媽來哦？」
我眼光善意地看著她輕嗯了一聲，她未停止，又仰頭說：
「哦，妳真攸效哦(台語發音)。不像我，都是一個人來。
」她不知道，入門前，我才為媽擅自不停點眼藥水而叨唸
她。為了避免日後難以收拾，一定得陪著來才是，再者，
退休後，就更義無反顧了。

接著，她就把我當成老友般，自顧自的講了一連串的話。
她說：「我來這裡看好幾年了，這個醫師真不錯，很有
名，每次都要等很久。」的確，看看上百名的掛號人數
就知道這醫師有很多fans，且看病仔細有問必答、又輕
聲細語，聽在患者尤其老年人心坎裡，真的很受用。由
於已有親身觀察，於是我微笑回答她：「是啊！」
她仍側仰著頭看我，迷茫的眼神，好似期望我吐出更多話
的樣子，但緊接者，她竟問我說：「哦，這醫師，是誰？」
一時，愣著的我還沒回過神，她又問：「他叫什麼名字？」
是暫時性失憶？還是太無聊，找個人說說話也不錯？我只
有趕緊作答：「劉…」「哦…」

未等她再發問，我一溜煙就坐到媽旁邊，正想圖個清淨，
沒想到一坐下，後面一整排的婆婆媽媽們，就開講起來。

「我專程從三重埔坐了四十分鐘的車子，來這裡。」「
我就住在附近，但是也要一早來排隊掛號。」「妳看什
麼？」「青光眼，妳呢？」「我更嚴重，青光眼還有白
內障…」…一開場寒暄，四人先揭露自己的身體狀況，
以拉近彼此距離，不到五分鐘，話題竟已轉到家庭。
「我跟公公住在一起，他都90多歲了，有天照鏡子，看
到自己嚇一跳，說『我頭髮怎這麼白，像鬼一樣，我要
染頭髮』。」「什麼？這麼老的男人還會愛漂亮？」一
陣哄堂大笑。「就是說嘛！我只好去買瓶染髮劑幫他染。
」「妳那麼悠效哦」「沒辦法，我公公生五個男孩，之
前幫人算命看風水，存了點錢，現在財產分光光了，跟
我們住在一起，二年前跌了一跤，就臥床了。」「哦」
「還好有妳照顧…」

好不容易一陣沉寂，沒想到這名吐露心聲的婦女，轉而
問另一名最角落年紀最大的婆婆，「阿桑，妳幾歲了，
怎麼沒小孩陪妳來？」「我80了」她的鼻腔吐出空洞的
呼聲。「妳小孩沒跟妳住一起哦？」「我老大很早就到
美國讀書，住在美國了。我老二就住我隔壁一條巷子，
他的房子還是我幫他買的。18年前，他要結婚娶妻，我
幫他買了房子幫他娶了妻子，但18年來，他都沒來看過
我，也沒帶太太來看我。」頓時，空氣又寧靜了一陣，
仿佛大家都有了默氣，不該再往下問。

「妳沒女兒嗎？」「也嫁出去了，很少來看我。」她的
聲音中有乾哭的腔調，大家試圖轉移氣氛，背對著的我
，也不敢回頭看。「那跟妳來的菲傭，是誰幫妳請的？」
「我自己出錢僱的啊，一個月二萬多塊。」「還好妳較
聰明，自己有留點錢。」「是啊，我年輕時有工作，做
得還不錯…」我心想，團體支持與治療果真有必要。

「叮咚」剛好媽的燈號亮起，我陪著媽起身，走向診間。
一路上，母女倆也對話了。「很有趣哦。」「是啊，大家
怎把家務事都拿出來講了。」「妳看吧，妳算幸運的，還
有我陪在妳身邊。凡事要往好的看，不要想太多…」

媽不再回應，我想有些話，她是要留到和陌生人講的，要
不，下回她獨個到醫院時，那有話題找伴呢？

我又回來了!

各位老友,閉關一陣子後,又重回舊園地,才發現江山代有才人出,Sally Wu同學已取代小弟與陳社長的地位,成為超級寫手了!
我一切都好,日前閉關研讀國科會專題計畫台灣電視名嘴研究相關文獻,目前已理出一些頭緒,所以才能出關透透氣.
好久不見,大家都好吧!
衛生署長楊志良說,單身者較容易得精神病,他其實說的是像我這種中年單身者,頭腦很清楚,但又很孤僻,除了一些老同學外,也沒什麼朋友.徹徹底底地一個人過日子,多多少少都有些精神方面的問題.
但是這種單身狀態卻很適合學術界人士,因為有很多時間可以安安靜靜地做學問.不知陳社長以為然否?
對了,Sally同學,妳應該知道陳社長是誰吧?如果不知,可以用密函詢問海角三號同學,如果也不知道海角三號是誰,可以問溫蒂同學,如果連溫蒂是誰也不知道,就根本不必知道誰是誰了!那就繼續多寫一點,我跟其他老同學每天都會拜讀大作的!
楓葉公婆,你們也都好吧!什麼時候回來聚聚吧!大家順便開個同學會.
我搬家後老同學多半沒來參觀過,應該找個時間來我家聚聚!
先寫到這裡,剛出關,還要暖機一下,以後再慢慢聊了!

致勝關鍵

態度與品格是決定成敗的重要因素!
今天要去參加一位好姐妹又是好客戶M的house warming party。
以前到M打工的店裡吃東西時，
她招呼客人的態度就好似老板一樣的熱誠、親切，
我都以為她就是老板。
果然一段時間後，因緣際會，
她就真的開了自己的店，生意興隆。
從M的身上，我深深學習到一個寶貴的功課:
一個人怎麼看自己，至終就變成什麼樣的人。
當然聖經也有話說，我們要按著神所賜的信心看自己看得合乎中道。
因此用神的眼光看自己加上積極正面的態度，
會使我們享受到許多甜美的果實，
不論是物質的或非物質的。

一樣感恩

傾盆大雨中送孩子們上學，有些"酷酷"的大孩子，
寧願淋成落湯雞，也不撐傘。
聽說下雨時，地上的正離子很多，
負離子很少，所以連帶會影響到人的情緒，
比較容易低落。

但是雨天與晴天一樣的重要，
過與不及都會造成生態損害。

從創世至今，太陽沒有離地球近一寸，熱死人；
也沒有遠一寸，凍死人，
皆因基督用祂權能的命令托住萬有。
要為晴天感謝主，
也為按時降下的春雨秋雨感謝。
敬虔加上知足便是大利。

沒什麼事 問候大家

今天中午和波波一家四口,以及瓊芳,在我們洛杉磯的鼎泰豐吃了一頓美美的午飯.

一.波波一家都可愛,替她高興.(尤其是老公對她好,老婆是一家之主,一望即知)
二.瓊芳買了一票麵包,零嘴,帶回去給家人,看她大包小包拎著,我都幸福起來.(這件事證明我們南加州比北加州"台化"得多,各位若要移民,請考慮清楚哇!)
三.國蘭妹出差到舊金山約不到;忽然想起,奚仔在不在這裡啊?
四.大娘,我每次想起要打電話給你,一算時差總是不對,你若看到,要不要打給我?我只是想跟你拜個年.
五.辛辛那堤佩姬同學,真是保養得宜,還是個美女.真的,我們班的女生都很好認,跟從前差別不大.
六.波波問起Tina陳,也就是JC43開辦人,請琬玲幫我們問候一下好嗎?
七.大家都問:"老胡哪裡去了?" 老胡,我幫你想個題目:虎年論老虎伍茲記者會
八.楓葉婆,我又熊熊生病了,精神不濟(但吃飯的力氣是有的).你要我寫女兒上大學的老媽感想,欠著.
九.提起天下雜誌的殷老師,三人猜測老師想必仍有與二十幾年前一般的威嚴,瓊芳補充道:"我前不久還夢到她,很兇..."

我們還不老,對吧?

Feb '10 - Update from Cincinnati

Dear JC43,

I recently went to Las Vegas to meet up with my mom and my sis, we celebrated my mom's 70th year birthday. Just came back from Vegas. We saw Cirque Du Soleil's KA and O shows, I highly recommend if you visit Las Vegas. http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/lasvegas/en/home/index.asp?icid=dropdown/Las%20Vegas

Attached are recent pics of me (1st pic was taken at a "Project Launch" celebration party, 2nd pic was taken with my co-workers and my boss. I might share Las Vegas pics once I figure out how to download from my blackberry :-)

J.P. Yang

朋友是老的好!

闊別20多年，今天與阿芳在波波家重逢。

奇怪咧! 這麼久沒見，一碰到面，

好像中間分開的時間不曾存在過似的，

大家吱吱喳喳的搶話講。

但是經過時間的磨練，

講起話來似乎都有點哲學家的味道。

波波請我們去Elephant Bar吃中飯，

又買了她那最有名的泡芙給我們小孩吃，

唉! 盛情難卻!

朋友還是老的好!

圖中的手提包，都是波波親手縫製，

為義賣所做的捐獻。

手巧得不得了！

臨走還給我們帶了她做的核桃烤年糕，

和巧克力rum cake，

回到家，小朋友一掃而光，

波波變成我家的英雄人物啦!

我那愛做飯，愛女紅的女兒，

迫不急待想認識她。

03要我們設法找到慧瑛，

打電話去時，已成空號。

阿芳說不久要回台，

可以透過她姐姐與慧瑛的姐姐聯絡，

找到慧瑛的電話，

這樣是不是快齊全了呢?

心與頭

我是"在家上班族"，不知台灣對此是否有新名詞，這點我挺落伍的。今天一位年輕人在我的facebook上寫"轟趴"，我還搞不清楚是啥玩藝? 後經詢問，才知是home party。@_@

我喜歡在家上班的自由，
這樣我不會錯失接送孩子的活動，
孩子一回到家，
也會看見媽媽，
這會給他們一種安全感。

由於時間較彈性，
我通常會利用午休時間，
帶著Miss Poppy在住家附近一邊溜狗，
一邊為所住的社區祝福禱告。
這已成為我每天的例行公事之一。

通常我都沿著一條種滿直挺高聳的紅木小溪行，
紅木是加州州樹，很好的傢俱與建築材料，
我家後院就有三棵，夏天搬張躺椅坐在樹下，
抬頭望天，有到了＂優勝美地＂的錯覺。^_^

每天溜狗總會遇見一對頭髮斑白的老夫妻，
大約是兒女都已離家，
夫妻兩人一天溜三次狗，
當他們的狗還真幸福。

路上也會碰到老中或是東方老夫妻，
好玩的是，老美夫妻大都並肩而行，
不時交頭接耳的閒聊著；
東方老夫妻大都一前一後，
臉上繃得緊緊的，
那緊張好似說明彼此中間幾十年的恩怨情仇！

原因在於老美把夫妻關係放在孩子關係之前，
東方人則把孩子或是家族關係放在夫妻關係之上。
我自己結婚多年來，
特別在孩子出生後也不知不覺步入後塵，
婚姻變得食之無味，棄之可惜。

直到參加了教會所辦的"恩愛夫妻營"，

從中看到自己的盲點，
也了解到女人是用"心"而男人是用"頭"跟人講話交往，
這才恍然大悟兩性對於事情的看法差異之大。
(當然也有的家庭相反，太太粗線條，先生細膩多感)
營會中，我ㄤ在人面前朗讀寫給我的情書，
並且公開求婚。
這個大動作，套句專業術語，
叫做"公開存款"，
這使得兩人原本極窮的關係帳戶裡，
突然一下子存進一大筆款項，
如果以後彼此有磨擦時，
帳戶就不至於成了赤字，
以致感情越來越薄。
這個方法也適用於親子關係中
或任何其他人際關係。

我也從其中再次明白把夫妻關係放到親子關係前的重要性，
先做好人妻，再做好人母的角色，
做媽媽的同時，不要在丈夫面前失去了女人味!
常常對彼此說讚美與感謝的話，

結果婚姻與親子關係因此都進入良性循環當中。

學無止境。人老化的第一現象就是拒絕學新東西，
只想待在 comfort zone 裡。其實適度的好奇心會使人年輕唷!
我非常喜歡學習，跟我一起在美麗的人生中繼續探索罷!

Nov Update from Cincinnati

Dear all,

Time flies, tomorrow is the last day of a almost 5 days Thanksgiving holiday and vacation, am going to face the fact that Mon Nov 30 will be my first day back to office, back to reality and work. Thank God that I have a peaceful Thanksgiving week and did not spend unreasonably on buying either online or in stores. Thank God my family has good health and our church continues to reach out to other places outside of Cincinnati.

Speaking of church, I currently pray for two missionaries, one is Wendy Wong who is a young woman from Hong Kong but will be full time devoted to a remote area in Thailand (the place she will live has no public transportation, no electricity, no wireless, etc) to assist her newly wedded husband/pastor to build up church/school for underprivileged local children and people there (Aka people). The other missionary I pray for is Rod Williamson whose parents, grand-parents, great grand-parents, devoted their lives for Chinese and Taiwanese. Rod and his wife along with 2 teen sons have been living in Taichung, Taiwan in the past several years already, working on ministering & setting up sustainable / scalable seminary property and system for missionaries who come to Taiwan. Every year, our study group will prepare a Christmas gift box and sent to Rod Williamson as a small token of our appreciation, on behalf of the Cincinnati Chinese Church's Friday Night Bible Study Group.

As I wrap up Thanksgiving week and approaching to upcoming month of Dec and Christmas, I specially thank God for his provision - the food we eat, clothes we wear, air we breath, and the natural beauty of trees, birds, wind, mountain, etc.

I wish you a wonderful and peaceful winter vacation and holiday.

Jie-Pay (Peggy)

姑娘的酒窩,笑笑!

中年苦樂自己找,自己知,自己了(斷).既然鬱悶,這張來給大家瞧瞧,要讚嘆,敬佩,嘲笑,都很好.同學是做什麼用的?給妳利用的啦!不過,請大家把驚奇和笑聲留在JC43就好,不要登到八卦大報去.Mama同學,也給妳先睹為歎一下.

我的高中畢業三十年同學會感想

各位JC43老友,久違了,生日快樂!去年這個時候,我們才比較像樣地有過幾場同學會,然後成立了這個園地,我的記性對不對啊?
9/18-9/20,一百三十名高中同學在洛杉磯太平洋棕櫚飯店開了畢業三十年的同學會,不到四十八小時的內容,花了我們十個月的籌劃和準備.當它終於來了,過去了,我的體力和感情都只能用透支來形容.最後一個早上大家吃完早飯,就要分手,各自必須回去再當媽媽和妻子...哭了,有一個人開始掉眼淚,馬上變成傳染病,我沒想到我真的會看到幾十人都在哭的場面,那是多麼的震撼.以前學姊說她們三十重聚的時候哭,我都不以為意,想說沒有那麼感性吧!
沒想到我自己的眼淚從台上滴到台下,兩天來一直沒真正停住.之所以在這裡說,是因為我想跟女同學分享感觸,那種幾十年來辛苦過日子的種種,我們女生會懂的,常常是一身傷,滿心酸,新聞系的女生怎能訴說,如何示弱?可以的!
沒事沒事,我們同學會的開懷時刻自然是遠遠的超過傷感的時候,而且在此報告,我們班除了我之外,還到了瓊芳和慧君.大家都是中年女子了,說話走路吃飯穿衣等等等等,卻還是那麼熟悉啊,真好!
老胡,公行系的女生到了四個,你全認識的,來同學的父親還問我們知不知道你現在是電視界聞人...(他怕我們出國久了不知道.)

唔,崔寶瑛,我有二十六年沒聽過這個名字了吧?國蘭妹和老胡記性好.
今天是教師節,胡教授,薇薇(幼稚園?)老師,還有哪幾位在校園助人子弟的,祝福你們快樂!

哈囉

七月份原是慶生大月啊，卻只正好來得及跟阿亮祝壽。

Kathy、溫蒂、斐玟、澳門漢、社長樣和失聯的慧瑛：祝你們天天健康快樂！

這個七月份我們真忙。忙著度假：楓葉公的年休假，我們一家三口沒出遠門，忙著整理十年沒動過的儲藏室、忙著設法修理忽然故障的電腦螢幕、忙著在家張羅每天的吃吃喝喝、在家附近四處｢散健康步｣、到圖書管借DVD回家看....不過中間還接待了一位來溫度假、小我們六屆的學妹一家四口。

話說小我們六屆的49屆 (我當電台助教時帶的第四班)，今年是他們畢業20年啦！於是他們也要辦同學會、也架起了部落格，那部落格裡的熱情、熱鬧、溫馨和時不時出現的暗潮洶湧，看著真是再熟悉不過了啊。想起了咱們自己去年揚起的萬丈波濤....

對了，這個暑假我這老狗還學會了一點新把戲：用Windows Movie Maker製作和剪接影片，然後upload上YouTube。各位如果閒極無聊，不妨上YouTube去搜尋｢Folsom Singers｣，就會看到一些楓葉公拍的、楓葉婆參加的合唱團的演出片段。楓葉公說我們今年真的唱得還不錯聽，極力建議我向同學們老王賣瓜一下。

Windows Movie Maker的使用法是我央求多福的同學教我，害羞的他抝不過，只好把使用法製成教學影片放在YouTube上，讓我自己邊看邊試做，我就這樣學會啦！同學們如果也有興趣試一試，儘可參考這段教學影片，他作得還真不錯：　
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_A_AUgZlns

July Update from Cincinnati

Hi,

Below is my update:

• My son (Franklin) has decided to go to CMU. Only 5 weeks left, I will soon become an empty nester. Franklin recently starts his summer job, he will be painting a wall outside a big / high building for the Cincinnati ArtWorks program, one of the Mural projects to beautify the city of Cincinnati.
• Work is very hectic due to competition among peers. I start to see few senior people left the Company quietly (they probably received packages due to bad economy, big companies are down-sizing). To deal with hectic work schedule and stress, I set a goal to balance work/life, so recently join Life Style center (a health center) locates inside my company/building. I see my trainer now twice a week, each time is a 30 min session. Unfortunately, I ate a piece of cake at the annual celebration right before the first 1:1 session with my trainer, so I felt awful - felt the food was coming back up to my throat. Now I am in my 3rd week, I gradually feel moderately Ok during and after the session.
• Our dog "Paws" is as annoying as usual, so I leave him to my husband and son to take care.
• During June / July, we went on two small scale vacation, Seattle and Chicago, we had a lot of fun (enjoyed walking down the streets of downtown). I highly recommend downtown of Chicago (Micigan Ave.), we found good tasty WoW Bao (hot Asian buns) and Jamba Juice (freshly squeezed juice).

I wish you all have a great summer.

God Bless.

Jie-Pay (Peggy) Yang

歷史留下的記載

這幾天在台北,晚上睡覺前略為服用”新歌”,每每看得哈哈大笑,例如,大四班史記載:
民國七十一年七月六日,陳隆蓮助教在攝影棚教廣電組同學操作半吋帶,不料錯放兒童不宜的帶子,廣電組小朋友目瞪口呆,陳助教手足無措.

十二月三日,系際杯籃賽,男生與教育之戰,奚仔一反尋常,不論在任何角度出手都能得分.

民國七十二年五月三十日:侯天佩當選畢業後聯絡人…傍晚一行男女坐在系館階梯曬太陽,老胡表演鐵馬基本騎法,技驚四座.

新歌4內屢屢提到”新四報導”,好像是不定期出刊的東西,我一點印象也沒有,那是什麼?一張報紙嗎?楓葉婆可以解答我的疑問吧?

朱伯弟兄,跟您報告,我太敬佩你們在緬甸的事工,那個軍頭統治的國家,需要大量的愛心.社長,我前兩年採訪洛杉磯緬僑,第一次看到他們尊崇的國旗,也嚇一跳,跟ROC的那麼像.這世上我不懂的事情,太多了.

“ i Love Myanmar ”

頭一次到緬甸。除了昂山素姬，只聞緬甸是封閉又貧窮的國度。2008年5月2日，特強氣旋風暴納爾吉斯（Nargis）橫掃緬甸，死亡人數估計超過十三萬。此行主要是去探望災後重建的村莊，以決定日後繼續支援他們的方式。2009年5月中，在仰光（Yangon）登上了聯合國提供的直升機，同行者除了領隊Daniel & Levi夫妻和兒子一家三口，還有皆為國營的一家報社和兩個電視台的採訪隊、多位當地知名的流行音樂歌手等一行二十人，飛了個多小時，就抵達了第一條村莊。他們說，若走陸路，再加水路，少說也要八、九個小時。

眾多散落在這片廣大無垠的伊洛瓦底江三角洲村莊，皆沼澤瘴癘之地，既沒自來水、電、煤，浴室、茅廁也是露天的；電話等通訊自然欠奉。由於交通不便，村莊從來與世隔絕，直到遭逢天災，家園盡毀，屍浮遍野……政府無能為力又不願對西方救援開放。

Levi是一位緬甸的山族女子，雖移居美國多年，驚聞故鄉巨變，就激起了同胞愛，經禱告後即舉家毅然返國救災去。可是，一個平反凡女人，還帶著兩個孩子（大兒子Samuel和手抱大的幼女Emmanuel），能做甚麼？謝蒼天，幾經曲折，女兒更在緬甸期間突然病逝……今天我們看到Levi一家努力的成果處處，教人感動：爭得政府高層信任後Levi以記念女兒而命名的Emmanuel Foundation（www.ilovemyanmar.org），在全國推出「我愛緬甸運動」“i Love Myanmar”，除了提供緊急物資，他們在災區已搭建了一千間民居、多所學校和教會房舍，重建的工程還在進行中，教育、醫療等軟體建設，也經已放進Daniel & Levi的行事日程，只待相應的支持行動。一位村民告訴我們，風暴中洪水幾乎淹沒了他們的房子，但為了全家能夠平安而感恩萬分；另一位村民則失去了所有的家人，悲痛莫名，但 “Emmanuel” 來到又讓他感受到從沒嚐過的愛，因此也滿懷感恩。

回港後，越發感恩，今天我們可以活在香港台北，上網開同學會、觀鳥，這裡真是天堂。不是嗎？

p.s. 003你自己的台北記行何時出爐？

Feb Update from Cincinnati Ohio

My son (Frankie) just received admission from Ohio State, University of Michigan, and Purdue. He is waiting for news from Carnegie Mellon. He wants to be an industrial designer, is very strong in art and has been in AP arts for 2 years. We are very proud of his love and passion in design, painting, ..etc. We are very pleased and happy for him, as he is entering into another life stage. It is a mixed feeling, I am wondering how I am going to manage my emotions and have the house to me and my husband without his voice and messy room once he goes to college Fall this year. This morning, when we had breakfast together, we unintentionally chatted about selling our house so we can get a newer one once Frankie goes to college. Frankie was in shock when he listened to our conversation, he shared he needs a place, a home, a room, ..so going to college does not mean cutting the line with where he grows up from and familiar with. All his friends and social network is here (Anderson township). I guess I never thought about the importance and significance where we live and what it means to Frankie. Therefore, we assured him that we will not move or change even he goes to college.

I recently spent a lot of time watch Jay Chou's performance on YouTube.com (after work). I am amazed how talented he is, I wish he can come to Cincinnati to perform in the future (I wish). I especially enjoy watching his live concerts on YouTube, his dance move, playing piano, and other instruments. When I was in Taipei back in Dec, I never noticed he is a big start over there, not till I came back and accidentally searched then watched his performance on YouTube.

Tomorrow is Sunday, church day, I wish you all have a peaceful Sunday.

Jie-Pay Peggy Yang

淡忘的512

或許我們已淡忘了四川512大地震。災區百廢待舉。上週代表教會探訪幾個點，從成都出發，經過德陽、綿陽、江油、北川…（一些早在新聞片中聽過看過卻沒去過的地方），我們的物資援助雖然杯水車薪，總算雪中送炭，一些山區的村落連吃都成問題…相形之下，住在香港（或台北）就豐裕、幸福多。感恩啊。施比受更為有福。【 除了努力做瑜珈或故意失戀，多走幾轉四川災區其實也可以減肥。哈哈。】

瑜珈三部曲~道友故事

C老師上課時特重互動，包括師生和同學之間。於是偶而一開始上課，會讓大家找朋友來聊聊彼此學習的經驗，如為何來上課、上瑜珈之後對身心或其他方面的影響和改變是什麼？…

同學們通常就著方便找身邊或左或右的朋友來談。由於忘了第一位朋友的故事，所以趕緊將記得的其他道友故事寫下來，和大家分享。

有位瑪麗說，她之前在社區開辦的瑜珈教室上課，已有4年經驗，但容易受傷，改到此地上課後，覺得老師們教法較安全，不會勉強同學們做高難度動作。不過某老師心未打開，上課不管學生們程度參差不齊，經常不停止的指導學生們繼續動作。這位燙了一頭爆炸米粉頭挺炫的同學，是我在上活力瑜珈課認識的新朋友，由於經驗豐富段數頗高，老師們在教導烏鴨飛起(蹲身兩手趴地兩腳分掛兩手上)或頭倒立動作時，她都游刃有餘且熱心十足，所以在我不知天高地厚為了圖些變化越級上活力瑜珈課時，她經常主動教導我，是我的小老師，且年紀相當只小我4歲，可惜她上午得上班，通常上下午課，相遇機會不大。

另位朋友，只有30初頭，她有一雙黑白分明的大眼睛。令我訝異的是，年紀如此輕的她，外表看不出6年前因罹患乳癌和失戀才開始學瑜珈，最早在亞歷山大，2年前改到此地。她這句「瑜珈是越練越簡單的活動」，有醍醐灌頂當頭棒喝之效，初學至今5個月，瑜珈對我來說，還是挺困難的，尤其筋骨和手臂腰力都開展有限，雖然老師說進步很多，仍是體力心力與毅力的拉距戰，她的經驗，可激勵我朝正向看待此練習。問她練瑜珈對體力不會負荷過重嗎？她答因右邊開刀拿掉淋巴做過化療，所以練瑜珈反而能讓她經常酸痛的右手臂復原較快，這也更正了我過去的刻板印象，以為類似復健應採用緩和方式作為，但也可能因她的勇敢和堅定才能走過這6年。簡短談完立刻告訴她你很勇敢，心底也升起一股祝願她平安度過5年用藥期的念頭。

第三位印象較深的，就是今天同課堂的另一位大眼妹。她說練2年半瑜珈，最大改變是2年後自然對葷食反胃而改吃素，我回答她道行挺深的，飲食方面至今我仍不離瑜珈行者所歸類的惰性和變性食物，零食、冰淇淋、蛋糕、巧克力、甜食、堅果、酒、咖啡、茶等，都是我愛吃且有機會就吃的，所以上瑜珈課第一個月還減重2公斤，第二個月起不但復重又加重了1公斤，看來在下光是口腹之慾都克制不了，遑論達到身心靈的清澈與平衡平靜，可能沒機會做行者了。

聊完後，老師也會和我們分享部分同學的經歷。有人上1年課不但減重10多公斤，和老公關係也較和協少掉情緒性的溝通，像這類效果肯定會引來教室一陣羨慕的騷動；有人則會問老師自己有沒更瘦點、屁股有沒更蹺點、手臂是否不見蝴蝶袖了…，當然在注重心靈層次提升的老師眼裡，這非練瑜珈之道，然後就會有一陣洗滌心靈談話，讓你在當下真覺得自己清了明了。

記得滿月時，老師問我有何改變時，期待的便是更有靈性的感受，可惜孺子不可教，我直說瘦了，腿更有力讓腰捍挺直，平凡如一般人的應答，怕是離瑜珈行者更遠了。

誠如老師說過的，「這是需要時間的」。5個月過去了，的確，在心理層面上較平靜，尤其對時事新聞已不復見過去職業焦慮症，看報紙和電視的起伏漸漸放下了。但另一方面，瑜珈成為我另一種執著，若沒遠行，每周必上個5天10堂課，日日起早搭菜戶便車，以減少車程與時間，如此經常讓菜戶笑我好像還在上班一樣，我也嘲笑自己是在假性上班，這又讓我起了狐疑，瑜珈究竟是我一個暫時的避風港還是永久的停泊處？

讓時間解答囉。

My 7-day Taipei Trip

All,

Below is a summary of my trip to Taipei, I shared with my sisters. So, the following is a summary targeting for my sisters without additional editing. I have not been back for more than 15 years. I am very impressed about what I saw and experienced during the past several days.

Day 1 in Taipei:
We are impressed by the courtesy of Taiwanese people; the Taxi drivers are very polite and very conversational. People work in Hyatt is at par with the Sheraton customer service representatives I met back in Kobe Japan few years ago. We woke up and stopped by Taipei 101 at late 10 am closer to 11 am ish so we saw the opening of the food court. My first breakfast in Taipei 101 is oyster pancake and fish ball soup. We then window shopped all the expensive retail stores in Taipei 101, and visited the world claimed highest tower. Our lunch in Taipei 101 was sitting by Sushi bar, having sushi. The bill was about US $20, which was very reasonably inexpensive. Then, freshly squeezed juice. We then went to Museum Palace, saw display, and listen to symphony (a weekend program)…all were free o f charges due to weekend. We then went to鼎泰豐 for dinner. When we came back to hotel, it was about 9 PM local time, we were so tired and went to sleep without cleaning or brushing our teeth.

Day 2:
We had breakfast in Starbucks (very good bakery), then we met Danny’s aunt in our apartment. Before we were in our apartment, we were looking around and I could not find the location because it has been changed so much. I did not take any pics from apartment except SAT book and Danny/EJ marriage certificate; I did not feel of taking anything without you guys around, so it might be my next visit or future visits. Then, we said goodbye to aunt, we bought some more bakery and candies on the way back to Subway station, Aunt recommended a shop that is close to our apartment which is very famous, broadcasted by TV program. We went back to Taipei 101 and had Shabu Shabu, less than $10 per person so it is a very reasonable price. Franklin had sushi again after Shabu Shabu; he enjoyed sushi too much to miss; We had fresh juice again afterward. At night, we went to a night market close to Taipei 101, very crowded; we did not buy anything, just looking. I learned my lesson not to buy anything to regret from my Hong Kong experience (all goodies will turn to junk when it is day light). I had octopus balls (Japanese snack) and then we had good sweet icy dessert afterward (with pearls), again, it is a very famous station with a line of people. We did not eat dinner; Franklin had few bread from bakery (from morning leftover).

Day 3:
We had breakfast in one of the coffee shops of food court of Taipei 101, again, we saw they open the store, we were their first guests – we had fresh coffee and bakery, we were in heaven. We went window shopping, 新光三越(信義區). We did not buy anything, b/c the price is too high, and we can buy the same thing in US with reasonable price. Franklin likes a brand – D.G., the people work there wear fancy clothes, pointy shoes, spiky hairs, etc. He did not buy the shoes b/c it will be US $150 a pair. We window shopped and shopped, when I went back to hotel, my toes de-formed, from toes to flat deformed shape due to walking in uncomfortable shoes. We did try to buy comfy shoes for me, but, either too pricy or no fitted size. We went to書店 : 誠品 , Franklin enjoyed all the designer featured furniture and stuff (with a big sign of “no touch”), b/c he will become a designer someday, very good aspiration for him to see all the famous Asian designer products. We had lunch inside the food court of新光三越. I had oyster pancake again as my pre-lunch appetizer. We had the same type of food as 鼎泰豐, but not as good as 鼎泰豐, comparing to US food, it was good enough, and Franklin enjoyed it. We saw many working people having lunch there (lunch set). We went back to rest, then took ta xi to宵夜 : 復興南路+信義路口 à 清粥小菜. That was the only one we did not enjoy b/c we picked the wrong one, we picked the one run by Cantonese, so the taste was oil y and full of Cantonese duck flavor in every dish, so we rushed our dinner and came back to buy more bread from bakery (a safe resort).

Day 4:
Today, it is my birthday, so we plan to go to新光三越(信義區) A11號 6F 紅豆食府 for lunch to celebrate. 紅豆食府 was a good choice for my birthday. After lunch, we went to our uncle’s art studio 楊興生工作室. We took subway to his工作室. We talked to two faithful and loyal workers (2 ladies) who work for our uncle. We were impressed by his paintings and very proud of him. You can check out his website http://www.artyhs.idv.tw/ . Uncle called me when I arrived back in hotel, we chatted, I also talked to his son, and they are nice people. Uncle wanted to take me out to dinner, but I nicely turn him down. He wanted me to say Hi to our mom, he said he missed our mom. His son told me that our uncle got heart attack and cancer within 3 years, but he is recovering, getting better. However, when he called me yesterday, he was on his way back home from hospital due to a cold. His son sounds very nice and knows how to take care his father.

We also went to the park where Ben and I took our wedding picture and video, same place but it seems bigger with two more new buildings. We saw few high school students practiced dance move there after school. We went back to 101, had dinner on the 5th floor.

I called our half-sister, but her daughter answered the phone when I called her church. She was not there, her daughter told me she only goes to church to work when there are younger children (sounds like she is in charge of a children program). I decide not to bother her anymore, b/c she might not want her daughter knows about us.

Day 5:
Everyone here is very excited to prep for New Year eve event, a lot of policemen on the street, a lot of small food/snack stands, I bought and ate some. We had morning coffee as usual, except I tried hot rice drink (w/ coffee), different this time, not as good as I thought. Lunch in 101 basement again, Japanese style. We then went to watch a very good Japanese movie, a drama and suspense movie which I enjoyed but Franklin can only guess what was going on. Dinner in 101 again, sushi, Franklin’s choice. We are now in the hotel, watching TV, listened to the 101 event台北101 跨年 新年not far away from us. We can watch from our window, see thousands of people in front of the stage. Ben and Franklin would like to go out to celebrate new year when we get closer to 12 mid night. 2 more days left to enjoy Taipei. All these past few days, I was looking for people who might look like F4, however, very disappointed; people here are not like F4 at all, not even close.

We watched fireworks with others, very impressive of number of people on the street, mostly younger people. We counted down together, then we bought snack from 7-11 stand, a boiled egg, tou-fu, fish and meat balls in a bowl of soup, we walked back to hotel watched TV programs.

Day 6
We had 鼎泰豐 and Perl tea. We went to watch a New Year program / symphony in National Music Theater, a 2-hour long symphony / orchestra, it was so high end, high class that we all went into deep sleep during the program. It was worth it, b/c I had never been so relaxed, fallen asleep quickly. A very expensive beauty sleep. I noticed a lot of people, old or young, did go into sleep during program too. Prior to the program, we went to 士林 Shilin night market, very crowded, filled with tourists.

Day 7
We had lunch/清粥小菜 in 新光三越. We then window shopped. Franklin actually bought a T-shirt like fleece in Net yesterday, and he bought a Nike bag in night market (the one close to where we used to live). We enjoyed walking in this night market; better comparing to Shilin, we went back to hotel, watched TV and packed. This marks a closure of our stay in Taipei. (We did not have a chance to go to 淡水漁人碼頭, may be next time, next year).



In general, I am very proud of Taiwanese people, they are working very hard, to make a living. The economy is not good, it reflected in the清粥小菜 business b/c the owner went down to greet us when we were still inside the Taxi, paying the driver. We were shocked first, not knowing who she is, then figured out she tried to drag us inside the清粥小菜 shop she owns. She told us it used to be many more清粥小菜 shops but only few left due to bad economy. I also enjoy watching news on TV, much better story-telling and visual then Cincinnati news. There is a TV program both Ben and I enjoy, the host is a lawyer, and guests are humorous (not low class), we watch every day before bed time. I do not think I can survive here in Taipei Taiwan, people are hard working, smart, changing pace quickly, like Hong Kong people and Japanese. One thing I notice is people get up late, we usually are the first ones out, the street is pretty empty when 9 AM ish. By the way, Danny’s aunt is very nice, just like Danny, very helpful and tried to fold clothes in Daddy’s room when she saw the clothes hanging in front of Daddy’s bookcase.

我最近奶奶個熊地有點忙

今年國科會研究計畫線上申請截止日為12月31日午夜12點整.我這幾年都利用政大選舉研究中心的資料做研究,嫌跟國科會申請研究經費太煩,所以好久沒跟他們打交道了,今年想試試看申請個研究案,題目是:電視名嘴 (專職電視新聞評論員 )職業生涯與工作型態研究.明知道這案子不容易過,還是弄弄看,沒過也沒關係,反正做此研究花不了什麼錢,我還是會花一年時間把研究做完,然後出成書,當做我的下一本學術著作.
感謝JC43,讓我最近寫作能力明顯提昇許多,所以,用七天的剩餘時間寫研究企畫案,應該沒有問題,只是上來留言的時間就少了,先跟各位打個招呼,免得又猜我跑哪兒去了!同時,各位對我的研究主題如有建言,請盡快賜教,我好寫進企畫案中.
奚公終於又出手了!寫得真好!佩服佩服!能得陳社長肯定,奚公這輩子就值得了!!!
我這三個月經常提醒自己,一定要再不斷提昇寫作品質,才能不辜負陳社長厚望.這種壓力不是外人所能想像的!
還君與老馬的中長篇也寫得精彩!各方回應更熱鬧.大娘不妨也寫寫長篇,讓大家熱鬧熱鬧 !
團團圓圓要到了,我可能是本班所有同學中住得跟這兩姊弟最近的人了!我們是不是應該辦個貓熊同學會,看完這兩隻肥仔後再來我家坐坐!

p.s.泛綠支持者會不會動員群眾去動物園捧台灣黑熊的場,以沖淡團團圓圓的統戰效果,而演變成新一波奶奶個熊的統獨論戰?