打工

很多人都有大學打工的經驗, 我也是.

我大二的時候, 在一間奶茶店打工, 那時的課業算是忙, 因為念的學校是二年級末才可以申請科系, 完全是看頭兩年的成績決定, 那時還有參加社團, 雖然是玩樂性質多一些, 但確實也用了不少時間.

開始的時候, 是做外場的工作, 外場工作除了招待客人, 還要打掃, 還要洗碗. 第一天, 就把杯子打破, 更慘的是, 把手也挖一塊肉下來.  還以為我的第一天會是最後一天...

還好, 那時的老闆並沒有這麼做, 我就繼續從外做到內. 那時候, 奶茶店是可以抽菸的, 每天都是忙到一兩點, 帶著滿滿煙味的衣服回家, 還無法一下睡著.

雖然那時的老闆給我機會, 但我必須說他不是很好的老闆, 一開始, 會覺得他很厲害, 三十出頭, 就可以自己開店, 後來才知道, 他還住在家裡, 店的股東是他父母, 而他忙著把妹.  慢慢的, 店裡的生意就不是那麼好了.

做了一年多, 某天晚上, 我拖著店裡沉重的垃圾去店後丟, 看著滿天的星星, 我問自己幹麼在這浪費時間? 抽了一年的二手菸... 家裡也沒什麼支持, 雖然我常帶飲料給他們, 我媽只有一次說你是不是該換更有挑戰性的工作, 我當下非常生氣, 她不懂, 她沒有做過服務業, 她沒端過盤子, 她沒被客人罵過.

後來離開了奶茶店, 但那時的經驗, 讓我成長了很多, 那時的戰友, 雖然沒幾還有連絡, 但有聯絡的, 都是一輩子的朋友.

現在有時忙亂之餘, 還會想起那純真與社會交叉的年代, 那永遠做不完的茶, 和最好吃的珍珠...

散場的擁抱

最新的洗腦歌, 是一個混帥哥唱的, 聽說他是名製作人王偉忠力捧的新人, 看來會混得不錯!


從妳的眼角 慢慢地明瞭
我能做的很少
原來妳藏著傷 但不想和我聊

妳選的電影 像某種預告
不坦白的主角
最後流著眼淚 堅持獨自走掉

散場的擁抱 我還在燃燒
但妳心裡的浪潮 拒絕讓我看到
妳煎熬 不肯定什麼是最想要
愛才又像樂園又像監牢

散場的擁抱 混亂的心跳
多寧願只是爭吵 還能道歉和好
我知道 妳留著和他所有合照
明明面前是答案 卻撕掉 不要

呵護地祈禱 溫柔地討好
愛能讓人渺小
苦笑冒充微笑 浪漫得不肯逃

散場的擁抱 我還在燃燒
但妳心裡的浪潮 拒絕讓我看到
妳煎熬 不肯定什麼是最想要
愛才又像樂園又像監牢

散場的擁抱 混亂的心跳
多寧願只是爭吵 還能道歉和好
我知道 我們和你們不能比較
但我的愛多強悍 出乎妳預料

散場的擁抱 我還在燃燒
但妳心裡的浪潮 拒絕讓我看到
妳煎熬 不肯定什麼是最想要
愛才又像樂園又像監牢

散場的擁抱 混亂的心跳
多寧願只是爭吵 還能道歉和好
我知道 太美的回憶像副手銬
越是掙脫越纏繞 我比妳明瞭

三毛和她的那棵樹

前幾天才與蛋糕姐姐去唱KTV, 點了首橄欖樹, 幾個七年級的小朋友用疑惑的眼神看我, 尤其上首才唱楊丞琳很熱鬧的歌.  看網路的新聞才知道昨天是三毛過世二十周年.  有關三毛, 大概只有看過她寫有關非洲那個沙漠的那本, 你如果認識的女生也想去埃及, 沙漠流浪, 大多是中三毛的毒.  不記得她寫了什麼, 但我記得三毛的人如筆, 都是很70年代的感覺, 要自由, 要找人生的目標...

其實她的一生, 跟那個被拍成人間四月天的小摩差不多, 小時候家裡很好, 被送去名校上課, 但就愛搞浪漫, 愛的死去活來, 後來就真的自殺了.  有錢, 有浪漫, 有文藝, 有才華, 有愛情, 有時間, 不必擔心生活, 這就是可以拍成連續劇的文人.

但話說回來, 她的橄欖樹歌詞簡單, 但很有味道, 越年長越了解其意思, 比起幫楊丞琳寫詞寫的上半句不接下半句, 強很多了...

不要問我從那裡來　我的故鄉在遠方
為什甚流浪　流浪遠方　流浪
為了天空飛翔的小鳥
為了山間輕流的小溪　為了寬闊的草原
流浪遠方　流浪
還有還有　為了夢中的橄欖樹橄欖樹
不要問我從那裡來　我的故鄉在遠方
為什麼流浪　為什麼流浪遠方
為了我夢中的橄欖樹

bye bye 2010

Another great year is coming to an end.  2010 has been very good to me, I have been to more weddings, some of my best friends since high school.  It was a great year career wise.  I have prayed at the temple, I have gone to the hospital with my grandma, I have been the best man 4th time.

oh, and I have finally met Ms. Cake.  Of course, we first met 5 years ago, but not really knowing her until this year.

2011 will be a great year, my brother will be wedded, and I will be one year older.  One thing I did learn from 2010 is that I am getting old now, my parents are getting old now, and I am not physically fit or attractive comparing to my young days, or maybe I have never been either when I was younger anyways.  But I have to work harder on that.

Goodbye 2010, you have been good to me!

吾家有弟初長成

這個月初的某一個早上, 我弟問我,

"你行李有沒有空間?"
"有很多, 你要我帶什麼回來?"
"幫我帶一些喜餅"
"喔, 誰的?"
"我的"
"什麼? 你要結婚?"

就這樣, 我弟很迂迴的告訴我他要今年底要結婚.

當然, 很替他高興, 不過我沒幫家人結婚, 所以也不知道該做什麼.  帶著弟弟去買新的西裝, 新的領帶, 與其他行頭, 好像也只是我會做的東西.

這幾天睡得不好, 想來想去想到我過去這三十幾年到底有沒有做一個好哥哥? 好像很少有關心他的生活, 小時後雖然有玩在一起, 但有了同學之後, 好像又沒有那麼的親. 來加拿大的頭一年, 新的環境算是有一起渡過, 一起熬過, 但畢竟有自己的朋友, 自己的同學...

一直到去年搬回家住, 才有機會的關心他找工作的情況, 過得如何.  他和父親一樣是個沉默寡言的人, 但小時候很有創造力, 工作也很努力, 雖然會擔心他婚後的經濟狀況, 但非常替他開心.

我弟, 應該就是認識我最久的好朋友, 現在他要結婚了, 誰當我的BEST MAN阿!

The Xmas Anxiety

It is almost the end of the year, after two years of never-ending emceeing, bestman-being and wedding attending.  It does not look like the wedding bandwagon is going to be empty anytime soon.  Even my own brother is getting married soon.

Luckily, so far, there are only 3 weddings I am attending next year, four more in Taiwan I won't be able to attend.

To all my friends who are getting married, already married, or married with kids, have a great holiday!

陪娶台灣行

就這樣糊塗的回了台灣陪娶, 兩個從小長大的兩個好朋友, 今年先後定了終身. 時差沒時間調, 工作沒有停, 在台灣的時間像作夢.

看了幾遍兩人相遇,成長的影片, 還是感動, 因為知道他們走過的路.

見識到百桌大場面的婚禮, 歸寧時的禮節, 尤其是找路雞的使用方式.

那幾個高中的大男生, 南台灣亂晃, 好像回到十幾年前做一樣的傻事.

那個早結婚的大學好朋友, 和我分享創業的甘苦, 看他小孩的成長... 泡在溫泉裡, 說著說著, 十年, 二十年, 就這麼走過.

弟弟突然說要結婚, 好像有些措手不及, 看著這些朋友, 過十年, 二十年後, 又不知如何.

腦袋滿滿的記憶, 一下子也整理不出來, 也許有天, 也是泡在湯裡, 一點一點的隨水氣飄出來.

Perfect 8

When I was single, group C married couples will always try to hook me up with single girls.  "Try" is the operative word, they will only probe you with questions like, "you like long hair?", "you like teachers?", "you like girl with no car?"... then, I would wait and wait for them to set a blind date... and nothing happens.

Of course, married couples have other priorities.  So, when they ask again, I would just politely tell them that I am not ready.  When I am ready, I would tell them that I need more time just to stop them from asking those silly questions.

There was this one time however, a married dude asked me, hey I have a cute single friend I can introduce to you.  I asked him to tell me more, he did a pretty crappy job at describing the girl (she is nice, is a good girl...), then he concluded that she is a 8, as in 8 out of 10.

Then I said, "get me a 10!"  He never tried to hook me up again.

I thought about this conversation a few days ago, and I thought, who am I to pick a 10 out of 10?  I am not a 10!

Good Luck James - part 2

連續兩餐都是和最近結婚的好朋友吃飯, 不知怎麼想起自己幾年前寫的good-luck-james, 算算自己又老了幾歲, 又多了幾位結了婚的前女友, 現在只剩一位...

這個魔咒大概要到我自己結婚才會停止.

有時會想, 這些與我分手不到一年就結婚的前女友們, 到底是生理時鐘到了, 還是, 已經體驗過最差的男人, 見到好一點的男人就趕快訂終生, 好像股票止跌回升就馬上出售.  這是比較賤的朋友說的. 會安慰的朋友就說, 是因為她們錯過了最好的, 見了還不錯的男人就趕快訂終生.  好像股票過了高峰開始下跌, 就趕快賣出一樣.  

無論如何, 她們都過得幸福, 才重要, 至少, 我有些安慰...

The German Restauranteer

Last month, I was enjoying lunch at a Japanese restaurant, when an elderly gentleman turned around and asked him what the characters mean on his tea cup.

I told him I do not know because they are written in Japanese, and I can't read Japanese.

After the meal, I asked the gentleman if he enjoyed his meal.  He said it was great except it was a little greasy, but he added, he has been spoiled with good food in his life.  This gentleman in his 80s, has been running restaurants since the 60s.

He spoke with an accent, and I asked him where he is from, he said Germany.  Then, he told me that he came to Canada in 1948 to work at a mill on Vancouver island.  Later, found himself owning a restaurant in downtown Vancouver, back in the 70s.

What is more interesting is that he told me the name of his first investment advisor, Peter Brown.  You see, Mr. Brown is the founder of Canaccord Capital, a TSX listed investment firm.

Talk to your neighbours during meals, you might find some really awesome stories.

The gathering of BCD

A very good friend of mine a 2 day stay in Vancouver before flying back to Taiwan.  He is a married man with two kids now.  That would be a D friend.  My other friend is also married but without kids.  He would be a C friend.

Meeting up with these very good friends in different life stage is a very interesting thing.  We can talk about the politics in Taiwan, cars, watches, women, work...  But beyond that, it is hard to talk about their relationships with in-laws and raising kids.  I could just listen.

They all have different priorities in life, I won't be seeing them often.  I used to live with the D friend, we used to play video games together, I used to work out with the C friend, we used to have lunch often.  Not so much now.

With my best friends from high school getting married all in this year.  The A group friends will be getting very very small...

八卦不是關心

人是八卦的動物, 看水果日報, 數字日報賣那麼好就知道了.

但如果發生在自己身邊的人,就更有意思了, 不管是朋友還是朋友的朋友, 還是不認識的人, 他們發生的事, 從工作順不順利, 和哪個人吵架, 感情有沒有著落, 有沒有新歡, 還是分手, 是不是有試著生小孩, 婆媳關係如何... 都是其他人討論的焦點.

我們會美名關心, 問你的事是因為在意你.  其實, 那是屁, 就算不在意的人我們也照樣關心.  而且真關心為什麼不直接關心當事人, 而是在背後關心? 要真關心就問問他過得怎麼樣, 需不需 要幫忙,還是當當他的垃圾桶, 聽聽他的抱怨.

聊八卦是爽的, 是用負責任的, 但是也是完全沒有價值的, 多真關心你的朋友吧!

不團結的台灣人

人是很有趣的動物, 不能完全離開團體.  身在國外, 當然也會參與許多故鄉的社團.  很不幸的, 國外的台灣社團就是台灣的縮影, 有小圈圈, 有政治立場, 有八卦.  

當然, 熱血的義工很多, 但閒著沒事的人更多.

令人扼腕的是不團結. 常聽到, 他們都如何如何, 都是誰的錯. 都是從同一個地方來的, 但什麼都要分我們, 他們...

年初冬奧時, 看見紅色的加拿大國旗海, 每個人興奮的表情, 很難想像台灣會有同樣的景象出現, 光是自己的定位, 藍色還是綠色就吵不完.  很多一窩蜂的態度, 或只見眼前的利益, 都看得出來台灣人對未來多麼的不安, 不用說自己是不是台灣人, 或對台灣有何認同, 有錢賺, 或心情爽, 什麼都好說話. 無論是崇日還是韓毒, 台灣人好像喜歡的是外來的東西多, 自己卻很滿足的抱著隨時可被取代OEM的權利, 在工資低的地方幫大公司賺錢, 反正, 有錢賺就好.  

我母親覺得台灣人本質是好的, 只是被50年代的移民帶壞了, 我反而覺得台灣人本來就如此, 勤勞, 樂天, 但近視...

我以我是台灣人為榮, 但也為台灣人難過.

The flower boy

On the most recent wedding, my best friend pointed at the flower I was wearing and asked, "how many flowers have you worn?".

For each wedding I have helped, I got to wear a flower, usually a rose on my chest.  To be honest, I don't remember how many I have worn.  On the list of things I have done in weddings, I have been the bestman, groomsman, videographer, emcee, setup, usher, sorta wedding planner, driver...

The only jobs I haven't done are probably pianist, photographer (will get to do that next month though), makeup artist, and bride's maid...

I kept some of the flowers, but after a few, I just couldn't remember whose weddings they belong to.

Weddings are fun, not just to attend, but to be part of it, the controlled chaos.  Between wine and flowers, applauses and slides, there are the newly wed, holding hands, and that is the closest thing to total happiness, and that is why I wear the flower.

愛看戰爭片

我愛看戰爭片, 不是為了看像Saving Private Ryan血肉橫飛的畫面, 許多很冷牌的電影, 例如美國南北戰爭的Glory, Gettysburg, 不是阿湯哥的Last Samurai, 而是像黑澤明的影武士, 或天與地.

有許多動作片是很單次元的, 有好人, 有壞人, 最後好人贏了, 警察姍姍來收屍, 好人傷痕累累的抱著妹離開.  戰爭片不一樣, 尤其是有歷史背景的, 通常可以看見人性最好也是最糟的一面, 可以看見人類為了貪婪而用盡方式去殺對方, 同時, 也看見同袍之情, 為了生存, 願意為身旁的兄弟犧牲.

另外有武器, 有戰略, 有爆炸, 誰不愛看?