Time Forgotten: 同學會後記

2012/07/02

Twenty-four years is enough time for much to come to pass.

二十四年足以發生許多事。

Twenty-four years ago, we left university, green but eager to teach. Today, we got together again. And I guess time had forgotten us in the meantime, some way or the other.

二十四年前我們離開大學，青澀，對教學躍躍欲試。如今再度相聚，這當中，時間不知怎的遺忘了我們。

Several people deserve the credit for making this class reunion ever come true—on the ground that a certain attempt to bring us together had failed once, according to the balding gentleman sitting next to me (all right, not balding, just his widow’s peak getting higher)—and the turnout was simply the greatest yet!

這次終能聚首，有幾位居功厥偉，尤其是曾有人號召不成過，這次更加難得。此乃坐我旁邊那位童山益發濯濯的男士所言。（好啦，那不叫禿，是美人尖變高了。）而且史上第一次出席如此踴躍！

No doubt, Michelle and her family were the major reason we had this party. Being an expat on the opposite side of the world for an extended period of time, she did make our hearts grow fonder. She had been single last time she had come back; however, in the following decade, she managed to start a family. We were all dying to meet her sweet children and loving husband.

毫無疑問，這次聚會首要原因是小娟一家。旅居地球另一邊如此之久，我們的心都因為她更加貼近。上回回台她單身，十年眨眼過，已是人妻人母。大夥兒都迫不及待想見見她的可愛兒女和恩愛老公。

I wouldn’t say she hasn’t changed a bit; in the end, she has turned into a mother. Not once did I hear her unique giggly laugh today. But those understanding eyes reminded me of days when we two had worked on some projects back in school. (Of course, I had failed to get my points understood by her at times.) I won’t do her justice without mentioning what excellent physical shape she’s still in! Time’s not fair here.

我不至於說她一點兒也沒變；畢竟不再是丫頭。今天沒聽到她特有的咯咯笑聲，但她善解人意的雙眼喚起從前我和她一起做作業的記憶。（好啦，有時候是我把她搞糊塗的。）接著這一點不提會對不起她：身材怎麼還那麼辣！時間很不公平欸！

But, as a bunch of old-timers who don’t frequent Facebook much (or at all) or who may have difficulty reading text on screen (okay, I mean me.), fat chance we could have contacted so many classmates. Baby-face Ming has compiled and kept as comprehensive a list of everyone’s contact info as possible. This is no hands-down work and that diligence calls for a sonorous bravo.

可是，光靠一群不常上臉書（甚至從沒上過）的、或者讀螢幕上字體很吃力的老伙子（自招，在講我啦），能連繫上那麼多人才有鬼咧！我們的娃娃臉小明，收集編纂的聯絡資料真的夠詳盡，這可不是輕鬆的活兒，該給她如雷的叫好聲！

And it is impressive that big limpid-eyed Ming (don’t get confused, this is not the baby-face one) had been able to get in touch with quite a few strays, some of whom we had never seen again after our graduation. Folks, when she is determined, she means business, you know.

還有清澈大眼小敏，居然連絡得上好幾位失聯同學，其中甚至有些畢業後就沒再見過了。各位看官，她這人一發心，可是很頂真的。

A party won’t be successful without good food. Our forever pure Lily recommended and booked this great restaurant to give everything a nice finishing touch. Her two handsome boys didn’t accompany her this time though. Teenagers.

聚會若沒有好吃的，那可辦不成功。咱們永恆的純潔小百合推薦這家美味餐廳，還不厭其煩清點人數先預定，讓這頓飯畫下完美句點。不過，她家兩個小帥哥這回沒陪著來，青春期囉。

When bitter-sweet memories of the old days grow sweeter, we know how time has played on our subconscious mind. But what matters now is eyes alight with excitement, broad smiles on our lips, and warmth conveyed from one hug to another.

當舊時的酸甜苦辣日漸化作甜美時，我們的潛意識顯然被時間捉弄了。但是，此刻只需在乎彼此眼中亮起的興奮，唇上泛起的大大微笑，還有彼此擁抱時傳遞的暖意。

Time-forgotten. Time has no business here to interfere with our bonds of friendship.

被時間遺忘了。在此緊密連結的剎那，我們不需時間來干涉。