好友同遊 "挑水古道"

#2022-1130

Together with our good friends, Jean and I came to the Water-Fetching Trail (挑水古道) again this morning.

We were pleased to have such an exciting hike because on this "ancient road" -- well, the Chinese phrase 古道 literally means ancient road, we enjoyed chatting about those "good old days" we had spent decades ago.

Of course we also shared how we lived in these recent years. Besides the drastic changes in the global climate and the ill effects of the Russo-Ukraine war, we have been undergoing the Covid-19 pandemic that made the whole world so different. 

Times change dramatically, indeed. But our friendship is like fine wine: it gets better with age! (Lord, have mercy on us; let us be healthy and happy every day!)

= = =

相關文章：

1)  Lucky-7 歡樂的一天     (2019)

2)  An Enjoyable Outing (悅笛 / 郊遊)     (2018)

3)  挑水古道 (The Water-Fetching Trail)     (2014)

投開票新聞：TV News about Voting Today!

#2022-1126

Here are snapshots taken from a TV news report on today's voting. They remind me of a sensible dialog like this:

A: We tried our best, but still lost the game.

B: Don't lose heart. You win some, you lose some. 

What the second person (B) really means is that "you can't win them all." It's true. You can't win them all. That's how life is. But what if you are a smart and brave person? Trying to find out the real reason(s) why you won or lost is a brave and wise act that will benefit your future development.

勝敗乃兵家常事。勝不驕，敗不餒。事後總要靜下心來，針對「勝敗因果」做深切的檢討，找出「何以勝／何以敗」的真實原因，這才是對於未來發展有益的勇敢作為。

= = =

相關文章 (See also)：

1)  My Prayer: 照片拍攝於 "投票日" 前夕     (2022)

2)  Prayer: 為國家元首及所有政府官員祈禱     (2020)

My Prayer: 照片拍攝於 "投票日" 前夕

#2022-1125

These photos were taken at the Democratic Assembly Affairs Park of the Legislative Yuan on the night before the polling day for the 2022 Nine-in-One Election. 

這些照片是在 "2022 年九合一選舉" 投票日前一晚，在立法院民主議政園區（亦稱 "台灣省議會紀念園區"）拍攝的。

I pray that tomorrow's election will be going well; I hope that people will come and vote for the best persons (who are capable and responsible) to serve as new mayors, county magistrates, councilors, etc. May the Lord bless us in this matter, as well!

祈願明天的選舉順利進行；希望人們踴躍出來投票，選出最優秀（有能力又肯負責）的人，來做下一屆的縣市長、縣市議員......等等。願主也在這件事上祝福我們！

= = =

相關文章 (See also)：

1)  Lotus Flowers at the Polling Station     (2011)

2)  Prayer: 為國家元首及所有政府官員祈禱     (2020)

3)  Photos of the Election of the Next Bishop of Taiwan Diocese     (2019)

"八百塊錢" (外一章)

#2022-1121

金棗（不！是 "今早"）很糗！

今早發生的事，其實算單純；純粹是個「小誤會／小疏忽」罷了。

不過，這時認真回想（檢討？），還是讓我「嚇」了一大跳，怎麼會如此這般地發生呢？---- 這事，跟幾十年前我祖母「阿嬤」的 "八百塊錢" 故事，同樣是個疏忽（誤會）啊，但發生的緣由，顯然同中有異，或者說，大異其趣。

先告白我今早的糗事，如下：

老婆要我獨自上菜市場，到某個攤位買幾顆 "好吃的" 芭樂（番石榴）。她先仔細描述了那攤位的位置，就在本地 "派出所" 附近的轉角；而我小心翼翼地查看地形、路線之後，果然找到了......

同一個攤位的芭樂，分成若干堆，價格各異：有 35 元一斤的（綠皮白肉）、30 元一斤的（紅心芭樂），還有 10 元一斤的（所謂 "次級品"，破損不賠）。我挑選了三顆芭樂，大而美，很好吃的樣子。三顆裝入一袋，我提交水果袋，賣芭樂的小姐熟練地接過手去，秤了一下，說：

「九五。」

我心想，有點貴呀！從口袋掏出兩張五百元鈔票，遞給她。她隨手就退還一張。我覺得納悶。她和站在旁邊的顧客，幾乎同時發聲，說：

「太多了！」「你很大器（大氣）耶！」

我還是沒搞懂，愣在那兒好幾秒鐘。後來我明白了，覺得好尷尬。當場大家都笑了，我也尷尬地笑。好心店家找零（錢）時，她跟在場的顧客都安慰我：

「沒關係的！沒有關係啦！」

我回到家，第一件事就是進入盥洗室，洗手（疫情期間 "洗手" 很要緊！）而且照一下鏡子，看看洗手台上方的鏡子裡，是否出現一位白髮蒼顏的老頭兒？ ---- 我真的老了嗎？

= = =

話說阿嬤 "八百塊錢" 的故事：

那是我二十來歲，正當年輕，真實發生的一件事。唉呀！故事本來很簡單，但時間久了，現在回想起來，有一種「愁苦難掩，不願再提當年」的感覺；且容我暫時擱筆，另擇「吉日良辰」再寫囉！-- Sorry to stop telling the "$800" story for now, I hope I can write about it on another "good day"!

= = =

相關文章： 八百塊錢     (待續)

美景 (一個月前的)

#2022-1118

這些照片拖延了一個月才公開（分享！），仍覺得心情愉悅；甚至有點 "驕傲"（很光榮、蠻有面子）的感覺！

具體地說，總共有七張照片，前三張拍攝於 10 月 15 日下午 5:38～39pm；後四張拍攝於隔天（16 日）下午 5:53～56pm。

但願您看見這些 "美景"，跟我一樣，心中歡喜 -----「喜歡！」

= = =

相關文章 (See also)：

1)  新的 "大頭貼" (A New Pro Pic?)     (2022)

2)  夕日餘暉     (2019)

Thank You, AUH

#2022-1117

Thank you, AUH, for being a very good hospital. I see your high quality in medical care, and I suppose it's most convenient for us to come to you because you stand so close to our house. Yes. we will think of you first when we're badly in need of an "emergency action."

However, I wish we didn't have to come to you so desperately on November 5th. And, you know, I pray that we won't be visiting you again soon!

This morning Jean returned to AUH for a follow-up as advised by her doctor. I was with her all the way there until we got back home. I found that the large parking lot across from the hospital (AUH) was 100% full of vehicles -- one of which was our TOYOTA Rav-4.

Oh, as we've seen today, so many people are suffering one way or another! -- O Lord, have mercy! Kyrie eleison! Lord, have mercy!

= = =

相關文章 (See also)： 窗外風光仍是美     (2022)

Some Nice Views

#2022-1116

In the past few days, I have captured quite a few "nice views," as shown in the pictures below.

Those objects can and should be viewed from different angles; that is, you may look at them from low to high, from near to far, or vice versa.

Well, man-made or not, they're pretty cool sights, aren't they?

Maybe you and I are too busy to notice such ordinary and extraordinary things around us, but let's just stop walking (or working) for a while, to truly enjoy them with not only our eyes but also our hearts.

= = =

相關文章 (See also)：

1)  給它 / 牠 / 他 評分     (2022)

2)  春遊 ~ 霧峰林家花園     (2021)

3)  Wufeng Ecological Trail (嶄新的一段)     (2022)