去年的農曆初二，兩個總是帶頭的姑姑提議不要再讓阿嬤辛苦準備一桌菜，帶阿嬤去外頭餐廳吃飯。提了很多次了，這次阿嬤總算答應，但看到餐廳的位置後，我、先生和姊姊心裡都一沉。
Last year, on the second day of the lunar calendar, two of my proactive aunts suggested not letting Grandma prepare a table full of dishes, opting instead to take her out to a restaurant. We had discussed this many times before, and this time Grandma finally agreed. But upon seeing the location of the restaurant, my husband, sister, and I felt a sinking feeling.
我們一群住在市區的人為何要大費周章跑到海線的一個不知名的普通餐廳吃飯？
Why should a group of us, who live in the city, go through the trouble of traveling to a coastal area to dine at an ordinary, unknown restaurant?
我們看到餐廳位置後心裡都浮現這個問題，然後也馬上聯想到了答案——姑姑想去海線的知名Outlet逛街。
As soon as we saw the restaurant’s location, this question arose in our minds, and then we immediately inferred the answer – my aunts wanted to go shopping at the well-known outlet malls by the coast.
車程40分鐘，長年骨質疏鬆的阿嬤當然不可能忍受久坐，後來就躺著接著腳放在姊姊腿上。
With a 40-minute drive ahead, it was obvious that Grandma, who suffered from osteoporosis, couldn’t endure sitting for too long. Eventually, she lay down in the car with her legs resting on my sister’s lap.
一路上我們都在說，最好餐廳要好吃哦，不然真的會氣死人。
Throughout the journey, we kept saying how the restaurant had better be delicious; otherwise, it would be infuriating.
結果，不出所料地非常難吃⋯⋯
As expected, it was extremely unappetizing…
難吃的除了餐點之外還有氣氛。
Apart from the unpalatable food, the atmosphere was also lacking.
往年阿嬤透過準備一大桌菜餚來跟兒孫們互動，「吃飯唷」、「趁熱吃唷」、「吃雞腿」、「這裡有熱湯」、「來夾這邊的菜」，但不擅言詞且因為車程長而疲憊的阿嬤，在餐廳的飯桌上只是默默地吃著飯。
In previous years, Grandma would interact with her children and grandchildren by preparing a large table of dishes, saying things like “Come and eat," “Eat while it’s hot," “Have some chicken," “There’s hot soup here," or “Take some dishes from this side." However, at the restaurant, Grandma, who was not good with words and tired from the long journey, simply ate silently at the table.
但至少阿嬤在姑姑那桌，看著大家互動或許對阿嬤來說也可以接受吧。 我們這桌就是一群不熟的親戚桌，不知道聊什麼也不想聊什麼，但要專心吃飯也難，因為難吃。
But at least at my aunt’s table, Grandma could perhaps find solace in watching everyone interact. Our table consisted of unfamiliar relatives, and we didn’t know what to talk about nor felt like talking, but focusing on eating was difficult because the food was so unappetizing.
因為菜上得快，大概一個多小時就結束了，結束時原路載阿嬤和姊姊回家，一路上我們還是在說：「到底跑這麼遠幹嘛？」、「希望明年姑姑不要再這樣搞⋯⋯。」
The meal ended quickly, probably within an hour, and we drove Grandma and my sister back home. Throughout the journey, we kept saying, “Why did we have to travel so far?" “I hope Auntie won’t do this again next year…"
今年農曆春節前，我們收到帶頭的姑姑傳來的訊息，一看到餐廳位置又在海線，我們的心裡又一沉，接著看了Google評價，好像還行。於是又安慰自己：「至少東西會好吃吧？」
Before this year’s Lunar New Year, we received a message from the leading aunt. Upon seeing the restaurant’s location was still by the coast, our hearts sank again. We checked the Google reviews, and they seemed okay. So we consoled ourselves, “At least the food should be good, right?"
到達車程40分鐘的餐廳，進到室內後，我心想這頓飯不會多好了。
Arriving at the restaurant after a 40-minute drive, upon entering, I thought the meal wouldn’t be anything special.
本以為會是包廂或是一般的餐廳，結果竟然是在婚宴會場，也就是一個大概有40桌的婚宴會場，聚集一群彼此不認識的人在同個空間用餐，非常吵雜及混亂，而服務生不知是人手不足還是都是新人，所有人一直處在狀況外。
We expected it to be a private room or a regular restaurant, but it turned out to be a wedding banquet hall, with around 40 tables filled with people who didn’t know each other dining in the same space, making it extremely noisy and chaotic. And the servers, whether due to understaffing or inexperience, seemed overwhelmed.
帶頭的姑姑那桌上菜正常，雖然聽不到他們的聲音，但看互動應該是有說有笑。我們這桌則是上菜上得奇慢無比，大家都等得不耐煩了，而且因為環境太吵雜，想聊天也很辛苦，於是大家幾乎只處在「等菜來」的狀態，讓人簡直忘記初二家族團聚的目的。
The food was served promptly at my aunt’s table, although we couldn’t hear their voices, they seemed to be having a good time. On our table, however, the food was served excruciatingly slowly, everyone was getting impatient, and because the environment was too noisy, it was difficult to chat. So we were almost all just waiting for the food, forgetting the purpose of our family gathering on the second day of the Lunar New Year.
好不容易終於來的餐點口味也不佳，海鮮甚至不新鮮，大家吃得情緒都不太好，尤其姊姊在中途等得不耐煩直接去找服務生請她「盡快上菜」，但大概人力真的不足，上菜的速度直到最後都沒有改善。
Finally, when the food arrived after a long wait, it wasn’t tasty, and even the seafood wasn’t fresh. Everyone’s mood dampened, especially my sister, who got impatient midway and went directly to the server to ask them to “serve the dishes quickly." But perhaps due to a lack of manpower, the speed of serving didn’t improve until the end.
在我們乾等餐點時，骨質疏鬆又外加感冒的阿嬤終於坐不住了，畢竟從進到餐廳到剩下最後兩道菜還沒來已經過了將近兩小時。阿嬤說她想去外頭走走，大概是想去找有沒有可以躺的沙發吧，但爸爸陪阿嬤去大廳都沒找到，於是爸爸陪阿嬤回來時說：「阿嬤想回家了」。阿嬤跟姑姑說：「我不適合吃餐廳，以後不吃餐廳了。」
While we waited impatiently for our food, Grandma, who suffers from osteoporosis and had a cold, couldn’t bear it anymore. After all, it had been almost two hours since we entered the restaurant and there were still two dishes left. Grandma said she wanted to take a walk outside, probably to find a sofa to lie down on, but my dad accompanied her to the lobby and they couldn’t find one. So when my dad brought Grandma back, he said, “Grandma wants to go home" to my aunt. Grandma told my aunt, “I’m not suitable for eating at restaurants. I won’t eat at a restaurant anymore."
先生見狀馬上跑下樓去取車，我們一家趕緊陪阿嬤搭電梯下樓，到大廳時先生也差不多時間剛好把車子開到餐廳門口了。我拿出預先準備好的枕頭讓阿嬤在後座躺平，請姊姊搭Uber回家。而姑姑、姑丈、表兄弟姐妹則趕緊透過車窗跟阿嬤說再見。一瞬間我有種在病榻前，大家一一來跟阿嬤道別的錯覺。
My husband immediately ran downstairs to fetch the car, and we quickly took the elevator down with Grandma, and by the time we reached the lobby, my husband had almost reached the restaurant entrance with the car. I took out the pillow I had prepared in advance and let Grandma lie flat in the back seat, and asked my sister to take an Uber home. My aunt, uncle, and cousins hurriedly said goodbye to Grandma through the car window. For a moment, I felt as if we were saying goodbye to Grandma at her sickbed.
沒有！阿嬤只是不能久站、久坐而已！
No! Grandma just couldn’t stand or sit for too long!
沒有！阿嬤只是需要躺一下而已！
No! Grandma just needed to lie down for a while!
希望這群大人有把阿嬤的話聽進心裡，明年不要再折磨老人家，要選餐廳也選近一點的吧！
I hope the adults will take Grandma’s words to heart and not torture the elderly next year. If they want to eat out, they should choose a restaurant closer to home!
我和先生則載著阿嬤、輕聲播著小提琴演奏曲，在阿嬤慢慢舒緩下來的呼吸聲中慢慢駛回家。
My husband and I drove Grandma home, playing violin music softly in the background, as Grandma’s breathing gradually eased.
一路上我都在想，姑姑們是不是弄錯了初二的主角是誰？為什麼要老人家配合他們想去逛海線Outlet的行程而搭40分鐘的車去一家不怎麼樣的餐廳受罪？
All the way, I wondered if my aunts had misunderstood who the protagonist of the second day of the Lunar New Year was? Why make the elderly suffer just to accommodate their desire to go shopping at the coastal outlet malls and dine at a mediocre restaurant far away?
回到家後阿嬤進房休息，我馬上拿出準備好的紅包想給阿嬤轉換心情，一進房間就看到阿嬤手裡攥著幾袋紅包正一一要擺進她的收納袋裡。
Back home, Grandma rested in her room, and I immediately took out the red envelopes I had prepared to change her mood. As soon as I entered the room, I saw Grandma clutching several red envelopes, intending to put them in her storage bag one by one.
那攥著紅包袋的畫面，直到現在想起我心裡還會一揪。
That sight of her clutching the red envelopes still tugs at my heartstrings.
紅包袋又如何，好好吃頓飯比較重要吧。但阿嬤的個性就是收到錢都很開心，儘管她現在已經有了用都用不完的買菜錢了。
But what about the red envelopes? Isn’t having a good meal more important? But Grandma always feels happy when she receives money, even though she already has more than enough money to buy groceries now.
阿嬤在床上稍微躺了一下又爬起來生龍活虎在廚房弄東弄西了，那個廚房像是阿嬤的補血站，阿嬤只要在那裡精神就特別好、身體也特別強健。在想阿嬤大概也覺得與其讓她大老遠跑去餐廳，不如在家「讓我請」。
After lying on the bed for a while, Grandma got up lively and started bustling around in the kitchen. That kitchen seemed to be Grandma’s energy booster; whenever she was there, her spirits were high, and her body was particularly strong. Perhaps Grandma thought it would be better to “invite" everyone at home rather than making her travel all the way to a restaurant.
雖然已高齡92歲，但在熟悉又安心的環境裡煮飯，對阿嬤來說似乎不是什麼難事。畢竟阿嬤過年之所以會感冒，就是因為她從年前我爸一家從越南回來後就每天不停地煮飯，從早煮到晚，都已經92歲了，就算精神上受得了，身體也受不了啊。
Although she is 92 years old, cooking in a familiar and comforting environment seems to be an easy task for Grandma. After all, Grandma caught a cold during the Lunar New Year because she cooked every day from dawn to dusk after my dad’s family returned from Vietnam before the New Year, she cooked all day long, even though she was already 92 years old. Even if she can handle it mentally, her body can’t take it.
順帶一提，上次看詹姆士和一群高齡的老人家一起準備餐車，那些老人家身上都有著阿嬤的身影啊，沒錯！我阿嬤也是這樣！意志力堅強的老人家們。
On a side note, I saw James and a group of elderly people preparing a food cart together last time. Those elderly people reminded me of Grandma; yes! My Grandma is like that too! Strong-willed elderly people.
不知道對於姑姑們來說初二是什麼，可能對她們來說就只是形式上要回娘家，不是什麼大事，但我認為阿嬤喜歡的初二應該是大家團聚在一起，吃著她煮的菜餚，然後對她說：「煮得真好吃」。
I wonder what the second day of the Lunar New Year means to my aunts? Perhaps for them, it’s just a formality to return to their parents’ home, nothing significant. But I think Grandma’s ideal second day of the Lunar New Year would be everyone gathering together, eating the dishes she cooked, and then saying to her, “The food is delicious."
阿嬤煮了這麼多年的團圓菜，明明從早忙到晚，我從沒聽過阿嬤喊累，可出門去餐廳吃飯她喊累了。可見大家的說笑聲搭配她的菜餚，應該可以給阿嬤帶來慰藉吧。
Grandma has been cooking reunion dishes for so many years, tirelessly from morning to night, and I’ve never heard her complain. But she got tired from going out to eat at a restaurant. It seems that everyone’s laughter and compliments about her dishes could bring Grandma some comfort.
不知道阿嬤會覺得怎樣的團聚才是最好的呢？是拿到大家的紅包就開心？還是大家真的聚在一起開心？阿嬤的個性是不會說的，只能自己感受，於是今年的初二我和先生在阿嬤家待到晚上，吃完阿嬤煮的晚餐，感覺阿嬤終於心滿意足之後才離開。
What kind of gathering would Grandma consider the best? Would she be happy just receiving the red envelopes? Or is it truly being together with everyone that matters? Grandma wouldn’t say it, so we can only feel it. So on this year’s second day of the Lunar New Year, my husband and I stayed at Grandma’s house until late at night, eating the dinner Grandma cooked, and only left after Grandma seemed completely satisfied.
在家時接到帶頭的姑姑來電，說她們本想去海線的Outlet逛街，結果車子繞了好幾圈都找不到停車位，又跑回台灣大道上的百貨逛街。我心想，就為了妳們想逛街的心阿嬤這麼疲憊，結果一群市區的人還是回到市區的百貨啊。白忙一場就是這麼一回事吧。
When we were at home, the leading aunt called and said they had originally wanted to go shopping at the coastal outlet malls but couldn’t find parking after circling around for a while, so they went back to the department stores on Taiwan Boulevard to shop. I thought, was it worth making Grandma so tired just for your desire to go shopping? In the end, a group of us from the city went back to the department stores in the city. It’s just a waste of time.
我跟爸爸說，如果明年姑姑還要這樣搞，我就不參加了。
I told my dad, if Auntie still insists on doing this next year, I won’t participate.
初二是回家看阿嬤，不是搞一個形式上的聚餐，但每個人都吃得不暢快。
The second day of the Lunar New Year is about visiting Grandma, not just having a formal dinner. But everyone didn’t enjoy their meal.
那間餐廳資訊如下，建議大家斟酌：
Here’s some information about that restaurant, please consider it carefully:
看來過年時受氣的人很多，我看多了很多負面評論⋯⋯
It seems many people had a hard time during the Lunar New Year. I’ve seen a lot of negative reviews…
雖然能聚在一起吃飯已經很好了，但吃飯不只是形式，有沒有達成情感交流的目的才是重點。我很喜歡劉軒《好好說頓飯》的系列單集，推薦給大家，希望大家都能夠有意識地維持高品質的家庭餐桌互動。
Although it’s already good to gather together for a meal, eating is not just a formality; achieving emotional communication is the key. I really like the series “Good Food and Conversation" by Liu Xuan, I recommend it to everyone, hoping that everyone can consciously maintain high-quality family dinner interactions.
遲來的啟蒙 Start From Here Now 