傳統 Tradition

這幾天剛把《The Big Bang Theory》影集看完，覺得自己體內的Sheldon魂還很有精力。

I recently finished watching The Big Bang Theory and found that the “Sheldon spirit” within me is still quite energized.

Sheldon非常重視被稱為「傳統」的儀式。

Sheldon places great importance on rituals he calls “traditions.”

12月21日是冬至，往年冬至時總會吃到阿嬤親手搓的鹹湯圓(鮮肉湯圓)，今年因爲阿嬤在11月下旬時跌斷腿，目前還在休養中，所以沒有機會吃到阿嬤的湯圓了。

December 21st marked the winter solstice. In past years, my grandmother would always prepare handmade savory tangyuan (dumplings with meat filling) for the occasion. However, this year, due to her unfortunate accident in late November, where she fractured her leg, she’s still recovering and unable to make them.

以往年年吃沒有特別感覺，今年吃不到腦子裡就一直浮現想吃的念頭。

In previous years, eating tangyuan on the winter solstice felt routine, something I took for granted. Yet this year, the thought of not having them left me longing for that familiar taste.

昨晚下班和先生臨時起意去住家附近的市場看看有沒有在賣鹹湯圓，結果被我們找到一家有在賣冷凍鹹湯圓的，簡直太棒了！又去賣青菜的攤位買了一包茼蒿。

Last night, after work, my husband and I spontaneously decided to check out the local market near our home to see if we could find any savory tangyuan for sale. To our delight, we discovered a stall selling frozen ones! It felt like a small miracle. While we were at it, we also grabbed a bundle of garland chrysanthemum greens from the vegetable stand.

這是我第一次自己買湯圓呢！很期待！

This was actually my first time buying tangyuan on my own, and I was excited!

一回家先生就馬上煮了湯圓，雖然跟阿嬤的湯圓餡料不同，但還是好吃的湯圓，重點是終於滿足了我「冬至一定要吃鹹湯圓」的傳統。

As soon as we got home, my husband wasted no time cooking the tangyuan. Though the filling wasn’t quite the same as my grandmother’s, they were still delicious. Most importantly, this small act allowed me to uphold the tradition of eating savory tangyuan on the winter solstice.

大滿足！

Totally satisfied!