許個願吧！Make a wish!

像個精靈一樣，領著討論小組的圖書館志工輪著同我們說，＂許個願吧！＂．今天圖書館英語練習的主題是願望(wish)，我們輪著練習用英語表達，分享來自不同國家文化的我們如何許願；是去廟宇或者教堂，或者一個洞穴、一個池塘，或者等待一顆流星．

許願原是一件私密的事情，有些文化習俗甚至認為說出來的願望就不會實現了，或許因為這樣，我們總給予壽星最充分的時間，屏氣凝神的看著她閉眼對著點燃的蠟燭許願，直到他吹熄蠟燭才歡聲雷動的歡呼．

然有些願望當是該說出口的，在某些時候把願望說出來猶如一個承諾與宣示，好讓周邊的朋友知道你的追求的目標，在需要的時候幫助你或者提醒你不要放棄繼續加油．在另一些時候，這些願望是需要被說出來，好讓與你分享這個願望的人幫你實現．

來自以色列的摩瑪說，在女兒出生不久後就離婚的她，維持著單身的狀態快快樂樂的好幾年，從也沒多想再找伴．直到有一天，轉眼已經五六歲的女兒在生日默默許願過後，跑過來跟她說：媽咪，我剛剛許了的願一定要跟你說．聽起來願望不該說出口的禁忌讓小女孩很掙扎，不知如何是好．摩瑪說，好，媽咪答應你，絕對絕對不跟別人說（同組的組員都在偷笑）．如釋重負般，小女孩跟摩瑪說，媽咪我剛剛許願希望有一個爸爸，還有很多很多弟弟妹妹．看著女兒，壓根久久未曾去想的事情竟然是女兒的願望．頓時摩瑪好似也突然燃起了再婚的念頭，還積極的去姻緣洞穴許願祈禱，沒想到一兩年後就真讓她遇到了她現在的伴侶，幾個月前還生了個娃．她女兒開心極了．摩瑪說，她女兒因著她十分相信認真許下的願望是會成真的．聽著，我們全都笑了．

Valentine short trips

Yes, it's been a while. I don't think there is much readers out there awaits for posts in this blog, but for me, I hoped that posts reminds me of the touching moments in life as this blog is named after.

Over the last President/Valentine's three day holiday, me and Young had a wonderful time together. A day trip in the Sunnyvale farmer's market, the city library, followed by promotion burger treat from Jack and a cup of Peets coffee with buy-one-get-one-free deal. Enjoying all sorts of free deal still makes us happy despite that we weren't exactly poor, instead, we believe it is a legacy from our extended student life experience. It grew innate joy in us upon seeing the word "gratis", which means "Free" in both Spanish and Dutch. Sort of like a survival instinct we picked up from years of travel as well.