又中又英｜In a reflective mood

By the time you read this, Hong Kong will be out of sight for me because I left last week. I am now in Taipei, which feels like my third home. But Hong Kong can never be out of mind because I am Hong Kong-born. The expression "out of sight, out of mind" means to quickly forget about people or things that are no longer part of someone's life. Childhood school friends can be out of sight, out of mind if they don't keep in touch. Friends often ask if Hong Kong or the US is my first home.

That question always puts me in a reflective mood. If you are in a reflective mood, it means you are thinking carefully and quietly about something. I grew up in Hong Kong, went to school there, and worked for many Hong Kong media organizations. Hong Kong will always be a part of me even though it has changed a lot in recent years. The US is a part of me because I spent many of my adult years living and working there. Most of my closest relatives live in the US.

I am often in a reflective mood trying to decide if I should spend my final years in Hong Kong or the US. I was thinking about that when I headed to Cathay's newly-opened The Bridge lounge before my Taipei flight. It is a huge, comfortable lounge with different food sections and shower rooms. I sat at a quiet corner near an impressive bar. It had windows with a view of arriving and departing planes. Where I sat is a hidden gem, which means a pleasant place not many people know about. I was in a reflective mood at this hidden gem drinking wine and watching the planes.

当你读到这里的时候，我已完全看不见（out of sight）香港，因为我上星期已离港了。我现在身处台北，这就像我的第三个家。然而，我却永远不能忘掉（out of mind）香港，因为我是香港出生的。习语"out of sight, out of mind"是“眼不见，心不念”，当人或事物不再是某人生命的一部分，就迅速忘掉，不作多想了。儿时同窗好友如果没有保持联络，也可以是眼不见，心不念（out of sight, out of mind）。朋友们常常问我，到底香港抑或美国是我的第一家园。

这道问题常令我在一个reflective mood之中——若你是in a reflective mood，意即你在静静地沉思、反思着某事情。我在香港长大、读书，为许多香港传媒机构工作过。香港永远是我的一部分，虽然她近年转变了许多。美国是我的一部分，因为我成年后有好些年都在那儿生活和工作，我大部分最亲近的亲戚也在美国生活。

我常常沉思（reflective mood），尝试决定我到底应该在香港抑或美国度过我的晚年。我乘搭往台北的航班前，当我前往国泰新开的逸连堂贵宾室之际，就在思考着这件事情。那是一个偌大又舒适的贵宾室，有不同的饮食区域以及淋浴间。我在那令人印象深刻的酒吧附近一个静静的角落坐下，它旁边的窗户可以看到升降的飞机。我坐的地方是个hidden gem，意即鲜为人知的好地方。我在那个有如隐藏宝石的好地方（hidden gem）喝着葡萄酒，看着飞机升降，静静沉思（reflective mood）。

mickchug@gmail.com
Michael Chugani褚简宁
中译：七刻