04-A Watch that looks like a Watch

Casio MQ-27 Watch

iknowill04_01

當我鼓起勇氣在一個三米深的碗形池踏出去的時候,以為已開始熟習的我還是沒有把滑板踩穩,一下急速下墜,天旋地轉,滑板向前飛脫,我重重地在混凝土斜坡上摔了一跤,重到好像靈魂沒了一半。我看著藍天,好安靜,我真的以為自己站不起來了。

但我清楚記得這一跤,感覺多好,因為我在活著。這不是意料中事嗎?我本來就是因為自己有畏高症才去玩滑板的,我很想玩,而我不喜歡那個雙腿發軟的自己。

後來,回家再看看手錶,玻璃花了。

I thought I’d already had enough practice when I finally mustered up the courage to skate down the three-metre-deep skatepark bowl, but I was wrong. I fell with such a speed that everything around seemed to spin. My skateboard flew out from under me, and I landed heavily on the concrete slope. The fall was so bad that I felt like half of my soul had left my body. I stared up into the blue sky. It was so quiet. I genuinely thought I wouldn’t be able to stand again.

But I remember that fall vividly; it felt so good because it made me feel alive. Also, was it not expected? I went skateboarding because of my fear of heights. I really want to skate, yet my trembling legs fail me.

Later on when I went back home, I realized my watch was scratched.

這一隻手錶是我第一次去歐洲旅行出發前三天急忙買的,原因是那時我沒有手錶,而我需要它,扒手可以偷我的錢包和手機,他應該不會偷我的手錶吧,這樣我比較安心。所以我的要求只有兩個——可以知道時間,和看起來像一隻手錶,剛好這一隻都符合了,還有甚麼要求呢?唯一是它的塑膠錶帶會老化斷掉,但換一換就可以。之後我每次出門遠行都戴上它。

I bought the watch in a rush three days before my first trip to Europe. The reason for getting it was simple: I didn’t have a watch and I needed one. The pickpockets could steal my wallet and mobile phone, but they wouldn’t go for my watch. Right? It made me feel more at ease to think like that. I only had two requirements for the watch — it can tell time, and it should look like a watch. This watch just happened to fulfill both requirements. What more should I require? The only issue I have with it is that its plastic strap ages and breaks, but it can be replaced. And since purchasing this watch, it’s been with me whenever I travel.

iknowill04_03

這不就是小孩子戴的玩具塑膠錶嗎?我想是吧。我想到以前的我在足球場上跟同伴玩到天黑,家父怒氣沖沖跑到球場裡把我抓回家吃晚飯。我一時無法反應,我當然知道天黑了,可是我已經把時間忘掉。或許我們還是不要對手錶刻度的時間那麼煞有介事的認真。影子斜了,便懂知時間;肚子餓了,便感覺目前。假如是把時間忘了,我想是你把時間花對了。

Isn’t it a plastic toy watch meant for kids? It could be. I’m reminded of a time in my youth that I spent the day on the football field with my friends until dark, and my father came to take me home for dinner with such anger. I was shocked at that time; of course I knew it was dark, but I really had forgotten about time. Perhaps we shouldn’t be so serious in making such a fuss about time. When shadows begin to stretch, you’ll know it’s time; when you feel hungry, you’ll feel the present moment. If you lose track of time, I think you are spending your time right.

iknowill04_04
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