Great World, Little Shorty..

05/16/2007 Muriel & Ariel 於USC老人學院

Year of the Boar

2007/2/18(日) 下午2:02

寄件者:Muriel

收件者:Ariel

Dear Ariel,

I wish you a very successful year ahead.  How will you celebrate the New Year?  I hope you are able to celebrate in a meaningful way that you are accustomed to.

I am very well, enjoying this summer like weather.  I spent the day at the Getty Museum today.  It was clear enough to observe a wonderful view of the city. It is so pretty on top of the Mountain where the Museum is built and they have lots of water and rock displays throughout the grounds.

Looking forward to seeing you during semester break.

Take care of yourself,

Muriel

親愛的Ariel,

祝妳新年心想事成、萬事如意。妳將要怎麼樣慶祝中國年呢？我希望妳能有機會以妳習慣而有意義的傳統方式慶祝。

我一切安好，正享受著這已如同夏天般的天氣。我今天到了蓋帝美術館，而今日的天氣是如此的晴朗、足以讓這城市的美景盡收眼底。在山頂上的美術館是如此的美麗，許多流水與岩石的展示更是遍布了整個美術館館場。

期待能與妳在學期中的春假見面。

好好照顧妳自己。

Muriel

Thursday

2007/3/9(五) 下午2:55

寄件者: Muriel

收件者: Ariel

Dear Ariel,

The calendar finally shows spring break next week.  Have you been very busy with papers and tests?

I would like you to come to my home for lunch sometime next week.  Which day is convenient for you?  Are you comfortable to drive here or would you prefer we meet on Campus?

Looking forward to seeing you and hearing of your activities.

Kindest regards to you and your family.

Muriel

親愛的Ariel,

月曆上標示的春假假期終於就是下週了，妳是否一直忙碌於報告與考試呢?

我希望下週妳能有機會到我家裡來一起共進午餐。哪一天對妳來說比較方便呢？不知妳是否能夠感到自在地開車到我家裡來？還是妳希望我們在學校裡見面呢？

期待與妳見面、聽聽妳近來的一切活動。

獻給妳與妳的家人最溫暖的問候。

Muriel

Saturday

2007/3/11(日) 上午9:58

寄件者: Muriel

收件者: Ariel

Dear Ariel,

Very happy that you are finished with exams and that you may relax for a bit.

Tuesday or Wednesday, either one is convenient for me.  If you are concerned about driving to my house, I can meet you on Campus.  I live east of the County Art Museum, off Wilshire Blvd.  I do not wish to make you uncomfortable about driving.  Have you been to Chinatown in Los Angeles?  I can meet you there or any place that you feel comfortable driving to.

Muriel

親愛的Ariel,

非常開心妳完成了所有的考試而妳終於有機會能放鬆一下。

無論是禮拜二或禮拜三對我來說都很方便。如果妳擔心不知道怎麼開車到我家的話，我可以在校園裡與妳見面。我就住在Wilshire 大道旁，縣立美術館的東邊。我不希望開車造成妳的困擾。妳有到過洛杉磯的中國城嗎？我可以在那裡、或者是在任何一個對妳較方便的地方，與妳見面。

Muriel

Wednesday

2007/3/15(四) 上午8:42

寄件者: Muriel

收件者: Ariel

Just read your e-mail.  Thank you many times for the picture.  Muriel

剛剛讀了妳的e-mail, 非常謝謝妳寄來的照片。 Muriel

 Tuesday

2007/4/11(三) 下午12:13

寄件者: Muriel

收件者: Ariel

Dear Ariel,

Sorry that it has taken me so long to answer your recent e-mail.  I have been extremely busy with the Holidays and family functions.  Some of my family members practice Judaism and some Christianity.  As a result we celebrate as a family, all Holidays.  Lots of cooking, lots of eating.  It is wonderful and I enjoy every minute of the celebrations.

This Saturday I will be attending an exhibit by Women Artists at the Barnsdall Gallery on Hollywood Blvd and Vermont at 12:30.  If you have the time and interest, would you like to meet me there?

I hope you are enjoying the lovely weather and not working too hard.  I cannot wait to hear about your Seattle adventure.

Muriel

親愛的Ariel,

抱歉這麼晚回妳最近的一封e-mail。我近來因為著節日和家庭聚會十分忙碌著。 我的家人中，有些是信仰猶太教、有些則信仰基督教，因此，我們全家人便慶祝著所有的節日，我們準備許多食物、一起用許多餐。而這是如此的美好、我非常享受著節日慶祝的每一刻。

這週六中午12:30分我將會到在Hollywood大道與Vermont大道交口的Barnsdall 美術館參觀一個由女性藝術家們舉辦的展出，如果妳有時間或是興趣的話，要不要與我到那裡一同參觀呢？

我希望妳能享受這宜人的氣候而別讓課業壓垮了。我等不及想聽聽妳說說妳春假到西雅圖的冒險旅程。

Muriel

My very first

2007/5/12(六) 上午1:48

寄件者:  Muriel

收件者:  Ariel

My very first greeting card that plays music.  Sure enough when I picked up my mail, there was your very special and sweet greeting waiting for me.

You are so very kind, thoughtful and considerate.  I know your parents must be very proud of you.  I AM !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Looking forward to seeing you on Wednesday.

M

這是我的第一張會放音樂的(母親節)卡片！！ 無疑地，當我剛剛收信的時候，信箱裡就躺了一張由妳寄來的、非常特別和甜美的卡片在等著我。

妳真的非常溫暖、細心與體貼。我知道妳的父母一定非常以妳為榮，我也是！！！！！！！！

期待禮拜三與妳見面。

M

Wednesday

2007/5/17(四) 下午1:05

寄件者: Muriel

收件者: Ariel

Always special spending time with you, dear Ariel.  I am very pleased to consider you my Chinese Granddaughter, you are a charming, and a diligent student of life.  Time with you is a joy.

Muriel

親愛的Ariel,

與妳相處的時光總是如此地特別。我非常開心地認為妳就像是我的華人孫女兒一樣。在生活上，妳是如此迷人且勤奮。與妳相處的時光，總是充滿愉快與樂趣。

Muriel

Sunday

2007/7/16(一) 上午2:16

寄件者: Muriel 

收件者: Ariel

Dear Ariel,

Please forgive me for not keeping in touch with you these many weeks.  I have had some health issues.  I am fine now.

In addition my brother who lives in New York was here for a week and now my son and his family are here.  So it has been very busy times.  But most enjoyable.

I imagine you will be going home soon, if you have not already.  Just want you to know I am thinking of you.  Have a wonderful visit and we will catch up with all the news when you are back on campus.

Fondly,

Muriel

親愛的Ariel,

請原諒我這麼多個禮拜未能與妳聯繫。我之前身體有些微恙，但如今已安好。

此外，我住在紐約的弟弟之前來拜訪我，而我的兒子與他的家人現在在這裡，因此，我一直忙碌著，但這樣的忙碌是非常令人開心的。

我想像著妳暑假將會回到台灣度假，若是妳還沒動身的話。只是想讓妳知道，我想念著妳。祝妳在台灣有個愉快的假期，而當妳回到校園後，我們得好好地聊一聊妳所發生的大小事。

深情地，

Muriel

 Friday

2007/9/7(五) 下午11:55

寄件者: Muriel

收件者: Ariel

Dear Ariel,

I hope all is going well for you in this new semester.  It must be difficult to come back to L.A. after spending time with your family.

Has your friend settled into her new life?  I look forward to seeing you both.  Let me know when it would be convenient.

Your U.S. grandma

Muriel

親愛的Ariel,

我希望妳新學期一切順利。在妳回台灣與家人相處一段時間之後，回到洛杉磯來一定讓妳很難熬。

妳剛到洛杉磯的朋友一切都安頓好了嗎？我期待可以見到妳們，請讓我知道什麼時候對妳們比較方便？

妳的美國奶奶，

Muriel

2007/9/15(六) 下午9:41

寄件者: Muriel

收件者: Ariel

Dear Ariel,

Forgive me for not writing sooner, I have had a very busy week preparing for our Holiday dinners this week and helping my oldest daughter who has opened a cafe.

It was so good to see you, please do not allow so much time to elapse before we see each other again. It was wonderful to meet Eunice and I look forward to both of you visiting soon.

I want to thank you for the very delicious food you prepared, I did not have to cook dinner for two days. I would very much like you to teach me some Chinese recipes.  The cakes were a big hit with my family when they came for dinner on Wednesday. Please thank your parents for me.  I look forward to meeting them next May.

My best wishes for a successful semester.

Your American Grandmother

Muriel

親愛的Ariel,

請原諒我沒有快些寫信，過去這一周裡，我非常地忙碌，我忙著準備過節晚餐以及協助我大女兒咖啡廳的開幕。

能夠見到妳真的是非常愉快，在時光任意地流逝之前，我們應該要盡快地再次聚聚。我非常開心能夠見到Eunice, 而我期待再次與妳們相聚。

謝謝妳為我準備的美味餐點，我有兩天的時間都不需要準備晚餐了呢！我非常希望妳可以教我烹飪一些中國菜。還有，當我的家人們來用晚餐時，妳所帶來的鳳梨酥們在我們之間引起很大的迴響，請幫我謝謝妳的父母，我期待明年五月與他們相見。

祝妳新的學期一切順利。

妳的美國奶奶，

Muriel

2007/11/24(六) 下午12:30

寄件者: Muriel

收件者:Ariel

Dear Ariel,

I am so very happy that you have attained your goal to work with the Women's Health Agency.  I wish you much success with this learning experience.  I know you will be an asset to the Agency.  Where are they located?

We had a very festive Holiday, we had dinner in the main house with family and a few friends; we were seventeen in all.  My oldest daughter Judy who now owns a restaurant brought most of the food.  I made a Turkey and two different cranberry sauces.  It is a too much food holiday but always fun.  Do you have any similar holiday and is turkey used in Taiwan?

It was very brave of you and Eunice to cook a Turkey, I don't think my daughters ever have attempted to roast one.

What are your plans for the school break?  Will you be going home?  Last time we spoke you thought you would.  Is that still your plan?  Do you and Eunice have time to visit me again?  I would enjoy seeing you both.

Your American Grandmother

Muriel

親愛的Ariel,

我非常開心妳能到達成到婦女健康單位實習的目標。祝妳能夠在這個學習機會上一切如意順利。我知道妳將會是這個單位的寶貴人才。這個單位在哪裡呢？

我們剛過了一個非常熱鬧的感恩節，我和我的家人與一些朋友，在我們的大屋子裡一起共享團圓晚餐，總共有17個人呢！我那擁有一間餐廳的大女兒，Judy，準備了大部分的食物。我烤了一隻火雞並準備了兩種不同的蔓越莓醬。在節日裡，食物總是過盛但卻又總是如此地令人開懷。在台灣，你們有類似感恩節這樣的節日嗎？你們在台灣也吃火雞嗎？

妳和Eunice真的很勇敢，自己烤了火雞！我不認為我的女兒們曾經自己試圖烤一隻呢！

妳寒假有什麼計畫呢？妳會回台灣度假嗎？上一次我們談天的時候，妳提到妳或許會。這依然是妳的計畫嗎？妳和Eunice有沒有時間再一起過來和我聚聚呢？若能見到妳們兩個，我會非常開心。

妳的美國奶奶，

Muriel