食物和回憶往往是相連的，吃到嘴裡的是再平凡不過的家常菜餚，嚐進心裡的卻是有味道的想念。海明威有篇短篇小說名為「I guess everything reminds you of something」，對作家川本三郎而言，everything即是飲食──口中無論吃進什麼，都會在心中勾畫起一幅記憶圖像，而這些回憶裡總有某些身影，是妻子、親友、職場同僚，乃至一面之緣的陌生人。從大學教授請的鰻魚飯、和大姊一起吃的熱狗和豬肉味噌湯、中學農業課老師的做鰤魚燒蘿蔔，到切得細碎的醬菜和妻子的拿手料理……他書寫日本東西各地、昭和至今的各式飲食，不為描寫食物如何美味，也不賣弄飲食知識，而是透過「吃」這個共通話題，憶起失怙的童年時光、酸澀的青春滋味、旅途尋訪的人情趣聞、想念但不能復見的妻子，以及每一位曾經或短或長參與自己人生某個片段的重要之人。
On July 23rd, wildfires spread across a small town near Athens, the capital of Greece. The fires, the worst in more than a decade, began and spread so quickly that many in the small town of Mati did not have a chance to escape. More than 80 people were killed and hundreds more were injured. Wildfires are not unique to Greece. They occur all around the world.
At nearly the same time as the Greek wildfires, visitors to the Yosemite National Park in California, USA were forced to abandon their summer holiday plans when a huge wildfire spread close to the park. Park officials announced that Yosemite was not under immediate danger but still evacuated campers and visitors for their own safety. The last time the park was closed due to wildfire was in 1990.
Wildfires, also known as forest fires, grass fires and brush fires, are uncontrolled fires that happen outdoors across large areas of land. They are most common in warm and dry climates, such as in Australia and the US, where fire can spread most easily. Once a wildfire begins, it can last for many days or even weeks. Wildfires are so destructive that entire forests can be lost to the burn.
Fires can start in many ways. Often they begin naturally from lightning. When lightning strikes dry vegetation in a forest, even a small spark can lead to fire. People also cause wildfires without realizing it. Campfires that are not put out properly, fireworks or lit cigarettes dropped onto the ground can all cause wildfires to start. Sadly, some people intentionally start fires because they want to cause damage.
Wildfires are not a new issue. Many countries have wildfire seasons when fires are most likely to occur. However, as climate change continues to accelerate, the wildfire seasons in these countries are becoming longer and more dangerous. In the US, wildfires burn twice the area they did 50 years ago. Research shows that raising the temperature by one degree Celsius can increase the area burned by up to 600 percent.
Sometimes wildfires appear to die, but in reality they are still burning underground. These ground fires or peat fires can continue to burn through the winter and come back to life above ground the next summer. Wildfires sound horrible, but you might be surprised to learn that they have some benefits. Fires can help to control insect numbers, provide nutrients for the soil and even help some trees reproduce.
