又中又英｜Wreak havoc with

It will soon be autumn, the season I like the best. Most Americans call it fall instead of autumn because it is the time of year when leaves fall from trees. Meteorologists say autumn, or fall, usually starts on September 22, or 23, in the northern hemisphere. I no longer put stock in such dates because climate change has wreaked havoc with the seasons. A meteorologist is an expert in weather conditions. The expression “put stock in” means to have confidence in someone or something. The expression “wreak havoc with” used this way means to make a situation more confusing or difficult.

Climate change has caused confusion in weather patterns, making the job of meteorologists more difficult. I hope they are right in saying autumn will arrive in late September because climate change has made this summer the hottest on record. I am now in Indianapolis where the summers are normally not too hot but has been very hot this summer. Luckily, the weather in the past few days has become cool and pleasant in the mornings and evenings. I now go to the backyard of my brother-in-law’s house at around 7.30 in the morning for a large cup of English Breakfast tea.

I go again at around 6 in the evening to have a glass of whiskey. Soon I will be able to see the leaves in the backyard turn red, like I did when I lived in Washington DC years ago. It’s beautiful to look at. But I won’t be in the US to see the leaves turn brown and fall from the trees. I will be back in Asia to avoid the snow!

很快又到秋天，我最喜爱的季节。大部分美国人都会叫秋天做 fall而非autumn，因为一年到了这个时候树上的叶子会落下（fall）。气象学家（meteorologist）会说，北半球的秋天（fall）通常会在九月二十二或二十三日开始。我不再相信（put stock in）这些日子，因为气候变化已经混乱了（wreaked havoc with）季节更替。A meteorologist就是专门研究气象的学者。习语“put stock in”是指对某人或某事有信心。习语“wreak havoc with”在这里是指去令情况变得更混乱或艰难。

气候变化已经引起了季节模式的混乱，令气象学家（meteorologists）的工作愈发困难。我希望他们说秋天会于九月下旬来临的说法是准确的，因为气候变化令到这个夏天成为了有纪录以来最热的一个。我现在于印第安纳波利斯，一般来说夏天不会太炎热，但今个夏天却是非常酷热。幸而在过去几天，早上和傍晚的天气凉爽和舒适了些。我现在每个早上大约七时半，便会去我姊夫家的后院享用一杯英国早餐茶。

到了傍晚六时，我又会再去，喝一杯威士忌。很快我就可以见到后院的树叶转红，就像我多年前住在华盛顿特区的时候一样。那实在赏心悦目。不过，我不会待在美国去看叶子转棕色和落叶了，我会回到亚洲，好躲避冬天的风雪！

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Michael Chugani褚简宁
中译：七刻