我觀察到台灣有個都市規劃上的矛盾而深感困惑：無論是哪任市長就任，總是把土地開發當成執政成績而大力推動，將原本綠意盎然的農田、林地，換成一座座鋼筋水泥打造的商辦、運動場、活動中心。附近的居民也會因此歡欣鼓舞地大喊德政，期望居住地的房價能因此一飛衝天。然而真正昂貴的精華地段，總是離不開綠地公園和樹蔭環繞，捨近求遠，吾未見其明也。
離題了。《巴黎墓園的秘密生活》是一本相當複雜而特異的書，它是由任職於巴黎市公墓部門的班諾瓦．加洛所著。主題是介紹位於巴黎市中心的拉雪茲神父公墓的點點滴滴，卻不是行禮如儀的生硬作品。由於法國政府無意間的一項政策調整，決議不再於公墓中施作除草劑等人工農藥，促成園區內草木欣欣向榮，儼然成為另一座自然公園，優良的生態裡甚至孕育出狐狸家族。讓身為守墓人的作者，在疫情封城期間於園內偶遇，之後也轉化成書中數張珍貴的照片。
不論是什麼國家，死亡、喪禮和墓園總是帶來負面和不吉利的印象。然而出身在殯葬業家庭的作者，卻因為從小的耳濡目染而沒有這樣的包袱，因而能帶著單純、直覺的眼光，欣賞甚至享受在墓園工作、獨處的時光。帶著真切的心，站在喪家的角度來處理安葬事項，並管理廣大而複雜的公墓機關，是他的日常工作。讀者未必會有機會去遊訪法國，更別說特地跑去法國公墓參觀，但一個如此管理得當、有如都市中綠洲般的林地空間，真的讓人傾倒。對比台灣都市逐年消失的公園樹木和被高樓阻擋的天際線，只能發出一聲嘆息。
I observed a strange problem in Taiwan's city planning and felt very confused. No matter who becomes the mayor, they always push land development as a major achievement. They turn green farmland and woods into concrete office buildings, sports venues, and community centers. Nearby residents happily celebrate this as a great policy, hoping their property values will skyrocket. However, truly expensive prime areas are always surrounded by green parks and shade trees. Looking for something far away while ignoring what's right in front of us really makes no sense to me.
Anyway, back to the point. The Secret Life of Paris Cemetery is a very unique and interesting book. It was written by Benoît Gallot, who works for the Paris cemetery department. The book introduces Père Lachaise Cemetery in the center of Paris, but it is not a boring or formal work. Thanks to a simple policy change by the French government—deciding to stop using chemical weed killers in the cemetery—the plants grew wildly, turning it into a natural park. The great environment even brought a family of foxes. The author, as a gravedigger, met them during the pandemic lockdown and captured them in several precious photos in the book.
In almost every country, death, funerals, and cemeteries bring negative and unlucky feelings. However, coming from a funeral family, the author grew up around these things and did not carry such a burden. Because of this, he could enjoy working and spending time alone in the cemetery with a simple and clear mind. Caring for grieving families with a sincere heart and managing a large, complex cemetery is his daily life. Readers may not have the chance to visit France, let alone visit a French cemetery, but such a well-managed green oasis in the city is truly impressive. Comparing it with Taiwan's cities, where trees are disappearing and tall buildings block the skyline, I can only sigh.
