愛如鮮花盛開(中英雙語)(2)
我真想找個地縫鉆進去，這下誰都會以為我沒有男朋友送花，只好由父親來送了。16歲該是最甜蜜的，我卻只想哭。或許當時我的確哭了，但我最好的朋友菲利斯在我耳邊小聲說：“嘿，你有這樣的父親可真幸運。
As the years passed, other occasions――birthdays, recitals, awards, graduations――were marked with Dad/'s flowers. My emotions continued to seesaw between pleasure and embarrassment.
隨著光陰流逝，許多特別的日子，像生日、演出、獲獎、畢業都會伴有父親的鮮花。我的心情也依然在高興與不自在之間搖擺不定。
When I graduated from college, though, my days of ambivalence were over. I was embarking on a new career and was engaged to be married. Dad/'s flowers symbolized his pride, and my triumph. They evoked only great pleasure.
可我到大學畢業時，那種矛盾的心情消失了。我開始了新的工作，也訂了婚。父親的鮮花代表了他的驕傲、我的勝利。它們帶來的只有極大的喜悅。
Now there were bright-orange mums for Thanksgiving and a huge pink poinsettia at Christmas. White lilies at Easter, and velvety red roses for birthdays. Seasonal flowers in mixed bouquets celebrated the births of my children and the move to our first house.
后來每逢感恩節我們都會收到父親的一捧黃燦燦的菊花；圣誕節會有一大束粉紅的一品紅；復活節是潔白的百合花；生日里會有天鵝絨般的紅玫瑰；孩子出世或逢喬遷之喜，父親會送來那個季節里盛開的許多種鮮花扎成的花束。
As my fortunes grew, my father/'s waned, but his gifts of flowers continued until he died of a heart attack a few months before his 70th birthday. Without embarrassment, I covered his coffin with the largest, reddest roses I could find.
隨著我不斷功成名就，父親卻日漸衰老，但他依然堅持給我送花，直到他70歲生日的前幾個月，因心臟病發作而瘁然逝去。我在他的棺木上鋪滿了我所能尋得的最紅最艷最大的玫瑰花，而且，沒有一絲不自在。
Often in the dozen years since, I felt an urge to go out and buy a big bouquet to fill the living room, but I never did. Often in the dozen years since, I felt an urge to go out and buy a big bouquet to fill the living room, but I never did. I knew it would not be the same.
往后的十二年中，我常常有一股沖動，想去買一大束鮮花裝點起居室，可始終沒去。我知道，即便買來，花已不是從前的花了。
Then one birthday, the doorbell rang. I was feeling blue because I was alone. My husband was playing golf, and my two daughters were away. My 13-year-old son, Matt, had run out earlier with a "see you later," never mentioning my birthday. So I was surprised to see his large frame at the door. "Forgot my key," he said, shrugging. "Forgot your birthday too. Well, I hope you like flowers, Mum." He pulled a bunch of daisies from behind his back.
后來有一天我生日，我聽見門鈴響了。那天，我本來很沮喪，因為只有我）一人呆在家中。丈夫打高爾夫球去了，兩個女兒出遠門了，13歲的兒子馬特也走得格外早，只道了聲“再見”，只字未提我的生日。所以我開門看見馬特胖胖的身體站在門邊，有幾分驚訝，他聳聳肩，說道：“忘帶鑰匙了，也忘了今天是你生日，嗯，我希望你喜歡鮮花，媽媽。”說著，他從背后抽出一束雛菊。
"Oh, Matt," I cried, hugging him hard. "I love flowers!"
“哦，馬特，”我大叫一聲，緊緊摟住他，“我愛鮮花。”
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