雙語對(duì)照 ● 和生命中另一個(gè)女人約會(huì) The Other Woman in My Life
■ 和生命中另一個(gè)女人約會(huì) The Other Woman in My Life
◎ David Farrell
After 21 years of marriage, I discovered a new way of keeping alive the spark of love. I started to go out with another woman. It was really my wife’s idea.
結(jié)婚20年后，我發(fā)現(xiàn)了保持愛之火花的一種新方法。我開始與另一個(gè)女人出去約會(huì)。其實(shí)，這還是我妻子的主意呢。
“I know that you love her.” she said one day, taking me by surprise. “But I love you.” I protested. “I know, but you also love her.”
“我知道你愛她?！庇幸惶炱拮訉?duì)我說，這令我感到十分驚訝?！暗乙矏勰恪！蔽铱棺h道?！拔抑?，不過，你也愛她。”
The other woman that my wife wanted me to visit was my mother, who has been a widow for 19 years, but the demands of my work and my three children had made it possible to visit her only occasionally. That night I called to invite her to go out for dinner and a movie. “What’s wrong, are you well?” she asked. My mother is the type of woman who suspects that a late night call or a surprise invitation is a sign of bad news. “I thought that it would be pleasant to pass some time with you,” I responded, “just the two of us.” She thought about it for a moment, then said, “I would like that very much.”
我妻子想讓我去拜訪的另一個(gè)女人，就是我的媽媽，她守寡,19年了，但由于工作需要以及有三個(gè)孩子要撫養(yǎng)，我很少有機(jī)會(huì)看望她。那天晚上，我打電話約她吃飯看電影?！俺鍪裁词铝?？你還好吧？”她問。我媽媽是那種認(rèn)為深夜電話或出其不意的邀請(qǐng)代表壞消息征兆的女人?！拔矣X得，與您共度一段時(shí)間將是一件愉快的事，”我這樣回答，“就我們兩個(gè)人?！彼肓艘幌耄缓笳f：“其實(shí)我很喜歡這樣。”
That Friday after work, as I drove over to pick her up I was a bit nervous. When I arrived at her house, I noticed that she, too, seemed to be nervous about our date. She waited in the door with her coat on. She had curled her hair and was wearing the dress that she had worn to celebrate her last wedding anniversary. She smiled from a face that was as radiant as an angel’s. “I told my friends that I was going to go out with my son, and they were impressed,” she said, as she got into the car, “they can’t wait to hear about our meeting.”
周五下班后，我開車去接她。我有點(diǎn)兒緊張。到了她的住所，我注意到，她對(duì)我們的約會(huì)好像也有些緊張。她穿著外套在門口等我。她將頭發(fā)盤了起來，并且穿著最后一次結(jié)婚紀(jì)念日那天穿的套裝，天使般容光煥發(fā)的臉上帶著笑容。“我告訴朋友們我要跟兒子出去約會(huì)，他們都很感動(dòng)，”上車時(shí)她對(duì)我說，“他們迫不及待地想了解我們約會(huì)的情況?！?
We went to a restaurant that, although not elegant, was very nice and cozy[109] . My mother took my arm as if she were the First Lady. After we sat down, I had to read the menu. Her eyes could only read large print. Half way through the entries, I lifted my eyes and saw Mom sitting there staring at me. A nostalgic[110] smile was on her lips. “It was I who used to have to read the menu when you were small.” she said. “Then it’s time that you relax and let me return the favor.” I responded.
我們?nèi)チ艘患绎埖?，雖不是一流的，卻很優(yōu)雅舒適。媽媽挽著我的手臂，宛如第一夫人。我們坐下后，我開始看菜單。她的眼睛現(xiàn)在只能看清一些大字。透過條目的縫隙，我抬眼看到媽媽正坐在那兒盯著我，嘴上帶著懷舊的笑容。“你小的時(shí)候，都是我看菜單。”她說?！艾F(xiàn)在輪到您休息了，該我回報(bào)您了?！蔽掖鸬?。
During the dinner we had an agreeable conversation—nothing extraordinary—but catching up on recent events of each other’s life. We talked so much that we missed the movie. As we arrived at her house later, she said, “I’ll go out with you again, but only if you let me invite you.” I agreed.
吃飯的時(shí)候，我們談得很愉快——也沒什么特別的事——只是簡單描述一下彼此生活中最近發(fā)生的事。我們談得太盡興，以至于錯(cuò)過了看電影。當(dāng)我送她回到家時(shí)，她說：“我會(huì)再跟你出去約會(huì)，但前提是我邀請(qǐng)你。”我同意了。
“How was your dinner date?” asked my wife when I got home. “Very nice. Much more so than I could have imagined.” I answered.
“飯吃得怎么樣啊？”回到家時(shí)我妻子問?！胺浅：谩１任蚁胂笾幸玫枚??！蔽一卮?。
A few days later my mother died of a massive heart attack. It happened so suddenly that I didn’t have a chance to do anything for her. At that moment I understood the importance of saying in time: “I love you” , and to give our loved ones the time that they deserve. Nothing in life is more important than your family. Give them the time they deserve, because these things cannot be put off till “some other time”.
幾天后，媽媽由于嚴(yán)重的心臟病發(fā)作去世了。發(fā)生的如此突然，以至于我沒機(jī)會(huì)為她做任何事。那一刻，我明白了及時(shí)說出“我愛你”，以及給予我們所愛的人他們應(yīng)該得到的時(shí)間的重要性。生命中沒什么比你的家庭更重要。多花些時(shí)間陪陪你的家人，因?yàn)檫@些事情不能被推遲到“改天”。
I’ve learned ... that love, not time, heals all wounds.
我懂了……治愈一切創(chuàng)傷的并非是時(shí)間，而是愛啊。
