A Tomb-sweeping Trip
扫墓行
昨天早上6点整，我一骨碌从床上爬起来，草草吃了早点，就和儿子一起往车站奔，好赶早班车。
At 6:00 sharp yesterday morning, I got out of bed without much ado and grabbed a quick bite before I and my son rushed to the bus stop for an early bus.
我们等了好久，就是不见公车停下来载客，车都挤得满满的。我们只好想其他办法走，因为时间非常紧张。
We waited for quite long only to find that no bus would stop for more passengers as they were all packed to their full. We had to try other means possible to make it as we were really pressed for time.
快到10点时，我们才从拥挤的车上下来，来到小镇，这里离我父母的坟山还要步行30分钟。所以我们得赶紧，快步赶路。
It was almost 10:00 that we were quickly dumped out of the bus at a small town which was still a 30-minute walk to the tombs of my father and mother. So we had to walk as fast as our legs could carry us.
最后，我们终于到了。哇！两座坟在这片墓地里一点也不起眼，而且上面爬满了杂草和小树。我们立马干起活来：把杂草和小树砍掉，这活可不轻，要好体力才行。
Finally we came to the very place. Wow! The two Tombs stood insignificant or remained in the background in the cemetery. They were totally sheltered by the wild grass and small trees. We could not wait but rushed to work: cutting off the grass and small trees, which would take us a lot of labor and energy.
砍着杂草和小树，我不由自主陷入了深思：父亲戎马一生，抗日打鬼子，后来又参加解放战争，和国民党军拼杀，整个青春盛年都这样度过了。解放后，他响应党的号召，为建设好新农村再建新功，毅然决然来到农村安家立户。在这穷乡僻壤，他辛勤劳作，什么农活都干，慢慢度过了的余生。当然，母亲一生也没少吃苦，一群调皮的孩子，吃喝拉撒也够她受的。
While cutting the grass and trees, I found myself lost in deep thought: my father spent his prime years as a soldier in fighting against the Japanese invaders and the KMT troops. After liberation he took his initiative to settle down in the rural area in response to the CPC Party’s call for making a new contribution for the benefit of the rural revival. So he toiled away his remaining years in the poverty-stricken place, doing all kinds of farm work. Sure, my mother also suffered a lot in her life, nursing and taming a small group of naughty and hungry kids.
这时，我感到心跳加快，因为我想起自己的生存状况：自由职业者，成天干些要命的翻译活，挣到手里的钱少得可怜，勉强糊口度日罢了。我敢说，我的生存状况绝对不是父母所希望的。我要骂自己无能，都这把年岁了，还过着这般狼狈不堪的日子。一想起这些，我就不能自持，真要狠狠地抽自己几个响亮的耳光，我感觉羞愧，辜负了父母。
Just at that moment I felt my heart throbbing faster as I thought of my own survival status: a freelancer doing all backbreaking work (translation) all day long to earn the chicken feed and live from hand to mouth, which, I dare say, was totally out of the expectation from both of them. I had to scold myself for being such an incompetent man, leading a dog’s life even in my advanced years. At the mere thought of all these, I could not contain myself and just wanted to slap my face hard as I felt greatly ashamed of myself.
突然间，我抬起头一下子看到我儿子，他也在忙着干活。我立刻就恢复了常态。我不该想得太多。毕竟这些年来，我自己从来也都没敢放松，更别说放纵享乐，尽管这些年来我都过得闷闷不乐、郁郁寡欢。
All of a sudden, I raised my head and caught sight of my own son who was also busy with what he should do. I immediately regained my normal sense and condition. I should not go that far and think more of that. Anyhow with the elapse of years, I never relax myself at work, to say nothing of abandoning myself to leisure and amusement even though I am blue or down in the dumps all along.
说实在的，儿子是我生活的动力，我应该摈弃烦恼，不畏困难，为祥和的晚年生活而坚持奋斗。
So my son is my life motivator and I should try hard to struggle against all anxieties and hardships towards a peaceful and smooth life in my later years.
清理完杂草和小树，坟墓也清扫干净了，看上去也利落了许多。然后，我们照例进行了祭祀仪式，摆放好食物和酒水，然后烧纸烧香。最后，我们跪下磕头，向我们逝去的亲人表示虔诚的敬意。
After we swept the two Tombs by clearing them of the grass and small trees, they stood there, looking as neat as uncluttered. Then we went through the routine sacrificial rites, serving the prepared food and liquor, burning paper money together with incense. At last we both fell on our knees and devoutly kowtowed to show deference to our late loved ones.
今年清明节将至，在这个特殊的时刻，我们应缅怀逝去的亲人，给他们扫墓去，以表思念之情，回忆他们生前对我们所有的好和功德，所以我们要把对他们的记忆珍藏在心里。
On this special occasion, with this year’s Tomb-sweeping Day approaching just at hand, we should take our late loved ones to our hearts by paying respects to them at their tombs, recalling their kindness and good turns done us, so we cherish the memory of them and their past merits and virtues.
不过，仅仅思念是远远不够的，我们应利用这个时机扪心自问：自己真的尽力做到最好并没有辜负先辈的期望吗？假如我们觉得自己做的不够好，甚至辜负了他们的希望，我们就该做些调整，要去迎接新的人生挑战，因为我们每个人在家族中都承担着承前启后的重任，既要向先辈又要向后辈有个交代。我们上要对得起先辈，下要成为后辈的榜样，所以我们要义不容辞地去努力工作并快乐地生活着。
However, this is far from being desired as we should avail ourselves of this occasion to reflect upon our own efforts and try to prove ourselves worthy of the expectation of our predecessors. If we find ourselves failing to live up to what we know to be right or our promises, we’d better fine-tune ourselves and try to gear up for new challenges in life as each of us is actually placed in the middle of the family tree, or between our ancestors and our descendants. We are duty-bound to efficiently and happily work our way towards the great expectation of our seniors and juniors.
