[英汉悦读] 生活是一件礼物 || Life Is a Gift

Mariene Dietrich: It is the friends you can call up at 4 A.M. that matter. 

（Mariene Dietrich:朋友是那个你可以在凌晨四点给他打电话的人。）

Life Is a Gift

 01 

My hands trembled as I let the phone fall carelessly on my unmade bed; this had to be a mistake.There was no way Gary could be dead!

 （我的手颤抖着，将电话无力地放在凌乱的床上，一定是弄错了，格雷绝对不会死。）

At that moment,everything in my life seemed insignificant.How could anything else matter when my best friend--someone I had known,trusted and loved since eighth grade -- was gone forever? I looked down at the clothes. I was folding and saw Gary’s national soccer team jersey lying on my bed. My whole body froze.How could this be true? I wanted to cry,but I was in complete shock。

（在那一刻，我生命中的一切都变得无足轻重，面对我最好的朋友——那个我从八年级开始就认识、信赖并深深爱着的人——永远离开了我的事实，我哪里还有心思去关注其他的事情。我看了一眼床上叠好的衣服，发现格雷国家足球队的队服在里面。一瞬间我的身体僵住了，这怎么可能是真的？我想放声大哭，但身体却被这突如其来的噩耗惊得一动不动。）

 02 

It took a month after Gary’s death before I was emotionally ready to visit hisgrave site. It was a cold Sunday afternoon and the rain bounced off the pavement as I stared at my muddy black boots.The fifty feet from the car to the grave seemed like fifty miles. I looked around at all the different tombstones and flowers,and I thought about just how many people must have done exactly what I was here to do.They had all endured the pain of visiting loved ones who had passed away.Tears streamed downmy faces as I began to walk toward my best friend’s grave.My legs felt like they weighted one hundred pounds each,and my stomach twisted into a knot so tight that I thought I was going to be sick.I did not want to look up and see his name written on the temporary headstone. I wanted to savor my last moments of hope that he would come back.

（格雷去世后的一个月，我的心情渐渐平复并决定去拜访他的墓地。那是一个寒冷的星期天午后，雨水砸在地上飞溅纷纷，我低头看着，自己黑色的靴子裹满了泥水。从停车的地方到墓地，五十码的路程漫长得像五十英里。我环视四周林立的墓碑和来客留下的花束，心里暗暗思索有多少人和我一样来到这里怀念亲友，他们也一定忍受着失去亲人挚友的悲痛。想到这里，泪水再一次流下来，我继续向好友的墓碑处走去。我步伐沉重，每条腿都像灌了铅一样，胃里拧成一团，感觉自己马上就要吐了。临时的墓碑石上写着一个名字，我的眼睛竭力逃避，因为不想这么快就掐灭心中最后的一丝希望：格雷还会回来。）

The rain turned into a downpour,and it was cold enough that I could see my breath. I did not feel a thing; my entire body was numb. I shut my eyes,hoping, praying this was all some horrible dream.When I opened them, I was still in the cemetery,blurred by the shield of tears that covered my eyes.Taking a deep breath,I glanced up to the sky and made one last desperate wish that I would wake up fromnightmare.Then I slowly turned my eyes downward and looked at his name written on the headstone,the fresh hay lying over his body,the wilting flowers with water dripping off their petals and splashing into the soil covering his casket.

（雨势渐渐转大,天气愈加寒冷,我甚至看到了自己呼出的白气。我全身变得麻木,没有了任何知觉。我慢慢地闭上眼睛,默默析铸这一切不过是一个噩梦,然后我深吸一口气,仰头望向天空,充满绝望地在心中企盼自己可以从噩梦中醒来。接着,我缓缓低头看向石碑,上面赫然写着格雷的名字。他的遗体一定盖着新鲜的干草,而他墓前的花朵却已枯萎,花瓣被雨水拍打纷纷落下,想必最终会化为棺椁旁边的那团花泥。）

The moment I saw his grave, I finally stopped fantasizing that he would come back,and the reality sank in that I would never again see my best friend. I knew this was goodbye,but I could not leave. I did not want to walk away. I yearned to stay by his hide forever. I stood there and let my mind drift to all of our experiences together from the time we fell in love to our first real fight. The memories came in crystal clear torrents.

（看向墓碑的一刹那,他还会回来的幻想也随之破灭。我不得不接受这个冰冷的现实:我再也看不见这位好朋友了,这将是一次永别。我站在那里一动不动,不愿离开。我情愿在他的墓旁待一辈子。我呆呆地站在那儿,放任思绪带我重温和格雷一起经历的点点滴滴,从我们相爱,到第一次吵架,这些回忆如涓涓细流在脑海里慢慢流淌,鲜活得就像发生在眼前。）

 03  

“Do not tell him that I like him! Pinky wear?”I told my best friend Falon in eighth grade. I was in love.He was taller than all the other boys and had shoulder-length blond hair just like Taylor Hanson,from my all time favorite band,Hanson. Sure enough,by the end of the day Falon had told him how I felt. Word was now out that I had a very serious crush on Gary. Every time we passed in the hallways,my cheeks would turn a soft pink. I had no idea what was happening; this was definitely not like me. I never liked guys; I was always “one of the guys.”My friends would try to get me to talk to him,but no words would come out. Then our eighth grade dance made all my dreams about him come true.Gary dedicated “All My Life,”by KC and Jo Jo, to me and asked me to dance. I was on cloud nine.We dated for about three weeks and then broke up. In middle school, a week was considered a long-term relationship.

（“别告诉他我喜欢他!拉钩?”八年级时我向闺密费伦吐露心事。我陷入了爱情,他比其他的男生都高,齐肩的金色头发,像极了我崇拜的乐队里的主唱泰勒·汉森。我肯定,当天费伦就将我的感受告诉了他。秘密已经公开,我暗恋着格雷,于是每次我们在走廊上擦肩而过,我的脸就开始微微发烧,我不知道自己到底是怎么了,这显然不像我的风格。我从未对男生有过这样的情愫,他们一向都是我的“哥们儿”"。朋友们怂恿我去和他说话,但到了他面前我一句话也说不出来。然而八年级的那次舞会让我深理于心的梦想终于得以实现。格雷献唱一曲KC和JoJo(两人为欧美歌手)的《我生命的全部》送给我,并邀我一起跳舞。我的幸福一瞬间冲上了云霄。我们交往了三周,之后分手了(中学时期的恋爱能够维持一周就算很长时间了)。）

After we got through the soap opera breakup,Gary and I were inseparable. Even distance did not hurt our friendship. In the tenth grade,Gary was offered the opportunity of his lifetime; he was asked to to be the captain of the United States Junior National Soccer Team. He had to move to Florida to attend a special training center. He frequently traveled to tournaments in Italy,China,France and other locations throughout the world. Despite his distance and hectic schedule,he was there for me during all of my most difficult hours,and he always took the time to call with encouraging words.

（历经了青春偶像剧中的分手之后,我们却变得更加亲密，距离都无法割断我们之间的友情。十年级时,格雷获得了人生中的一次重要机遇。他被招募为国家青年足球队队长,于是他前往佛罗里达的特训中心，之后开始辗转于意大利、中国、法国以及世界各地参加比赛。尽管相距遥远,他的日程安排也很紧,但每次在我最困难的时候他都会出现。同时，他还经常打电话给我送上鼓励。）

 04 

I’ll never forget the time I spent the night Falon’s house in tenth grade.We were lying in bed talking about our past relationships, teasing each other about our old boyfriends and laughing for hours. It was around 3:30 A.M., and right as we were about to drift off to sleep,Falon said something that will stay with me forever. “LP,you know that Gary loves you more than anybody ever will.You are lucky to have such a good friend.”At the time, I didn’t think much of this statement,as I took our friendship for granted.I never recognized just how lucky I was to have a friend that I could call at any time of the night,who would talk with me until I fell back asleep.Only now,in his absense,do I realize what an incredible friend and person Gary truly was.

（十年级时在费伦家度过的那一晚令我永远无法忘怀。我和费伦躺在床上畅谈彼此的感情经历,我们互相调侃着对方的男朋友,嘻嘻哈哈地聊了几个小时。凌晨三点半左右,我们迷迷糊糊要睡着的时候,费伦说了一句令我铭记一辈子的话:"LP( Lindsay Ann Parker的缩写),你知道吗，格雷是这个世界上最爱你的人,你很幸运能拥有这样一个好朋友。”那时,我并没有把这句话放在心上,因为一直以来我都理所当然地享受着这份友谊,从未考虑过拥有这样一位朋友是多么幸运。我可以在任何时间给他打电话:而他会心甘情愿陪我一直聊到我沉沉睡去。现在,当他离我远去,我才意识到格雷对我而言是一个怎样的朋友。）

Just two months ago,I approached Gary for advice,as I had frequently in the past. I was caught in a dilemma,debating whether or not I should transfer to Appalachian State University. Gary’s words were simple and wise;he told me to follow my heart and that,no matter what,he would always  be there to support and guide me. I then asked if he knew that I loved him,and he told me that he never doubted it. If I only knew that this was the last time I would talk to him,I would have driven to Furman and spent the entire night with him! However,I know I can’t live regretting the past or wishing I had done more.

（就在两个月前,我像往常一样联系到格雷让他帮忙出主意,那时的我不知是否该转去阿巴拉契亚州立大学。格雷的话简单明了,他让我遵从自己的心,并说无论我的决定如何他都会支持并帮我出谋划策。接着我问他是否知道我爱他,他回答我自己从未怀疑这一点。假如当时我知道这是最后一次和他通话,我就会赶到弗尔曼,整晚陪在他身边!但是,我知道自己不能一味沉浸在对过去的遗憾和幻想当中。）

 05  

I have learned to cherish every moment I have with the people I love. I take time to fully enjoy life,and I try to appreciate each minute  I  am given on this planet.I did not “lose”Gary. He is still my best friend,only now he is guiding me from above.I can talk to him every night and know he is listening, and I still see him in my dreams.Gary was my angle on earth, and now he is my angle in heaven.

（现在的我学会了珍惜和我爱的人相处的时光。我要充实地活着,享受生命的每一分钟。我没有“失去”格雷,他仍然是我最好的朋友、即使现在,他仍然在天堂指引着我,我每晚仍然可以找他倾诉,他一定在聆听着,我的梦中仍时时出现他的身影。格雷曾经是守护我的天使,现在他依然在天上守护着我。）

~Lindsay Ann Parker

读美文记单词：

(部分单词有多个意思，下面写的只是在本文中的含义)

1. tremble 英 [ˈtrembl]   美 [ˈtrɛmbəl]

    vi.发抖;颤动;焦虑;轻轻摇晃

2. unmade 英 [ˌʌnˈmeɪd]   美 [ʌnˈmed]

    v.毁灭;使消失( unmake的过去式和过去分词 );使恢复原状;撤回

3.insignificant 英 [ˌɪnsɪgˈnɪfɪkənt]   美 [ˌɪnsɪɡˈnɪfɪkənt]

    adj.不重要的;微小的;毫无意义的;不足道

4. fold 英 [fəʊld]   美 [foʊld]

    vt.折叠;

5. jersey 英 [ˈdʒɜ:zi]   美 [ˈdʒɜ:rzi]

    n.毛织运动衫，毛线衫;

6 .freeze 英 [fri:z]   美 [friz]

    vt.吓呆;僵住

7. in complete shock 很惊讶 惊呆了

例：

I wanted to cry,but I was in complete shock.

我想放声大哭，但身体却被突如其来的噩耗惊得一动不动。

8. grave site 墓地

9. tombstone 英 [ˈtu:mstəʊn]   美 [ˈtu:mstoʊn]

    n.墓碑;墓石;

10. temporary 英 [ˈtemprəri]   美 [ˈtempəreri]

    adj.短暂的;临时的，暂时的

    n.临时工，临时雇员

11. headstone 英 [ˈhedstəʊn]   美 [ˈhedstoʊn]

     n.墓碑

12. savor 英 ['seɪvə]   美 ['seɪvə]

     vt.品尝;欣赏;

13. downpour 英 [ˈdaʊnpɔ:(r)]   美 [ˈdaʊnˌpɔr, -ˌpor]

      n.倾盆大雨;

14.numb 英 [nʌm]   美 [nʌm]

     adj.麻木的，失去感觉的;无动于衷的，没感情的

15. horrible dream 噩梦 《==》nightmare

      nightmare英 [ˈnaɪtmeə(r)]   美 [ˈnaɪtmer]  

      n.噩梦;

16. hay 英 [heɪ]   美 [he]

      n.干草;

17.  drip off 滴下

18.petal 英 [ˈpetl]   美 [ˈpɛtl]

     n.花瓣

19. splash into 溅入；滴入

20. casket 英 [ˈkɑ:skɪt]   美 [ˈkæskɪt]

    n.<美>棺材; 首饰盒，匣子，

21. fantasize 英 [ˈfæntəsaɪz]   美 [ˈfæntəˌsaɪz]

    vt. 幻想;想像

    vi. 沉溺于幻想

22. yearn 英 [jɜ:n]   美 [jɜ:rn]

      vi.渴望，切盼，向往;想念，怀念

      ~ to

23. pinky wear 拉勾

pinky 英 [ˈpɪŋki]   美 [ˈpɪŋki]

      n.小指(=pinkie)

24. blond 英 [blɒnd]   美 [blɑnd]

      adj.白肤金发碧眼的;亚麻色的，金色的;浅色的

      n.肤色白皙的金发女人;白肤金发碧眼人

25. on cloud nine 极其快乐，乐不可支;极快乐

文中例子：

I was ~. 我的幸福一瞬间冲上了云霄。

26. soap opera 英 [səup ˈɔpərə]   美 [sop ˈɑpərə]

      n.肥皂剧；青春偶像剧

      复数： soap operas

27.tournament 英 [ˈtʊənəmənt]   美 [ˈtʊrnəmənt]

     n.锦标赛;锦标赛，联赛;中世纪的骑士比武

28. hectic 英 [ˈhektɪk]   美 [ˈhɛktɪk]

      adj.繁忙的，忙乱的;兴奋的，狂热的;

29. incredible 英 [ɪnˈkredəbl]   美 [ɪnˈkrɛdəbəl]

       adj.难以置信的;不可思议的;惊人的;未必可能的

30. dilemma 英 [dɪˈlemə]   美 [dɪˈlɛmə]

      n.进退两难;窘境，困境

I was caught in a dilemma. 我陷入进退两难的境地。

31. debate 英 [dɪˈbeɪt]   美 [ dɪˈbet]

      n.辩论;辩论;争论;讨论

      vt.& vi.辩论;仔细考虑;思考;盘算

句子赏析：

1. There was no way Gary could be dead !  格雷绝对不会死！

2. Tears streamed down my face as I began to walk toward my best friend's grave.

     当我向朋友的墓地走去时，泪水再一次流下来。

3.My legs feel like they weighted one hundred pounds each,and my stomach twisted into a knot so tight that I thought I was going to be sick.

  我步伐沉重，每条腿都像灌了铅一样，胃里拧成一团，感觉马上就要吐了。

4. I did not feel a thing;my entire body was numb.

    我全身变得麻木，没有了任何知觉。

5. I stood there and let my mind drift to all of our experiences together from the time we fell in love to our first real fight.

The memories came in crystal clear torrents.

    我呆呆地站在那儿，放任思绪带我重温和格雷在一起经历的点点滴滴：从我们相爱到第一次吵架，这些记忆如涓涓细流在脑海里慢慢流淌，鲜活地就像发生在眼前。

6.Word was now out that I had a very serious crush on Gary.

    秘密已公开，我暗恋着格雷。

7. Every time we passed in the hallways,my cheeks would turn a soft  pink.

    每次我们在走廊上擦肩而过，我的脸就会微微发烧。

8.My friends would try to get me to talk to him,but no words would come out.

    朋友们怂恿我去和他谈话，但到了他面前我一句话也说不出来。

欢迎分享到朋友圈，与更多人一起将英语学习进行到底

    豌豆Tina:

    觉得有意义，就坚持去做吧！

    别人半途而废了，而你却坚持下来了，请相信，很快你的坚持就成了你的优势！

    比如说每天坚持跑步，你就比同龄人更健康更年轻；

    比如说英语学习，别人敷衍了事，而你每天坚持多背了几个单词，多听了一篇英语短文，你就比别人有了更多的职业选择，看懂更多的英文原汁原味的书籍...

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