布郎老爹是在大蕭條時代長起來的人.他說那時幸虧家里有個農(nóng)場,讓他天天能像只松鼠一樣啃花生吃.大概因為這個原因,布郎老爹一生對自然充滿了愛戴,他喜歡種植花草蔬菜水果,他種的梨和蘋果連我都吃得開始作惡夢了.

布郎老爹對我的影響很大.因為他除了跟我的生父一樣有著尊嚴(yán)的一面之外,更多的時候是妙語連珠,充滿了智慧與幽默.他一生辛勤,事業(yè)成功,可是他處處注意節(jié)儉;然而在別人需要幫助時,他又從沒吝惜過體力與金錢.

布郎老爹是個電腦老手,按義娘的說法,帶線不帶線的,只要是帶電的玩藝兒他都有.可他更喜歡隔三差五地寫親筆信,給兒孫們發(fā)布最高指示.

于是我昨天就接到了他的一封信.掐頭去尾我把其中的一段話翻譯成中文,供諸君參考.我相信他不是原作者.

生活告訴我,生命就像那卷衛(wèi)生紙.越到最后,它走得越快.

生活告訴我,應(yīng)該感激上帝沒答應(yīng)給我們所祈求的一切.

生活告訴我,錢買不來高雅與品味.

生活告訴我,是日常的瑣碎使生活變得更美好.

生活告訴我,人人藏在外表之下的是一顆希望得到欣賞與愛的心.

生活告訴我,上帝不是一天創(chuàng)造的世界,我又怎能把一切搶在一天里完成.

生活告訴我,對事實視而不見并不能改變事實本身.

生活告訴我,我花在工作上的時間越短,完成的事越多.

我準(zhǔn)備近日啟程去看望一直想念的布郎老爹.

2007-8-16 

附原文:

Remember:

I've learned.... That life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes.

I've learned....That we should be glad God doesn't give us everything we ask for.

I've learned.... That money doesn't buy class.

I've learned...that it's those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular.

I've learned.... That under everyone's hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved.

I've learned....That the Lord didn't do it all in one day. What makes me think I can?

I've learned....That to ignore the facts does not change the facts.

I've learned....That the less time I have to work, the more things I get done.

HAPPY FRIENDSHIP WEEK TO YOU!