Dear Dad, 親愛的爸爸：

Today I was at the shopping mall and I spent a lot of time reading the Fathers Day cards. They all had a special message that in some way or another reflected how I feel about you. Yet as I selected and read, and selected and read again, it occurred to me that not a single card said what I really want to say to you. 今天我在商場，花了好長時間來讀父親節賀卡上的文字。那些卡片上面的文字都傳遞出特別的信息，也或多或少地表達出了我對您的感受。可我反復地挑呀讀呀，卻發現沒有一張賀卡能夠表達出我真正想對您說的話。

Youll soon be 84 years old, Dad, and you and I will have had 55 Fathers Days together. 爸，很快您就84歲了，我和您也將一起度過這第55個父親節。

You know, Dad, there was a time when we were not only separated by the generation gap but completely 1)polarized by it. You stood on one side of 2)the Great Divide and I on the other, father and daughter split apart by age and experience, opinion hairstyle cosmetic clothing, 3)curfew music, and boys. 爸，您也知道，有一段時間，代溝不僅僅讓我們父女倆疏遠，它簡直就讓我們處于對立面。我們站在大分水嶺的兩邊，父女倆常因年齡、個人閱歷、觀點、發型、化妝、服裝、晚上回家的時間規定、音樂以及男朋友而鬧翻。

The Father-Daughter Duel of 54 shifted into high gear when you taught me to drive the old 4)Dodge and I decided I would drive the 54 5)Chevy whether you liked it or not. The police officer who 6)escorted me home after you reported the Chevy stolen late one evening was too young to understand father-daughter politics and too old to have much tolerance for a 7)snotty 16-year-old. You were so decent about it, Dad, and I think that was probably what made it the worst night of my life. 那時，您教我學開那部道奇舊車，可我卻不管您喜歡不喜歡，執意要開那輛54年產的雪佛蘭。因為此事，我們的父女之爭也在1954年發展到了頂點。那天深夜，您報警說雪佛蘭車被盜。之后，一名警官把我護送回家。可他太年輕了，根本不明白父女之間的對抗游戲;但他也不小了，因此，不能容忍一個脾氣暴躁的16歲少女的行為。爸爸，您對這件事的處理倒是很得體。那是我一生中最難受的一個夜晚，我想您的態度可能就是原因吧。

Our relationship improved 8)immensely when I married a man you liked, and things really turned around when we began making babies 9)right and left. I didnt know what to expect of you and Mom as grandparents but I didnt have to wait long to find out. Those babies adored you then just as they adore you now. When I see you with all your grandchildren, I know youve given them the finest gift a grandparent can give. Youve given them yourself. 在我嫁給了一個您喜歡的女婿后，我們倆之間的關系才緩和了好多。后來，我們全力以赴生孩子，我們之間的關系便來了個全方位大轉變。我當時并不知道我應該對身為外公外婆的您和媽媽抱什么期望，但是，不用等多久我就有了答案。那時候，我的孩子們和現在一樣，都非常喜歡您。當我看見您和您的外孫們在一起的時候，我知道您已經盡你所能給了他們最好的禮物，您把心都掏給他們了。

Somewhere along the line, the generation gap 10)evaporated. Age separates us now and little else. We agree on most everything, perhaps because weve learned there isnt much worth disagreeing about. However, I would like to mention that 11)fly fishing isnt all youve12)cracked it up to be, Dad. 就是這樣，您我之間的代溝慢慢消失了，我們之間的差異只有年齡。我們在很多事情上的看法都是一致的，這可能是因為我們明白了沒有那么多的事情值得我們爭辯吧。然而，我想提一下的是，爸，飛蠅釣魚并不是您說的那么有意思。

I suppose I saw us and our relationship as aging together, rather like a fine wine. Numbers never seemed important. But the oddest thing happened last week. I was at a stop sign and I watched as you turned the corner in your car. It didnt immediately occur to me that it was you because the man driving looked so elderly and fragile behind the wheel of that huge car. It was rather like a slap in the face delivered from out of nowhere. Perhaps I saw your age for the first time that day. Or maybe I saw my own. 我認為，我們以及我倆的關系就像是一瓶好酒，一起慢慢地變老。歲數已不再重要。但是，上周發生了一件很奇怪的事情，我的車在停車標志前停下，看見您開著車拐彎。可是我并沒有立刻反應過來那是您，因為在那部大車方向盤后面的駕車人顯得那么蒼老、虛弱。當時，就好像是有人不知從哪兒冒出來，重重地扇了我一記耳光。也許，那天是我第一次看見您的年紀，或者說，是我看到了自己的年紀。

Fifty years ago this spring, we planted 13)kohlrabi together in a garden in Charles City, Iowa. 五十年前的一個春天，我們在衣阿華州查爾斯市的一個花園一起種下甘藍菜。

This week, well plant kohlrabi together again, perhaps for the last time but I hope not. I dont understand why planting kohlrabi with you is so important to me but it is. And the funny thing about it i well, I dont quite know how to tell you thi Dad...I dont even like kohlrabi...but I like planting it with you. 這星期，我們還要一起種甘藍菜。也許，這是最后一次，可我并不希望那樣。我不明白為什么和您一起種甘藍菜對我來說這么重要，可確實如此。而且，關于這個，有一點很有意思，可我不知道該怎么和您說這事，爸其實我壓根兒不喜歡甘藍菜但是，我卻喜歡和您一起種甘藍菜。

I guess what Im trying to say, Dad, is what every son and daughter wants to say to their dad today. Honoring a father on Fathers Day is about more than a dad who brings home a paycheck, shares a dinner table, and attends school function graduation and weddings. It isnt even so much about kohlrabi, 54 Chevrolet and fly fishing. Its more about unconditionally loving children who are snotty and stubborn, who know everything and wont listen to anyone. Its about respect and sharing and acceptance and tolerance and giving and taking. Its about loving someone more than words can say, and its wishing that it never had to end. 爸爸，我想說的是每個兒女今天都想跟他們的爸爸說的話。在父親節的時候向父親致意，這決不是因為爸爸給家里掙錢，他和家人一起共進晚餐，參加兒女的學校活動，參加畢業典禮和婚禮等等，甚至也不止是一起種甘藍菜，開54年的雪佛蘭車和飛蠅釣魚。而是爸爸們毫無保留地愛著自己脾氣壞、固執的孩子，愛著那些自以為是、誰的話都聽不進去的孩子;是尊重、分享、認同、寬容、互諒互讓，是用言語無法表達的深情愛著一個人，并希望這愛永不止歇。

I love you, Dad. 爸爸，我愛您。

Dear Dad, 親愛的爸爸：

Today I was at the shopping mall and I spent a lot of time reading the Fathers Day cards. They all had a special message that in some way or another reflected how I feel about you. Yet as I selected and read, and selected and read again, it occurred to me that not a single card said what I really want to say to you. 今天我在商場，花了好長時間來讀父親節賀卡上的文字。那些卡片上面的文字都傳遞出特別的信息，也或多或少地表達出了我對您的感受。可我反復地挑呀讀呀，卻發現沒有一張賀卡能夠表達出我真正想對您說的話。

Youll soon be 84 years old, Dad, and you and I will have had 55 Fathers Days together. 爸，很快您就84歲了，我和您也將一起度過這第55個父親節。

You know, Dad, there was a time when we were not only separated by the generation gap but completely 1)polarized by it. You stood on one side of 2)the Great Divide and I on the other, father and daughter split apart by age and experience, opinion hairstyle cosmetic clothing, 3)curfew music, and boys. 爸，您也知道，有一段時間，代溝不僅僅讓我們父女倆疏遠，它簡直就讓我們處于對立面。我們站在大分水嶺的兩邊，父女倆常因年齡、個人閱歷、觀點、發型、化妝、服裝、晚上回家的時間規定、音樂以及男朋友而鬧翻。

The Father-Daughter Duel of 54 shifted into high gear when you taught me to drive the old 4)Dodge and I decided I would drive the 54 5)Chevy whether you liked it or not. The police officer who 6)escorted me home after you reported the Chevy stolen late one evening was too young to understand father-daughter politics and too old to have much tolerance for a 7)snotty 16-year-old. You were so decent about it, Dad, and I think that was probably what made it the worst night of my life. 那時，您教我學開那部道奇舊車，可我卻不管您喜歡不喜歡，執意要開那輛54年產的雪佛蘭。因為此事，我們的父女之爭也在1954年發展到了頂點。那天深夜，您報警說雪佛蘭車被盜。之后，一名警官把我護送回家。可他太年輕了，根本不明白父女之間的對抗游戲;但他也不小了，因此，不能容忍一個脾氣暴躁的16歲少女的行為。爸爸，您對這件事的處理倒是很得體。那是我一生中最難受的一個夜晚，我想您的態度可能就是原因吧。

Our relationship improved 8)immensely when I married a man you liked, and things really turned around when we began making babies 9)right and left. I didnt know what to expect of you and Mom as grandparents but I didnt have to wait long to find out. Those babies adored you then just as they adore you now. When I see you with all your grandchildren, I know youve given them the finest gift a grandparent can give. Youve given them yourself. 在我嫁給了一個您喜歡的女婿后，我們倆之間的關系才緩和了好多。后來，我們全力以赴生孩子，我們之間的關系便來了個全方位大轉變。我當時并不知道我應該對身為外公外婆的您和媽媽抱什么期望，但是，不用等多久我就有了答案。那時候，我的孩子們和現在一樣，都非常喜歡您。當我看見您和您的外孫們在一起的時候，我知道您已經盡你所能給了他們最好的禮物，您把心都掏給他們了。

Somewhere along the line, the generation gap 10)evaporated. Age separates us now and little else. We agree on most everything, perhaps because weve learned there isnt much worth disagreeing about. However, I would like to mention that 11)fly fishing isnt all youve12)cracked it up to be, Dad. 就是這樣，您我之間的代溝慢慢消失了，我們之間的差異只有年齡。我們在很多事情上的看法都是一致的，這可能是因為我們明白了沒有那么多的事情值得我們爭辯吧。然而，我想提一下的是，爸，飛蠅釣魚并不是您說的那么有意思。

I suppose I saw us and our relationship as aging together, rather like a fine wine. Numbers never seemed important. But the oddest thing happened last week. I was at a stop sign and I watched as you turned the corner in your car. It didnt immediately occur to me that it was you because the man driving looked so elderly and fragile behind the wheel of that huge car. It was rather like a slap in the face delivered from out of nowhere. Perhaps I saw your age for the first time that day. Or maybe I saw my own. 我認為，我們以及我倆的關系就像是一瓶好酒，一起慢慢地變老。歲數已不再重要。但是，上周發生了一件很奇怪的事情，我的車在停車標志前停下，看見您開著車拐彎。可是我并沒有立刻反應過來那是您，因為在那部大車方向盤后面的駕車人顯得那么蒼老、虛弱。當時，就好像是有人不知從哪兒冒出來，重重地扇了我一記耳光。也許，那天是我第一次看見您的年紀，或者說，是我看到了自己的年紀。

Fifty years ago this spring, we planted 13)kohlrabi together in a garden in Charles City, Iowa. 五十年前的一個春天，我們在衣阿華州查爾斯市的一個花園一起種下甘藍菜。

This week, well plant kohlrabi together again, perhaps for the last time but I hope not. I dont understand why planting kohlrabi with you is so important to me but it is. And the funny thing about it i well, I dont quite know how to tell you thi Dad...I dont even like kohlrabi...but I like planting it with you. 這星期，我們還要一起種甘藍菜。也許，這是最后一次，可我并不希望那樣。我不明白為什么和您一起種甘藍菜對我來說這么重要，可確實如此。而且，關于這個，有一點很有意思，可我不知道該怎么和您說這事，爸其實我壓根兒不喜歡甘藍菜但是，我卻喜歡和您一起種甘藍菜。

I guess what Im trying to say, Dad, is what every son and daughter wants to say to their dad today. Honoring a father on Fathers Day is about more than a dad who brings home a paycheck, shares a dinner table, and attends school function graduation and weddings. It isnt even so much about kohlrabi, 54 Chevrolet and fly fishing. Its more about unconditionally loving children who are snotty and stubborn, who know everything and wont listen to anyone. Its about respect and sharing and acceptance and tolerance and giving and taking. Its about loving someone more than words can say, and its wishing that it never had to end. 爸爸，我想說的是每個兒女今天都想跟他們的爸爸說的話。在父親節的時候向父親致意，這決不是因為爸爸給家里掙錢，他和家人一起共進晚餐，參加兒女的學校活動，參加畢業典禮和婚禮等等，甚至也不止是一起種甘藍菜，開54年的雪佛蘭車和飛蠅釣魚。而是爸爸們毫無保留地愛著自己脾氣壞、固執的孩子，愛著那些自以為是、誰的話都聽不進去的孩子;是尊重、分享、認同、寬容、互諒互讓，是用言語無法表達的深情愛著一個人，并希望這愛永不止歇。

I love you, Dad. 爸爸，我愛您。