Table for Two
二人餐桌
I remember quite well a day 17 years ago. That day our twin sons, Chad and Brad, loaded their car and left home to attend college. I got up early that morning and cooked breakfast while wiping away tears. I sat our “table for five” and realized how all of our lives were about to change.
十七年前的那一天依然歷歷在目。就在那一天，我們的雙胞胎兒子查德和布拉德將各自的物品裝上車，離開(kāi)了家，開(kāi)始了他們的大學(xué)生活。那個(gè)早晨，我早早起了床，一邊擦去眼淚一邊準(zhǔn)備早餐。我坐在“五人餐桌”前，意識(shí)到我們一家人的生活將從此改變。
I noticed how quietness 1)engulfed our kitchen that morning. The five of us sat down to breakfast. Nobody had anything to say, however. Not one of us knew what to say. Sure, the boys would be coming home on the weekends, but even so, I knew our family life would never be exactly the same again.
那天早上，我注意到廚房里異常安靜。一家五口坐下來(lái)吃早餐，卻沒(méi)有一個(gè)人說(shuō)話。其實(shí)大家都不知道該說(shuō)些什么。當(dāng)然，男孩子們周末會(huì)回來(lái)，但即使是這樣，我也知道，我們家的生活肯定不會(huì)跟以前一樣了。
The boys rambled around each room of the house to make sure they hadn’t forgotten anything they needed. I packed a 2)cooler with drinks and their favorite cold snacks. I found a box and filled it with essential food items. When my mind 3)tricked me into thinking they might go to bed hungry that night, I emptied my wallet and placed the little bit of cash I had in their hands.
兒子們?cè)诩依锏拿總€(gè)房間都流連了一會(huì)兒，確保沒(méi)有遺漏什么需要的東西。我為他們準(zhǔn)備了一個(gè)迷你冰箱，裝好飲料和他們最愛(ài)的冰凍零食，又找了一個(gè)盒子，裝滿了必備的食物。想到他們那天晚上睡覺(jué)的時(shí)候可能會(huì)肚子餓，我便清空了錢包，把里面的一點(diǎn)現(xiàn)金放到他們手里。
We all walked outside. Chad and Brad gave me big hugs and quickly got into their car. I waved as they drove away. When I couldn’t see their car any longer, I began to sob. I sat down on the driveway, placed my face in my hands and cried harder than I had cried in a long time. My husband Roy tried to 4)console me, but I could see grief in his eyes, as well.
我們一起送他們出門。查德和布拉德給了我大大的擁抱，然后迅速上了車。我揮著手向他們道別，看著他們開(kāi)車離去。車子慢慢駛離我的視線，我不禁啜泣起來(lái)。我在車道上坐了下來(lái)，雙手捂著臉，淚流不止，很久沒(méi)有像那樣痛哭了。丈夫羅伊想盡辦法安慰我，但我看見(jiàn)他的眼里也飽含憂傷。
Five years later, we went through many of the same emotions when our daughter, Becky moved away from home. We had become somewhat accustomed to our “table for three.” We were sad that it would soon become a “table for two.”
五年后，女兒貝基離家時(shí)，我們同樣也經(jīng)歷了類似的感傷。畢竟，我們那時(shí)已經(jīng)有點(diǎn)習(xí)慣了“三人餐”。很快就要變成“二人餐”了，我們不免有些難過(guò)。
There are many parents dreading this time of year. 5)Bittersweet feelings will be present. While these parents feel pride and joy for their children, they will also feel a sense of grief. Painful moments will fill their minds. While I cannot adequately explain the feelings, I can still remember how I felt when we began that new chapter in our lives.
很多做父母的都害怕每年的這個(gè)時(shí)候，總有苦樂(lè)參半的感情來(lái)襲。他們一方面為孩子們感到驕傲和快樂(lè)，一方面又覺(jué)得難過(guò)和憂傷。痛苦的片段充斥著他們的腦海。盡管我無(wú)法恰如其分地將這種感情解釋清楚，但仍清晰記得自己在開(kāi)始新的生活篇章之時(shí)是一種怎樣的心情。
The new chapter meant the telephone didn’t ring as much. The house was quieter. I longed to see 6)messy bedrooms once again. I would have loved to 7)referee another sibling 8)squabble. The worse feeling I had was the thought I was no longer needed. Of course, I was proud that my children were 9)self-sufficient. I knew down deep they wouldn’t starve. But I would have loved to have gotten up early and prepared lunches just one more time. I needed to be needed.
新的生活篇章意味著電話的響鈴次數(shù)減少了，房子也比以前安靜了。我渴望再次看到凌亂的臥室，也渴望再為兄弟姐妹之間的爭(zhēng)吵調(diào)停。最糟糕的感觸是覺(jué)得自己不再被需要了。當(dāng)然了，孩子們能自食其力我也感到自豪。我深知他們不會(huì)挨餓。但我還是希望哪怕再多一次為他們?cè)缭缙鸫病?zhǔn)備午飯。我渴望被需要的感覺(jué)。
Time rocked on, however. Roy and I are now accustomed to the 10)quaintness of our table for two and we enjoy our lives together. Every night is date night for us. Our dinner table is usually at someone’s restaurant. As an added 11)bonus “dinner for two” is much more affordable than dinner out for an entire family.
然而時(shí)光荏苒，現(xiàn)在，我和羅伊已經(jīng)習(xí)慣了新奇有趣的“二人餐”，享受兩人世界。每一晚都是約會(huì)之夜。我們通常在外面的餐館就餐。“二人餐”還有一個(gè)額外的好處：比一大家子出去吃飯要便宜多了。
I have to admit I still miss our children and the old times we had together. But I also have to say I better enjoy the time I spend with the man of my dreams than ever before. Change is not always easy. If you are one of those parents who have just said goodbye to a child headed off to college, let me prepare you for some hard and lonely days, weeks and even months. But let me also say that a new chapter in your life is just ahead. Hold on tight until then. Renew your vows to the one you love. And when you go to your favorite restaurant say with a strong voice and a great deal of courage, “Table for two, please.”
我得承認(rèn)，我還是很想念孩子們，想念和他們?cè)谝黄鸬耐魰r(shí)光。同時(shí)，我也得說(shuō)，比起以前，我更享受和丈夫——我的夢(mèng)中情人——在一起的時(shí)間。改變有時(shí)候并不容易。如果你也是那些即將和上大學(xué)的子女道別的父親或母親, 容許我給點(diǎn)建議，好讓你應(yīng)對(duì)未來(lái)那些艱難孤獨(dú)的日子，熬過(guò)每一周甚至每一月。但我也想告訴你，生活的新篇章也即將到來(lái)，在那之前，請(qǐng)堅(jiān)持住。重拾你對(duì)愛(ài)人的誓言。當(dāng)你走進(jìn)最愛(ài)的餐廳時(shí)，用鏗鏘有力的聲音說(shuō)：“二人桌，謝謝。”
Roy and I have always enjoyed each other’s company, but after the children moved away, we found a great amount of strength in each other. Some things have changed over the years. Our love for one another has grown stronger with each passing day. Together, Roy and I are now doing things we never dreamed possible. Our children oftentimes talk about how we are busier and happier than we have ever been before. Could it be because we fell deeper in love as we spent 12)quality time together at our table for two?
羅伊與我一直享受對(duì)方的陪伴。孩子們離開(kāi)后，我們從對(duì)方身上更是得到莫大的支持。這些年以來(lái)，很多事情都發(fā)生了變化，我們對(duì)彼此的愛(ài)也隨著時(shí)間日漸加深。我們現(xiàn)在會(huì)一起做先前做夢(mèng)都沒(méi)想過(guò)會(huì)做的事情。孩子們時(shí)常問(wèn)起，為什么我們比之前更充實(shí)、更快樂(lè)了。是不是因?yàn)樵趦扇擞貌偷恼滟F時(shí)光里，我們彼此更加相愛(ài)了呢?
