Letter to my grandchildren
給孫兒們的一封信
To my beautiful grandchildren:
我的好孫兒們:
Our world is changing so fast and there are many things I wish for you...
我們生活的世界變化非常快,我希望你們能做到下面這些事:
I'd really like for you to know about hand-me-down clothes and homemade ice cream and leftover meat loaf sandwiches.
我非常希望你們?cè)敢獯└绺缃憬銈兇┻^的衣服,吃自己家做的冰激凌,咽下剩下的飯菜。
I really would.
我真心地希望你們這么做。

I hope you learn humility by being humiliated, and that you learn honesty by being cheated.
我希望你們能從受辱中懂的謙卑,從被騙中學(xué)會(huì)誠(chéng)實(shí)。
I hope you learn to make your own bed, mow the lawn and wash the car.
我希望你們學(xué)會(huì)自己鋪床,割草坪,洗車。
And I really hope nobody gives you a brand new car when you are sixteen.
我還非常希望你們十六歲的時(shí)候,沒人會(huì)送給你們新車。
I hope you get a black eye fighting for something you believe in.
我希望你們?cè)敢鉃樽约簣?jiān)信的東西而被打得鼻青臉腫。
I hope you have to share a bedroom with your younger brother or sister.
我希望你們?cè)敢夂偷艿芑蛎妹梅窒砼P室。
And it's all right if you have to draw a line down the middle of the room,but when they want to crawl under the covers with you because they're scared,I hope you let them.
如果你們堅(jiān)持要在臥室中間畫道分界線,那當(dāng)然也是可以的,但是當(dāng)他們因?yàn)楹ε乱@到你們的被窩里時(shí),我希望你們能同意。
When you want to see a movie and your little brother or sister wants to tag along, I hope you'll let them.
當(dāng)你們打算看電影而弟弟或妹妹要跟著看的時(shí)候,我希望你們能讓他們一起看。
I hope you have to walk uphill to school with your friends and that you live in a town where you can do it safely.
當(dāng)你們非得和朋友們一起爬山上學(xué)的時(shí)候,希望在你住的鎮(zhèn)子安全時(shí)這么做。
On rainy days when you have to catch a ride, I hope you don't ask your driver to drop you two blocks away so you won't be seen riding with someone as uncool as your Mom.
下雨天必須搭便車的時(shí)候,希望你們不要因?yàn)椴幌氡豢吹缴砼宰粋€(gè)跟你們媽媽一樣不趕時(shí)髦的人,就在離家還有兩個(gè)街口的地方下車。
If you want a slingshot, I hope your Dad teaches you how to make one instead of buying one.
你們想要彈弓的時(shí)候,希望你們的爸爸能教你們?cè)趺醋约簞?dòng)手做,而不是買一個(gè)。
I hope you learn to dig in the dirt and read books.
希望你們學(xué)會(huì)挖土坑還有閱讀。
When you learn to use computers, I hope you also learn to add and subtract in your head.
當(dāng)你們學(xué)習(xí)使用電腦時(shí),希望你們還能學(xué)會(huì)怎么用自己的腦子。
I hope you get teased by your friends when you have your first crush, and when you talk back to your mother that you learn what ivory soap tastes like.
我希望你們?cè)诔鯌贂r(shí),以及和媽媽頂嘴說你知道肥皂的味道時(shí),受到朋友們的嘲笑。
May you skin your knee climbing a mountain, burn your hand on a stove and stick your tongue on a frozen flagpole.
希望你們爬山時(shí)擦破膝蓋,希望你們被爐子燙到手,希望你們伸出舌頭舔結(jié)冰的旗桿。
I don't care if you try a beer once, but I hope you don't like it.
我不在乎你們嘗試著喝酒,但我希望你們不喜歡酒。
And if a friend offers you dope or a joint, I hope you realize he is not your friend.
如果有個(gè)朋友給你們毒品或混有大麻的香煙時(shí),希望你意識(shí)到他不是你們的朋友。
I sure hope you make time to sit on a porch with your grandparents and go fishing with your uncle.
我真心希望你們能抽點(diǎn)時(shí)間和祖父母在門廊里坐會(huì)兒,能和叔叔一起去釣魚。
These are just some of the things that I wish for you—tough times and disappointment, hard work and happiness.
這些僅僅是我希望你們做的一部分事情—或是困難重重,沮喪失望,或是辛勤工作,快樂得意。
To me, it's the only way to appreciate life.
對(duì)我來說,這是品味生活的唯一途徑。