佚名/Anonymous

It has been weeks since I wrote this about my father. I pondered over whether to submit it, and initially decided to keep it to myself. After all, it is what I consider to be very private and personal about someone with whom I was very close. So I expressed my feelings, recorded the event as best as memory allowed, then stashed it away.

Then my sister gained access to the Internet, so I wanted to share this story of our father with her;she and Dad were also quite close. Since she is family, I sent it to her to read. Her response is the reason why this story about my father appears here today.“You have to submit it”，she said.“A lot of people will be able to relate to this story.”

So, thanks again to my wise little sister, a previous decision has been overturned. Here, with hopes that it will touch some hearts, are details of an episode in life with my father.

We never, ever forget, but the memories help keep us going, and the joyous moments shared can recur endlessly. They do with me, and they put a smile on my face each time I recall some of the incredibly happy times I shared with my dad.

Although he didn't realize it, my father was a great teacher. He was a man of little formal education, having quit school in the seventh grade to help feed his siblings in a time when every penny was hard to come by. His working life actually began at a mere eight years of age. Consequently, he gained a lot from life. He had experienced more life lessons than most by the time he died, so while he had little formal training, he remains one of the brightest stars I know.

What my father had accumulated in the school of life, he unknowingly passed down to me-lesson by lesson.

Some months after he and my mother decided to walk separate paths, he needed a place to stay. It was to be temporary, only until he got“back on his feet”.He swallowed a bit of pride in the process;I was thrilled beyond description with the opportunity to help the man who had done so much for me throughout my life.

We sat and talked many a night, my father and me. We learned more about each other in the few months he resided with us, than we had in many years prior. It was a great chance for me to really get to know my dad. Then, just when I thought I knew him well and understood what he was all about-what made him tick-he threw me a curve.

Sitting together in the living room one night discussing what made the Universe what it is, he turned to me and said,“You know, when I look in the mirror now, all I see is a fat, ugly old man.”I distinctly recall hearing his words, and just as clearly can remember my reaction. I sat there, numb for what seemed like an eternity. It was one of those extremely rare moments when I couldn't find words-at least, none that would have been appropriate, anyway.

Sleeping on what he had just conveyed to me, the thoughts began to form and the words started to materialize, but how could I convey all the feelings that were welling up inside me?How could I tell my father how his words made me feel?Finally, it came to me:I would write him a letter. And so I did.

“Dear Dad,”it began,“the other night you spoke to me about the‘fat, ugly old man'you see when you look into the mirror. I don't understand. You must be looking at someone else, for when I look at you, the person I see is totally different from your description. When I look at you, what I see is the wonderful man who taught me how to bait a hook, how to hammer a nail and how to walk away from the school bully. I look at you and in front of me is the person who was my mentor, the role model who showed me about life and how to live it with honesty, integrity and frankness. This is the man,”I continued“who displayed kindness toward others, often putting his neighbor first. He taught me all these things and so much more. Through the toughest of times, he showed me the importance of laughter.”

“Dad, you taught me how to be tough, yet compassionate. You taught me most of the things I know about this life. So as you look into that mirror, I hope the day will soon come that you see the same person I see, each time I look at you. I see my hero-the unique individual who helped me to become the person I am.”

My father did much more than teach me these things-he opened up so that I could get to really know the man whom I loved and came to respect more than my self. He taught me lessons of life that no one else could;he taught me about who I am. And he made a difference.

Looking back now, some four years after he decided to move on, I can see clearly why I chose him to be my father.

几星期前，我写下了这篇关于父亲的文章。我犹豫着是否将它上传，刚开始我决定自己珍藏，我想，这毕竟是非常隐私的个人问题，是有关我最亲近的人。因此，我表达了自己的感情，记录下最美好的回忆，然后收藏起来。

我的妹妹可以上互联网，所以我希望与她一同分享我们的故事，她和父亲的关系也很密切。因为她结婚了，我就传了过去。她读过后回复说：“你必须发表，这样很多人就都能欣赏到这个故事了。”于是今天，这篇文章就出现在这里。

所以，再次感谢我明智的小妹，独自珍藏的决定被推翻了。这里，都是我与父亲在一起的生活琐事，希望能够触动更多人的心灵。

我们从未，也将永远不会忘怀，但是，记忆却让我们关系融洽，欢乐的时光时刻闪现。这些都留在了我的脑海中；每当回想起与父亲共度的那些难忘的幸福时光，我的脸上就会挂着微笑。

父亲是一位很不错的老师，可能他自己并没有意识到。父亲并没有受过很多正规教育，七年级时，他为了抚养弟妹，放弃了学业。那时的生活非常艰难，事实上，他从八岁起就开始工作了。所以，他生活经验丰富。尽管他读书甚少，但他仍是我最崇敬的人。

父亲积累的生活经验，都在不知不觉中一点一滴传授给了我。

他与母亲决定离婚，几个月后，他需要找一个临时落脚的地方，住到能在经济上独立为止。在这期间，他一直忍气吞声。我则为有机会帮助为我的一生付出太多的父亲而激动不已，无法用言语来表达。

许多个夜晚，我和父亲都坐着聊天。他和我住在一起的短短几个月里，我们比以往更了解彼此。对我来说，这是了解父亲的极好机会。然而，当我自认为完全了解他，理解他的所作所为时，他突然提出一个让我意想不到的问题。

一天晚上，我们一起坐在起居室谈论宇宙的形成，他对我说：“你知道吗？当我照镜子的时候，我所看到的是一个肥胖、丑陋的老人。”我清楚地记得这句话，以及自己当时的反应。我坐在那儿，一片混沌麻木。我很少觉得无话可说——至少，很少找不到恰当的词语，但那时陷入了窘境。

他的话让我彻夜未眠，我慢慢地有了主意，也想好了具体的词语。但是，怎样把我内心所有的感受表达出来呢？如何告诉父亲他的话给我的感受呢？最后，我决定给他写一封信，也确实这样做了。

“亲爱的父亲，”信是这样开头的，“那天晚上，您跟我说，您看镜中的自己是一个‘肥胖、丑陋的老人’。我很不理解，您一定是看到别人了，因为我看到的您，与您所描述的那个人完全不同。我看到的您，是一个了不起的男人，他教我如何上鱼饵，如何钉钉子，如何远离学校暴力。我看着您，站在我面前的这个人是我的导师、人生的榜样，他告诉我生活的真谛，教导我如何诚实、正直和坦率地生活。”我继续写道，“正是这个人，善良地对待他人，经常把邻居放在第一位。他教导了我这所有的一切，甚至更多。最艰难的时候，他告诉我欢笑的重要。”“父亲，您教导我如何变得坚强，又富有同情心。您教导了我关于生活的很多事情。所以，当你照镜子的时候，我希望，很快你将会和我看到同一个人——每次我看到你，都看到了我心中的英雄——独一无二的，帮助我成为现在的自己的那个人。”

父亲不只教会我这些——他敞开心扉，让我真正了解自己爱的人，进而更加尊重他。他教导我生活的智慧，无人能及；他还教我认识自己。父亲确实在我的生活中影响甚大。

回首往事，在他决定继续前进的四年里，我更清楚地懂得自己为何选择他做我的父亲。

词汇笔记

submit[s?b'mit]v.呈送；递交；主张

I need to submit my application soon.

我需要马上呈交我的申请表。

episode['epis?ud]n.插曲；插话；（作品的一段）情节；有趣的事件

The first episode goes out next Friday evening at 8：00 pm.

下星期五晚上8时播出第一集。

temporary['temp?r?ri]adj.暂时的；临时的

A large, unadorned building used for temporary occupancy.

临时工房是用于暂时居住的简陋的大房子。

prior['prai?]adj.更重要的；较早的；在先的

I appreciate that you may have prior commitments.

我体谅你可能事先已另有承诺。

小试身手

他和我住在一起的短短几个月里，我们比以往更了解彼此。

译____________________________

最艰难的时候，他告诉我欢笑的重要。

译____________________________

他教导我生活的智慧，无人能及；他还教我认识自己。

译____________________________

短语家族

Whether to submit it, and initially decided to keep it to myself.

decide to do：决定做某事；决定……；决心

造____________________________

A lot of people will be able to relate to this story.

relate to：与……相关的；涉及；有关联；与……有关

造____________________________