Since I have been in my new neighborhood, I have had the pleasure of meeting a few of my neighbors who seem to be extremely nice people. For Christmas, I thought I would do something nice for each of the neighbors that I know. I sat down and counted. There were nine neighbors whom I knew by name or spoke with often when I was out in my yard. I also knew which houses they lived in.
自从搬进新居以来,我有幸结识了一些非常友好的新邻居.圣诞临近,我想我得做些什么对那些我认识的所有邻居以示友好.我坐下来,算起了人数.我喊得出名或经常在院里攀谈的,一共9个人,并且我知道他们的住址.
I decided to add one more person to my list for a total of ten. I decided to add the lady I met every morning walking to work as I drive down the street. She always managed a contagious smile and a hearty wave. I had no idea what her name was and not even sure which house she lived in.
我打算再在我的清单上加上一个人,凑成10个整数.我决定加上一位女士,我每天开车驶下街道时都会看见她步行去上班.她总是投来极富感染力的微笑和由衷的招手问候.我不知道她的名字,对她的住址也一无所知.
My gift idea was to make small fruit baskets and leave them on each of my neighbor's front porches or door steps the night of Christmas Eve. I signed the cards: "Happy Holidays! From 5104 Northumberland Road."
我送礼的主意是这样的：做些小水果篮,并在圣诞前夜将它们放到各邻居家门前的走廊或台阶上.果篮上附张卡片,写上："祝圣诞快乐!诺森伯兰路5104号户主敬上."
I saved the friendly lady for last, since I was still not exactly sure where she lived. I finally decided upon a house down about where I met her each morning and felt relatively sure that it was hers.
那个友好的女士被留在了最后,因为我仍然不太确定她住在哪.最终我决定在每天早上遇到她的街下的一间房前放下礼物-我有一点儿确定那是她的房子.
My neighbors really appreciated the baskets and would tell me as they saw me in the yard or they would call, and a couple even came by to thank me.
邻居们都十分喜欢我送出的果篮,在院中逢我便说；有的电话致谢,有一对夫妇甚至登门表达谢意.
This morning on my way to work, I placed my mail in the mailbox and noticed a small note inside. It was addressed simply?Resident, 5104 Northumberland Road.
这天早晨,在上班途中我往邮箱投递信件时,发现信箱里有一张小便笺,上面的地址写得很简洁：致诺森伯兰路5104号户主.
I opened the envelope and took out a Thank You card. I opened the card and read the message which really caught me by surprise.
我拆开信封,掏出一张感谢卡.打开卡片,读着上面的内容,我着实惊讶万分.
The card said. "Thank you for the lovely fruit basket you left on the porch of Richard Kelly. It was very thoughtful. Richard Kelly passed away on January 19. He never stopped talking about how nice it was that someone remembered him in his time of illness. He really appreciated it."
卡片上写道："感谢你放在理查德·凯利门廊上的可爱的水果篮.礼物非常贴心.理查德·凯利已于1月19日去世,他生前不停地说,在他大病期间仍有人记得他多么温暖人心,他万分感激."
I was sincerely stunned. I had no idea who Richard Kelly was or that he had been gravely ill. I had left that nice lady's basket on Mr. Kelly's porch by accident. I wanted to say by mistake, but that would be wrong. I believe that Richard Kelly was meant to have that basket and the Lord knew that he only had less than a month to live. I hate that the nice lady did not get to receive a fruit basket from me this Christmas, but I believe that if she knew what happened, she would have had outcome no other way.
我真心被震慑了.我从来不认识那个叫理查德·凯利的人,更未曾知晓他病入膏肓.我意识到自己将打算送给那位友好女士的水果篮错放到了理查德先生门前.我相信是冥冥中注定要让理查德·凯利收到那个果篮,因为上帝深知他的生命仅剩不到一个月的日子.那位友好女士没能在这个圣诞节收到我的果篮,我感到很遗憾,但我相信如果她了解到发生的一切,她也会深感于这样的结果.
I feel blessed to have helped Richard Kelly's last days be more cheerful. This just further reinforces my belief that there are never any mistakes in life?just detours, shortcuts along the way.
能够帮助理查德·凯利让他在生命最后的时光里感到振奋,我觉得十分荣幸.这更加加强了我的信念：生命中从来没有什么错误的道路,路途中有的只是曲折与捷径的差别.
