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.
自從搬進新居以來,我有幸結識了一些非常友好的新鄰居.聖誕臨近,我想我得做些什麼對那些我認識的所有鄰居以示友好.我坐下來,算起了人數.我喊得出名或經常在院裡攀談的,一共9個人,並且我知道他們的住址.
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.
我打算再在我的清單上加上一個人,湊成10個整數.我決定加上一位女士,我每天開車駛下街道時都會看見她步行去上班.她總是投來極富感染力的微笑和由衷的招手問候.我不知道她的名字,對她的住址也一無所知.
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."
我送禮的主意是這樣的：做些小水果籃,並在聖誕前夜將它們放到各鄰居家門前的走廊或臺階上.果籃上附張卡片,寫上："祝聖誕快樂!諾森伯蘭路5104號戶主敬上."
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.
那個友好的女士被留在了最後,因為我仍然不太確定她住在哪.最終我決定在每天早上遇到她的街下的一間房前放下禮物-我有一點兒確定那是她的房子.
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.
鄰居們都十分喜歡我送出的果籃,在院中逢我便說；有的電話致謝,有一對夫婦甚至登門表達謝意.
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.
這天早晨,在上班途中我往郵箱投遞信件時,發現信箱裡有一張小便箋,上面的地址寫得很簡潔：致諾森伯蘭路5104號戶主.
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.
我拆開信封,掏出一張感謝卡.打開卡片,讀著上面的內容,我著實驚訝萬分.
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."
卡片上寫道："感謝你放在理查德·凱利門廊上的可愛的水果籃.禮物非常貼心.理查德·凱利已於1月19日去世,他生前不停地說,在他大病期間仍有人記得他多麼溫暖人心,他萬分感激."
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.
我真心被震懾了.我從來不認識那個叫理查德·凱利的人,更未曾知曉他病入膏肓.我意識到自己將打算送給那位友好女士的水果籃錯放到了理查德先生門前.我相信是冥冥中註定要讓理查德·凱利收到那個果籃,因為上帝深知他的生命僅剩不到一個月的日子.那位友好女士沒能在這個聖誕節收到我的果籃,我感到很遺憾,但我相信如果她瞭解到發生的一切,她也會深感於這樣的結果.
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.
能夠幫助理查德·凱利讓他在生命最後的時光裡感到振奮,我覺得十分榮幸.這更加加強了我的信念：生命中從來沒有什麼錯誤的道路,路途中有的只是曲折與捷徑的差別.
