Love in Bloom 爱如鲜花盛开

时间:2024-05-16 07:54:19

(单词翻译:单击)

  Love in Bloom 爱如鲜花盛开
  ◎?Judy Coulter
  I was nine when my father first sent me flowers. I had been taking tap-dancing lessons for sixmonths, and the school was giving its yearly recital1. As an excited member of the beginners’
  chorus line, I was aware of my lowly status.
  So it was a surprise to have my name called out at the end of the show along with the lead dancersand to find my arms full of long-stemmed red roses. I can still feel myself standing2 on that stage,blushing furiously and gazing over the footlights to see my father’s grin as he applauded loudly.
  Those roses were the first in a series of large bouquets4 that accompanied all the milestones5 in mylife. They brought a sense of embarrassment6. I enjoyed them, but was flustered7 by theextravagance.
  Not my father. He did everything in a big way. If you sent him to the bakery for a cake, he cameback with three. Once, when Mother told him I needed a new party dress, he brought home adozen.
  His behavior often left us without funds for other more important things. After the dress incident,there was no money for the winter coat I really needed—or the new ice skates I wanted.
  Sometimes I would be angry with him, but not for long. Inevitably8 he would buy me something tomake up with me. The gift was so apparently9 an offering of love he could not verbalize that Iwould throw my arms around him and kiss him — an act that undoubtedly10 perpetuated11 hisbehavior.
  Then came my 16th birthday. It was not a happy occasion. I was fat and had no boyfriend. Andmy well-meaning parents furthered my misery12 by giving me a party. As I entered the dining room,there on the table next to my cake was a huge bouquet3 of flowers, bigger than any before.
  I wanted to hide. Now everyone would think my father had sent flowers because I had noboyfriend to do it. Sweet 16, and I felt like crying. I probably would have, but my best friend,Phyllis, whispered, “Boy, you’re lucky to have a father like that.”
  As the years passed, other occasion—birthdays, recitals13, awards, graduations—were marked withDad’s flowers. My emotions continued to seesaw14 between pleasure and embarrassment.”
  When I graduated from college, though, my days of ambivalence15 were over. I was embarking16 on anew career and was engaged to be married. Dad’s flowers symbolized17 his pride, and my triumph.
  They evoked18 only great pleasure.
  Now there were bright-orange mums for Thanksgiving and a huge pink poinsettia at Christmas.
  White lilies at Easter, and velvety19 red roses for birthdays. Seasonal20 flowers in mixed bouquetscelebrated the births of my children and the move to our first house.
  As my fortunes grew, my father’s waned21, but his gifts of flowers continued until he died of a heartattack a few months before his 70th birthday. Without embarrassment, I covered his coffin22 withthe largest, reddest roses I could find.
  Often in the dozen years since, I felt an urge to go out and buy a big bouquet to fill the livingroom, but I never did. I knew it would not be the same.
  Then one birthday, the doorbell rang. I was feeling blue because I was alone. My husband wasplaying golf, and my two daughters were away. My 13-year-old son, Matt, had run out earlier witha “see you later”, never mentioning my birthday. So I was surprised to see his large frame at thedoor. “Forgot my key.” he said, shrugging. “Forgot your birthday too. Well, I hope you likeflowers, Mum.” He pulled a bunch of daisies from behind his back.
  “Oh, Matt,” I cried, hugging him hard, “I love flowers!”
  我9岁那年,父亲第一次送花给我。当时,我加入学校踢踏舞班才六个月,正逢学校举办一年一度的演出。我只能加入新学员合唱队,却依然兴致勃勃。不过我清楚自己只是个不起眼的小角色。
  令人惊喜的是,演出一结束,我竟被叫到前台,双手捧着一束枝繁叶茂的红玫瑰与主舞的演员站在一起。我至今还感到自己像是站在舞台上,双颊绯红。我越过绚丽的脚灯光线向下张望,看见父亲的笑脸。他一面使劲地鼓掌,一面快活地笑着。
  这束鲜花是第一束,往后,每逢我人生的一个里程碑,父亲都要送我一大束鲜花。可我的心情总是有些矛盾:既高兴,又有些尴尬。我喜爱鲜花,可又为这种奢侈而不安。
  父亲却从不会觉得不安。他做什么事都特别大方。如果你让他去面包房买一块蛋糕,他一定会买回来三块。一次,母亲对他说我需要一件新的派对礼服,他竟买回来一打。
  他的做法总是让我们没有钱再去添置其他更需要的东西。那次礼服事件后,家里就再也没钱去买我真正急需的冬大衣——或者我一直向往的新溜冰鞋。
  有时我会为这些事跟父亲赌气,但时间都不会长。他照例会买些礼物与我和好。这些礼物如此真切地传达着他不善用言辞表达的爱。这时,我便会搂住他,亲吻他——这亲昵的行为,无疑会使他再度大方。
  之后迎来了我16岁生日,可这并不是个快乐的时刻。我长得很胖,还没有男朋友。好心的父母为我准备了生日晚会,可这更让我觉得痛苦。我走进餐厅,看见餐桌上生日蛋糕旁边,摆着很大一束鲜花,比以往的任何一束都要大。
  我真想躲起来。现在谁都会以为我没有男朋友送花,只好由父亲来送了。16岁该是最美好的,而我却只想哭。或许当时我的确哭了,但我最好的朋友,菲利斯,在我耳边小声说:“嘿,孩子,你有这样的父亲可真幸运。”
  随着光阴的流逝,许多特别的日子——生日、演出、获奖、毕业——都会伴有父亲的鲜花。我的心情也依然在快乐与尴尬之间徘徊不定。
  可我从大学毕业时,那种矛盾的心情消失了。我开始了新的事业,也订了婚。父亲的鲜花代表了他的骄傲和我的胜利。它们带来的只有极大的喜悦。
  后来,每逢感恩节,我们都会收到父亲的一捧黄灿灿的菊花;圣诞节会有一大束粉红的一品红;复活节是洁白的百合花;生日里会有天鹅绒般的红玫瑰;孩子出世或逢乔迁之喜,父亲会送来那个季节里盛开的许多种鲜花混合扎成的花束。
 

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1 recital kAjzI     
n.朗诵,独奏会,独唱会
参考例句:
  • She is going to give a piano recital.她即将举行钢琴独奏会。
  • I had their total attention during the thirty-five minutes that my recital took.在我叙述的35分钟内,他们完全被我吸引了。
2 standing 2hCzgo     
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的
参考例句:
  • After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
  • They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。
3 bouquet pWEzA     
n.花束,酒香
参考例句:
  • This wine has a rich bouquet.这种葡萄酒有浓郁的香气。
  • Her wedding bouquet consisted of roses and ivy.她的婚礼花篮包括玫瑰和长春藤。
4 bouquets 81022f355e60321845cbfc3c8963628f     
n.花束( bouquet的名词复数 );(酒的)芳香
参考例句:
  • The welcoming crowd waved their bouquets. 欢迎的群众摇动着花束。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • As the hero stepped off the platform, he was surrounded by several children with bouquets. 当英雄走下讲台时,已被几名手持花束的儿童围住了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
5 milestones 9b680059d7f7ea92ea578a9ceeb0f0db     
n.重要事件( milestone的名词复数 );重要阶段;转折点;里程碑
参考例句:
  • Several important milestones in foreign policy have been passed by this Congress and they can be chalked up as major accomplishments. 这次代表大会通过了对外政策中几起划时代的事件,并且它们可作为主要成就记录下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Dale: I really envy your milestones over the last few years, Don. 我真的很羡慕你在过去几年中所建立的丰功伟绩。 来自互联网
6 embarrassment fj9z8     
n.尴尬;使人为难的人(事物);障碍;窘迫
参考例句:
  • She could have died away with embarrassment.她窘迫得要死。
  • Coughing at a concert can be a real embarrassment.在音乐会上咳嗽真会使人难堪。
7 flustered b7071533c424b7fbe8eb745856b8c537     
adj.慌张的;激动不安的v.使慌乱,使不安( fluster的过去式和过去分词)
参考例句:
  • The honking of horns flustered the boy. 汽车喇叭的叫声使男孩感到慌乱。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
  • She was so flustered that she forgot her reply. 她太紧张了,都忘记了该如何作答。 来自辞典例句
8 inevitably x7axc     
adv.不可避免地;必然发生地
参考例句:
  • In the way you go on,you are inevitably coming apart.照你们这样下去,毫无疑问是会散伙的。
  • Technological changes will inevitably lead to unemployment.技术变革必然会导致失业。
9 apparently tMmyQ     
adv.显然地;表面上,似乎
参考例句:
  • An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽,豁然开朗。
  • He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。
10 undoubtedly Mfjz6l     
adv.确实地,无疑地
参考例句:
  • It is undoubtedly she who has said that.这话明明是她说的。
  • He is undoubtedly the pride of China.毫无疑问他是中国的骄傲。
11 perpetuated ca69e54073d3979488ad0a669192bc07     
vt.使永存(perpetuate的过去式与过去分词形式)
参考例句:
  • This system perpetuated itself for several centuries. 这一制度维持了几个世纪。
  • I never before saw smile caught like that, and perpetuated. 我从来没有看见过谁的笑容陷入这样的窘况,而且持续不变。 来自辞典例句
12 misery G10yi     
n.痛苦,苦恼,苦难;悲惨的境遇,贫苦
参考例句:
  • Business depression usually causes misery among the working class.商业不景气常使工薪阶层受苦。
  • He has rescued me from the mire of misery.他把我从苦海里救了出来。
13 recitals 751371ca96789c59fbc162a556dd350a     
n.独唱会( recital的名词复数 );独奏会;小型音乐会、舞蹈表演会等;一系列事件等的详述
参考例句:
  • His recitals have earned him recognition as a talented performer. 他的演奏会使他赢得了天才演奏家的赞誉。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Her teachers love her playing, and encourage her to recitals. 她的老师欣赏她的演奏,并鼓励她举办独奏会。 来自互联网
14 seesaw Xh3yf     
n.跷跷板
参考例句:
  • Prices have gone up and down like a seesaw this year.今年的价格像跷跷板一样时涨时跌。
  • The children are playing at seesaw.孩子们在玩跷跷板。
15 ambivalence ixVzV     
n.矛盾心理
参考例句:
  • She viewed her daughter's education with ambivalence.她看待女儿的教育问题态度矛盾。
  • She felt a certain ambivalence towards him.她对他的态度有些矛盾。
16 embarking 7f8892f8b0a1076133045fdfbf3b8512     
乘船( embark的现在分词 ); 装载; 从事
参考例句:
  • He's embarking on a new career as a writer. 他即将开始新的职业生涯——当一名作家。
  • The campaign on which were embarking was backed up by such intricate and detailed maintenance arrangemets. 我们实施的战争,须要如此复杂及详细的维护准备。
17 symbolized 789161b92774c43aefa7cbb79126c6c6     
v.象征,作为…的象征( symbolize的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • For Tigress, Joy symbolized the best a woman could expect from life. 在她看,小福子就足代表女人所应有的享受。 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子
  • A car symbolized distinction and achievement, and he was proud. 汽车象征着荣誉和成功,所以他很自豪。 来自辞典例句
18 evoked 0681b342def6d2a4206d965ff12603b2     
[医]诱发的
参考例句:
  • The music evoked memories of her youth. 这乐曲勾起了她对青年时代的回忆。
  • Her face, though sad, still evoked a feeling of serenity. 她的脸色虽然悲伤,但仍使人感觉安详。
19 velvety 5783c9b64c2c5d03bc234867b2d33493     
adj. 像天鹅绒的, 轻软光滑的, 柔软的
参考例句:
  • a velvety red wine 醇厚的红葡萄酒
  • Her skin was admired for its velvety softness. 她的皮肤如天鹅绒般柔软,令人赞叹。
20 seasonal LZ1xE     
adj.季节的,季节性的
参考例句:
  • The town relies on the seasonal tourist industry for jobs.这个城镇依靠季节性旅游业提供就业机会。
  • The hors d'oeuvre is seasonal vegetables.餐前小吃是应时蔬菜。
21 waned 8caaa77f3543242d84956fa53609f27c     
v.衰落( wane的过去式和过去分词 );(月)亏;变小;变暗淡
参考例句:
  • However,my enthusiasm waned.The time I spent at exercises gradually diminished. 然而,我的热情减退了。我在做操上花的时间逐渐减少了。 来自《用法词典》
  • The bicycle craze has waned. 自行车热已冷下去了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
22 coffin XWRy7     
n.棺材,灵柩
参考例句:
  • When one's coffin is covered,all discussion about him can be settled.盖棺论定。
  • The coffin was placed in the grave.那口棺材已安放到坟墓里去了。

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