I was nine when my father first sent me flowers. I had been taking tapdancing lessons for six months, and the school was giving its yearly recital. As an excited member of the beginners' chorus line, I was aware of my lowly status.
父親第一次給我送花是在我九歲那年。當時，我加入學校踢踏舞班才學了六個月，正逢學校舉辦一年一度的演出。我只能編入新學員合唱隊，卻依然興致勃勃。不過我清楚自己只是個不起眼的小角色。
So it was a surprise to have my name called out at the end of the show along with the lead dancers and to find my arms full of long-stemmed red roses. I can still feel myself standing on that stage, blushing furiously and gazing over the footlights to see my father's grin as he applauded loudly.
可演出一結束，我竟與主舞的演員一起給喊到前臺，雙手捧著一束枝繁葉茂的紅玫瑰。我至今還感覺得到自己站在舞臺上，雙頰緋紅，越過絢麗的腳燈光線向下張望，看見的竟是父親的笑臉，他一面使勁地鼓掌，一面快活地笑著。
Those roses were the first in a series of large bouquets that accompanied all the milestones in my life. They brought a sense of embarrassment. I enjoyed them, but was flustered by the extravagance.
這束鮮花是第一束，往后，每逢我人生一個里程碑，父親都要送我一大束鮮花?？墒盏侥切r花，我的心情總是很矛盾：既高興，又有些不自在。我喜愛鮮花，可又為這種奢侈而不安。
Not my father. He did everything in a big way. If you sent him to the bakery for a cake, he came back with three. Once, when Mother told him I needed a new party dress, he brought home a dozen.
父親卻從不會覺得不安，他做什么事都大方得很。你若讓他去糕點鋪買一塊蛋糕，他定會買來三塊。一次，母親對他說我需要一條新舞裙，他竟買回一打。
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.
他這么做常常使我們沒有錢再去添置其它更需要的東西。那次他買回一打舞裙后，就再也沒錢去買我真正急需的冬大衣和我一直向往的新溜冰鞋。
Sometimes I would be angry with him, but not for long. Inevitably he would buy me something to make up with me. The gift was so apparently an offering of love he could not verbalize that I would throw my arms around him and kiss him--an act that undoubtedly perpetuated his behavior.
有時我會為這些事跟父親賭氣，但時間都不會長。每次他必定會給我買些禮物與我和好。這禮物顯然傳達著他不善用言辭表達的愛。這時我便會摟住父親，吻他----這親昵的行為無疑會使他再度大方。
Then came my 16th birthday. It was not a happy occasion. I was fat and had no boyfriend. And my well-meaning parents furthered my misery by giving me a party. As I entered the dining room, there on the table next to my cake was a huge bouquet of flowers, bigger than any before.
后來迎來了我16歲生日，可我并不快活。我長得胖，那時還沒有男朋友。好心的父母為我準備了個生日晚會，可這更讓我覺得難受。我走進餐廳，看見餐桌上生日蛋糕旁邊，擺著很大一束鮮花，比以往的都要大。
I wanted to hide. Now everyone would think my father had sent flowers because I had no boyfriend 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.
我真想找個地縫鉆進去，這下誰都會以為我沒有男朋友送花，只好由父親來送了。16歲該是最甜蜜的，我卻只想哭?；蛟S當時我的確哭了，但我的朋友菲利斯在我耳邊小聲說：“嘿，你有這樣的父親可真幸運。
As the years passed, other occasions--birthdays, recitals, awards, graduations--were marked with Dad's flowers. My emotions continued to seesaw between pleasure and embarrassment.
隨著光陰流逝，許多特別的日子，像生日、演出、獲獎、畢業(yè)都會伴有父親的鮮花。我的心情也依然在高興與不自在之間搖擺不定。
父親第一次給我送花是在我九歲那年。當時，我加入學校踢踏舞班才學了六個月，正逢學校舉辦一年一度的演出。我只能編入新學員合唱隊，卻依然興致勃勃。不過我清楚自己只是個不起眼的小角色。
So it was a surprise to have my name called out at the end of the show along with the lead dancers and to find my arms full of long-stemmed red roses. I can still feel myself standing on that stage, blushing furiously and gazing over the footlights to see my father's grin as he applauded loudly.
可演出一結束，我竟與主舞的演員一起給喊到前臺，雙手捧著一束枝繁葉茂的紅玫瑰。我至今還感覺得到自己站在舞臺上，雙頰緋紅，越過絢麗的腳燈光線向下張望，看見的竟是父親的笑臉，他一面使勁地鼓掌，一面快活地笑著。
Those roses were the first in a series of large bouquets that accompanied all the milestones in my life. They brought a sense of embarrassment. I enjoyed them, but was flustered by the extravagance.
這束鮮花是第一束，往后，每逢我人生一個里程碑，父親都要送我一大束鮮花?？墒盏侥切r花，我的心情總是很矛盾：既高興，又有些不自在。我喜愛鮮花，可又為這種奢侈而不安。
Not my father. He did everything in a big way. If you sent him to the bakery for a cake, he came back with three. Once, when Mother told him I needed a new party dress, he brought home a dozen.
父親卻從不會覺得不安，他做什么事都大方得很。你若讓他去糕點鋪買一塊蛋糕，他定會買來三塊。一次，母親對他說我需要一條新舞裙，他竟買回一打。
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.
他這么做常常使我們沒有錢再去添置其它更需要的東西。那次他買回一打舞裙后，就再也沒錢去買我真正急需的冬大衣和我一直向往的新溜冰鞋。
Sometimes I would be angry with him, but not for long. Inevitably he would buy me something to make up with me. The gift was so apparently an offering of love he could not verbalize that I would throw my arms around him and kiss him--an act that undoubtedly perpetuated his behavior.
有時我會為這些事跟父親賭氣，但時間都不會長。每次他必定會給我買些禮物與我和好。這禮物顯然傳達著他不善用言辭表達的愛。這時我便會摟住父親，吻他----這親昵的行為無疑會使他再度大方。
Then came my 16th birthday. It was not a happy occasion. I was fat and had no boyfriend. And my well-meaning parents furthered my misery by giving me a party. As I entered the dining room, there on the table next to my cake was a huge bouquet of flowers, bigger than any before.
后來迎來了我16歲生日，可我并不快活。我長得胖，那時還沒有男朋友。好心的父母為我準備了個生日晚會，可這更讓我覺得難受。我走進餐廳，看見餐桌上生日蛋糕旁邊，擺著很大一束鮮花，比以往的都要大。
I wanted to hide. Now everyone would think my father had sent flowers because I had no boyfriend 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.
我真想找個地縫鉆進去，這下誰都會以為我沒有男朋友送花，只好由父親來送了。16歲該是最甜蜜的，我卻只想哭?；蛟S當時我的確哭了，但我的朋友菲利斯在我耳邊小聲說：“嘿，你有這樣的父親可真幸運。
As the years passed, other occasions--birthdays, recitals, awards, graduations--were marked with Dad's flowers. My emotions continued to seesaw between pleasure and embarrassment.
隨著光陰流逝，許多特別的日子，像生日、演出、獲獎、畢業(yè)都會伴有父親的鮮花。我的心情也依然在高興與不自在之間搖擺不定。