Anonymous
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就在那一刻，我明白了能够及时说出“我爱你”以及抽出时间来陪陪我们所爱之人的重要性。生命中没有什么比你的家庭更重要。多花些时间陪陪你的家人吧，因为这些事情不能推迟到“改天”。
After 21 years of marriage，I discovered a new way of keeping the spark of love alive.I started to go out with another woman.It was really my wife's idea.
'I know that you love her，'she said one day，taking me by surprise.'But I love YOU，'I protested.'I know，but you also love her.'
The other woman that my wife wanted me to visit was my mother，who had been a widow for 19 years，but the demands of my work and my three children had made it possible to visit her only occasionally1.That night I called to invite her to go out for dinner and a movie.'What's wrong，are you well？'she asked.My mother is the type of woman who suspects that a late night call or a surprise invitation is a sign of bad news.'I thought that it would be pleasant to pass some time with you，'I responded，'Just the two of us.'She thought about it for a moment，then said，'I would like that very much.'
That Friday after work，as I drove over to pick her up I was a bit nervous.When I arrived at her house，I noticed that she，too，seemed to be nervous about our date.She waited in the door with her coat on.She had curled her hair and was wearing the dress that she had worn to celebrate her last wedding anniversary2.She smiled from a face that was as radiant as an angel's.'I told my friends that I was going to go out with my son and they were impressed，'she said，as she got into the car.'They can't wait to hear about our meeting.'
We went to a restaurant that，although not elegant，was very nice and cozy3.My mother took my arm as if she were the First Lady4.After we sat down，I had to read the menu.Her eyes could only read large print.Half way through the entries5，I lifted my eyes and saw Mom sitting there staring at me.A nostalgic6 smile was on her lips.'It was I who used to have to read the menu when you were small.'she said.'Then it's time that you relax and let me return the favor.'I responded.
During the dinner we had an agreeable conversation—nothing extraordinary—but catching up on recent events of each other's life.We talked so much that we missed the movie.As we arrived at her house later，she said，'I'll go out with you again，but only if you let me invite you.'I agreed.'How is your dinner date？'asked my wife when I got home.'Very nice.Much more so than I could have imagined，'I answered.
A few days later my mother died of a massive heart attack.It happened so suddenly that I didn't have a chance to do anything for her.At that moment I understood the importance of saying in time：'I LOVE YOU'and to give our loved ones the time that they deserve.Nothing in life is more important than your family.Give them the time they deserve，because these things cannot be put off till'some other time7'.
与妻子结婚21年后，我发现了使爱之火花长久保持下去的一种新方法是：我开始出去与另一个女人约会。实际上这还是我妻子的主意呢。
“我知道你爱她，”有一天她对我说道，这令我感到吃惊。“但我也爱你，”我斩钉截铁地对她说。“我知道，不过，你也爱她。”
我妻子想让我去拜访的另一个女人就是我的妈妈，她已经守寡19年了，但是由于我的工作需要，加上有三个孩子要抚养，我很少有机会去看望她。那天晚上，我打电话约她出来吃饭、看电影。“出什么事了？你还好吧？”她问道。我妈妈一直认为，深夜打电话或是出其不意的邀请就意味着发生了什么不好的事情。“我觉得与您共度一段美好的时间将是一件愉快的事，”我这样回答。“就我们两个人。”她想了想，便说：“我非常愿意。”
于是周五下班之后，我便开车去接她。说实话我心里有点儿忐忑不安。到了妈妈的住所后我发现，她对我们的约会好像也有些紧张。她穿好了外套站在门口等我。她将头发盘了起来，并且穿着最后一次庆祝结婚纪念日那天穿过的套装。她的脸上带着笑容，就如天使般容光焕发。“我对我的朋友们说，我要跟儿子出去约会，他们听了都很感动，”上车时她对我说道。“他们都急迫地想听我说说约会的情况呢！”
我们去了一家虽算不上一流，却也很优雅舒适的饭店。妈妈挽着我的手臂，样子看起来就像是第一夫人。我们坐下后，我便开始看菜单。她的眼睛现在只能看清一些大字。我抬头偷偷看了一眼妈妈，却发现她正坐在那儿盯着我，嘴上带着微笑，那笑容有种怀旧情结。“你小的时候，都是我来看菜单的，”她说。“现在您应该好好休息一下了，该是我回报您的时候了，”我答道。
吃饭的时候，我们谈得很愉快——也没什么特别的事——只是简单讲述一下彼此生活中最近发生的一些事。我们谈得太投入了，以至于连电影也错过了。晚些时候，我送她到家时，她说：“我会再跟你出去约会的，但下次必须是我邀请你。”我同意了。
“你们的晚餐进行得怎么样啊？”回到家后我妻子问我。“非常好，比我想象中要好得多。”我回答说。
几天后，妈妈就由于严重的心脏病发作永远离开了我们。事情发生得如此突然，以至于我还没有机会为她再做些事。就在那一刻，我明白了能够及时说出“我爱你”以及抽出时间来陪陪我们所爱之人的重要性。生命中没有什么比你的家庭更重要。多花些时间陪陪你的家人吧，因为这些事情不能推迟到“改天”。
生词空间 New Words
1.occasionally adv.偶然地；非经常地
2.anniversary n.周年纪念（日）
3.cozy adj.舒适的，安逸的，惬意的
4.First Lady：第一夫人
5.entry n.条目，入口处；登记
6.nostalgic adj.怀旧的，引起对往事怀恋的
7.some other time改天吧
妙语连珠：Beautiful Sentences
1）After 21 years of marriage，I discovered a new way of keeping the spark of love alive.
与妻子结婚21年后，我发现了使爱之火花长久保持下去的一种新方法
2）She smiled from a face that was as radiant as an angel's.
她的脸上带着笑容，就如天使般容光焕发。
心灵感悟：
生活的某一刻，你突然觉得应该去做一件事或是抽时间陪陪某个人。想到就赶紧行动吧，不要总是以“改天再说”做结。改天你还会找出再改天的借口。这样今天推明天，明天推后天，也许你会因此而错过很多事。希望回首往事时，不要流下遗憾与悔恨的泪水，而是带着幸福与欣慰的笑。
