./Unit1

Book3

Doyourememberyourfirstlove?Allthoseexcitingandwonderfulnewemotions–thewayyourheartracedwhenthatspecialpersonwasnear–thoseanxious,awkwardmomentswhenyoudidn'tknowwhattosayordo?Andthen<formostofus>thatsadmomentwhenforonereasonoranotheritallcametoanend…ErnestHemingwayoncesaid,"Everylovestoryendsasatragedy"–buttheauthorsofthetextsinthisunithaveadifferentpointofview.TextAfocusesontheunexpectedsideeffectsoftheauthor'sfirstventureintoromance,whileTextBrecallstheupsanddownsoftheauthor'sgreatlovefor…h(huán)iscar!Finally,theauthorsofTextCoffersomefascinatingadviceabouthowtosuccessfullynavigateromanticrelationships.TextA

HowIGotSmartAcommonmisconceptionamongyoungstersattendingschoolisthattheirteacherswerechildprodigies.Whoelsebutabookworm,withnoneofthenormalkid'stendencytoplayratherthanstudy,wouldgrowuptobeateacheranyway?I'vetrieddesperatelytoexplaintomystudentsthattheimagetheyhaveofmeasanenthusiasticdevoteeofbooksandhomeworkduringmyadolescencewasabitoutoffocus.Onthecontrary,Ihatedcompulsoryeducationwithapassion.Icouldneverquiteacceptthenotionofhavingtogotoschoolwhilethefishwerebiting.Butinmysophomoreyear,somethingbeautifulandexcitinghappened.Cupidaimedhisarrowandstruckmerightintheheart.Allatonce,Ienjoyedgoingtoschool,ifonlytogazeatthelovelyfaceinEnglishII.

Myprincesssatnearthepencilsharpener,andthatyearIgroundupenoughpencilstofuelacampfire.Alas,Debbiewasfarbeyondmywildestdreams.Wewereseparatednotonlybyfiverowsofdesks,butbyabout50I.Q.points.ShewasthetopstudentinEnglishII,theappleofMrs.Larrivee'seye.

Occasionally,Debbiewouldcatchmestaringather,andshewouldflashasmilethatradiatedintelligenceandquickenedmyheartbeat.Itwasasmilethatsignaledhopeandmademetemporarilyforgettheintellectualgulfthatseparatedus.

Ischemeddesperatelytobridgethatgulf.Andoneday,asIwaspassingthesupermarket,anideacametome.Asigninthewindowannouncedthatthestorewasofferingthefirstvolumeofasetofencyclopediasatthespecialpriceof29cents.Theremainingvolumeswouldcost$2.49each.

IpurchasedVolumeI--AardvarktoAsteroid--andbeganmyventureintotheworldofknowledge.Iwouldhenceforthbecomeaseekeroffacts.IwouldbecomeChiefBraininEnglishIIandsweepmyprincessoffherfeetwithasurgeoferudition.Ihaditallplanned.

Myfirstopportunitycameonedayinthecafeterialine.Ilookedbehindmeandthereshewas.

"Hi,"shesaid.

Afterapause,Iwetmylipsandsaid,"Knowwhereanchoviescomefrom?"

Sheseemedsurprised."No,Idon't."

Ibreathedasighofrelief."Theanchovylivesinsaltwaterandisrarelyfoundinfreshwater."Ihadtotalkfast,sothatIcouldgetallthefactsinbeforewereachedthecashregister."FishermencatchanchoviesintheMediterraneanSeaandalongtheAtlanticcoastnearSpainandPortugal."

"Howfascinating,"saidDebbie,shakingherheadindisbelief.ItwasobviousthatIhadmadequiteanimpression.

Afewdayslater,duringafiredrill,Icasuallywentuptoherandasked,"EverbeentotheAleutianIslands?"

"Neverhave,"shereplied.

"Mightbeaniceplacetovisit,butIcertainlywouldn'twanttolivethere,"Isaid.

"Whynot?"saidDebbie,playingrightintomyhands.

"Well,theclimateisforbidding.Therearenotreesonanyofthe100ormoreislandsinthegroup.Thegroundisrockyandverylittleplantlifecangrowonit."

"Idon'tthinkI'devencaretovisit,"shesaid.

Thefiredrillwasoverandwebegantofileintothebuilding,soIhadtostepituptogetthenativesin."TheAleutsareshortandsturdyandhavedarkskinandblackhair.Theyliveonfish,andtheytrapbluefoxesandsealsfortheirvaluablefur."

Debbie'seyeswidenedinamazement.

OnedayIwasbrowsingthroughthelibrary.IspottedDebbiesittingatatable,absorbedinacrosswordpuzzle.Shewasfrowning,apparentlystumpedonaword.IleanedoverandaskedifIcouldhelp.

"Four-letterwordforOrientalfemaleservant,"Debbiesaid.

"Tryamah,"Isaid,quickasaflash.

Debbiefilledintheblanks,thenturnedtostareatmeinamazement."Idon'tbelieveit,"shesaid."Ijustdon'tbelieveit."

Andsoitwent,thatglorious,joyous,romanticsophomoreyear.Debbieseemedtorelishourlittleconversationsandhungonmyeveryword.Naturally,themoreIread,themoremyconfidencegrew.

Intheclassroom,too,Iwasgraduallymakingmypresencefelt.Oneday,duringadiscussionofColeridge's"TheAncientMariner",wecameacrossthewordalbatross.

"Cananyonetelluswhatanalbatrossis?"askedMrs.Larrivee.

Myhandshotup."Thealbatrossisalargebirdthatlivesmostlyintheoceanregionsbelowtheequator,butmaybefoundinthenorthPacificaswell.Thealbatrossmeasuresaslongasfourfeetandhasthegreatestwingspreadofanybird.Itfeedsonfishandshellfish.Thealbatrosshasanenormousappetite,andwhenit'sfullithastroublegettingintotheairagain."

Therewasalongsilenceintheroom.Mrs.Larriveecouldn'tquitebelievewhatshehadjustheard.IsneakedalookatDebbieandgaveherabigwink.Shebeamedproudlyandwinkedback.

WhatIfailedtoperceivewasthatDebbieallthiswhilewasgoingsteadywithajuniorfromaneighboringschool--abasketballplayerwithaC+average.Therevelationhitmehard,andforawhileIfeltlikeforgettingeverythingIhadlearned.IhadsavedenoughmoneytobuyVolumeII--AsthmatoBullfinch--butwasstronglytemptedtoinvestinabasketballinstead.

Ifeltnotonlyhurt,butbetrayed.LikeAgamemnon,butwithlessdrasticconsequences,thankGod.

IntimeIrecoveredfrommywounds.ThenextyearDebbiemovedfromtheneighborhoodandtransferredtoanotherschool.Soonshebecamenomorethanamemory.

Althoughtheoriginalincentivewasgone,Icontinuedporingovertheencyclopedias,aswellasanincreasingnumberofotherbooks.Havingtastedofthewineofknowledge,Icouldnotnowaltermycourse.For:

"Alittleknowledgeisadangerousthing:

Drinkdeep,ortastenotthePierianspring."

SowroteAlexanderPope,VolumeXIV--PaprikatoPterodactyl.

斯蒂夫·普羅迪上學(xué)的孩子們中間有一種普遍的錯(cuò)誤想法,即認(rèn)為他們的老師當(dāng)年都是些神童.不管怎么說(shuō),除了不像一般孩子那樣生性貪玩、不愿學(xué)習(xí)的書(shū)呆子之外,還有誰(shuí)愿意長(zhǎng)大后當(dāng)老師呢？

我竭力向我的學(xué)生們解釋我在他們心目中的形象一個(gè)在青春期熱衷于書(shū)本和作業(yè)的人有一點(diǎn)被扭曲了.相反,我極為憎恨義務(wù)教育.我永遠(yuǎn)都無(wú)法接受在魚(yú)兒上鉤時(shí)不得不去上學(xué)的想法.

但是,在我中學(xué)二年級(jí)的時(shí)候,發(fā)生了一件美妙而又激動(dòng)人心的事.愛(ài)神丘比特瞄準(zhǔn)他的箭,正好射中了我的心.突然間,我喜歡上學(xué)了,而這只是為了能夠凝視英語(yǔ)二班里那張可愛(ài)的臉.

我的公主坐在卷筆器旁邊,那一年我削的鉛筆足以點(diǎn)燃一堆篝火.可黛比卻遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)超出了我的期望.將我們隔開(kāi)的不僅有五排課桌,還有約50分的智商.她是英語(yǔ)二班的尖子,拉里維太太的掌上明珠.

偶爾,黛比會(huì)發(fā)覺(jué)我在盯著她看,這時(shí)她便會(huì)露出一個(gè)閃爍著智慧光芒,令我心跳加快的微笑.這是一個(gè)標(biāo)志著希望、使我暫時(shí)忘記將我們分開(kāi)的智力上的鴻溝的微笑.

我想盡辦法去跨越那條鴻溝.有一天,我經(jīng)過(guò)超市,突然想到了一個(gè)主意.櫥窗里的一塊廣告牌稱(chēng)商店正以29美分的特價(jià)供應(yīng)一套百科全書(shū)的第一卷.其余各卷則為每卷2.49美元.

我買(mǎi)下了第一卷從Aardvark〔土豚到Asteroid〔海星然后開(kāi)始了在知識(shí)世界中的冒險(xiǎn)歷程.打那以后,我將成為一個(gè)事實(shí)探尋者.我將成為英語(yǔ)二班的首席智者,以淵博的知識(shí)使我的公主傾心于我.我全都計(jì)劃好了.

一天,在自助餐廳排隊(duì)時(shí),我的第一個(gè)機(jī)會(huì)來(lái)了.我往身后一看,她正好在那兒."嘿,"她說(shuō).

我猶豫了一下,然后潤(rùn)了潤(rùn)嘴唇說(shuō),"知道鳳尾魚(yú)是從哪兒來(lái)的嗎？"

她顯得有點(diǎn)驚訝."不,我不知道."

我松了口氣."鳳尾魚(yú)生活在咸水里,淡水里很少見(jiàn)."我不得不講得很快,以便在我們到達(dá)收銀臺(tái)之前,道出所有的細(xì)節(jié)."漁民們?cè)诘刂泻：袜徑靼嘌?、葡萄牙的大西洋海岸捕捉鳳尾魚(yú)."

"真有意思,"黛比一邊說(shuō)一邊疑惑地?fù)u著頭.顯然我已經(jīng)給她留下了一個(gè)挺深的印象.

幾天之后,在一次消防演習(xí)時(shí),我裝作不經(jīng)意地走到她身邊,問(wèn),"去過(guò)阿留申群島嗎？"

"從來(lái)沒(méi)去過(guò),"她答道.

"也許是一個(gè)旅游的好去處,但我肯定不愿意住在那兒,"我說(shuō).

"為什么不愿意呢？"黛比說(shuō),這正中了我的計(jì).

"呃,那兒的氣候太險(xiǎn)惡.在群島的100多座島嶼中,沒(méi)有一座有樹(shù)木.地上遍布巖石,幾乎沒(méi)有植物能在上面生長(zhǎng)."

"我想我連去旅游也不愿意,"她說(shuō).

消防演習(xí)結(jié)束了,我們開(kāi)始排隊(duì)進(jìn)入大樓,所以我不得不趕緊再談?wù)勍林用?"阿留申人身材矮小,體格健壯,有著深色的皮膚和黑色的頭發(fā).他們以魚(yú)為主食,他們?cè)O(shè)陷阱捕捉北極狐和海豹,以獲得它們珍貴的毛皮."

黛比驚訝地睜大了眼睛.

一天,我正在圖書(shū)館里瀏覽書(shū)刊.我發(fā)現(xiàn)黛比坐在一張桌子旁,正專(zhuān)心致志地做著一個(gè)填詞游戲.她皺著眉頭,顯然被一個(gè)詞難住了.我彎下身去問(wèn)我是否能幫上忙.

"一個(gè)意為東方女傭的四字母詞,"黛比說(shuō).

"試一試amah,"我以閃電般的速度說(shuō).

黛比填入空格,然后轉(zhuǎn)過(guò)頭驚訝地盯著我."我真不敢相信,"她說(shuō)."簡(jiǎn)直不敢相信."

那個(gè)光輝燦爛的、充滿(mǎn)歡樂(lè)的、富有浪漫色彩的二年級(jí)就這樣繼續(xù)著.黛比似乎很喜歡我們的簡(jiǎn)短交談,全神貫注地聽(tīng)著我的每一句話(huà).自然,我讀得越多,信心也越強(qiáng).

在教室里,我也漸漸讓別人感到了我的存在.一天,在一次關(guān)于柯?tīng)柭芍蔚摹豆胖圩釉仭返挠懻撝?我們碰到了albatross〔信天翁這個(gè)詞.

"有誰(shuí)能告訴我們信天翁是什么嗎？"拉里維太太問(wèn).

我立刻舉起了手."信天翁是一種大鳥(niǎo),主要棲息在赤道以南的海域,不過(guò)也有可能在北太平洋發(fā)現(xiàn)它們.信天翁身長(zhǎng)達(dá)4英尺,翼幅是鳥(niǎo)類(lèi)中最大的.它以魚(yú)類(lèi)和帶殼的水生動(dòng)物為食.信天翁胃口很大,吃飽后便很難再飛上天."

許久,教室里鴉雀無(wú)聲.拉里維太太無(wú)法相信她剛剛所聽(tīng)到的內(nèi)容.我偷偷地瞥了黛比一眼,對(duì)她使勁眨了眨眼.她自豪得笑容滿(mǎn)臉,也對(duì)我眨了眨眼.

我未能察覺(jué)到的是那一陣子黛比正同一個(gè)鄰近學(xué)校的三年級(jí)學(xué)生約會(huì)一個(gè)平均分為C+的籃球運(yùn)動(dòng)員.這一發(fā)現(xiàn)對(duì)我打擊很大,有一度我真想忘掉所有學(xué)過(guò)的東西.當(dāng)時(shí)我已攢夠了錢(qián)買(mǎi)第二卷從Asthma〔哮喘病到Bullfinch〔紅腹灰雀但我真想去買(mǎi)一只籃球.

我覺(jué)得自己不僅受到了傷害,而且還遭到了背叛.就象阿伽門(mén)農(nóng)一樣,不過(guò)感謝上帝,后果并沒(méi)有那么嚴(yán)重.

最終我從傷痛中恢復(fù)了過(guò)來(lái).第二年,黛比搬離了這個(gè)街區(qū),轉(zhuǎn)到了另一所學(xué)校.很快,她便成了記憶中的人物而已.

雖然最初的動(dòng)力沒(méi)有了,但我卻繼續(xù)鉆研百科全書(shū),以及越來(lái)越多的其它書(shū)籍.已經(jīng)品嘗過(guò)知識(shí)的美酒,此時(shí)我已無(wú)法改變我的前進(jìn)方向了.因?yàn)椋?/p>

"一知半解,為害匪淺：

開(kāi)懷暢飲吧,否則就不要品嘗埃里亞圣泉."

亞歷山大·蒲柏如此寫(xiě)道,見(jiàn)第十四卷從Paprika〔紅燈籠辣椒到Pterodactyl〔翼手龍.BeforeyoureadTextB,havealookatsomeofthefiguresofspeechtheauthorusestoconveyhisideas.Examinetheitalicizedwordsandphrasesinthesentencesbelow.Whatcomparisonsarebeingmade?Whatmentalpicturesdotheybringtoyourmind?Whatideasistheauthortryingtoconvey?Putinyouranswerbeforeclickingfortheanswerkey.1.Ayoungman'sfirstcarislessameansoftransportationthanamonumenttohisdiscoveryofyouthfulfreedom.Ayoungman'sfirstcariscomparedtoamonument-somethingthatis_______________.<fairlypermanent,admirable,noble,significant,etc.>2.Beforelong,thatcarandIhadbecomethebestoffriends.Thementalpicturethebestoffriendsbringsisthatthecarandthewtiterare_____.<emotionallylinked,inseparable,enjoyingoneanotherandwillingtodoalotforeachother>3.Ipiledtenfriendsintothecar.Thewriterpushedhisfriendsintothecarina__________<disorderly/careless/thoughtless>wayperhapsasiftheywere_________<objects>.4.Thecarwasfarfromabeauty,butshewasmine.Thewordsheisusedtoconveythewriter'saffectionforhiscar,asifitwasa____<delicate,sensitiveemotional>being.5.I'veneverquestionedmyyouthfulemotionsthatdaywhenthemechanicdeliveredhissadverdict.Thewordverdictconveysafeelingof________<inescapabledoom--alife-changingstatement>.TextB

ComingofAgeSamWalkerOkay,I'lladmitit.Sittingbehindthewheelofmyfirstcarbeforeitwastowedofftothejunkyard,Icried.Youcantellmeacarisonlysomuchglassandsteel,butI'llneverapologizeforlosingmycoolthatday.Ayoungman'sfirstcarislessameansoftransportationthanamonumenttohisdiscoveryofyouthfulfreedom.Atleastminewas.

Ithadallstartedtwoyearsearlier:Soonaftermy16thbirthday,myparentsretiredtheoldredfamilycarandpasseditontome.Beforelong,thatcarandIhadbecomethebestoffriends.Wegaveridestojustaboutanyonewhoasked,anytime,anywhere,andhadallsortsofadventures.

Someofthoseadventureswereprettyhair-raising.Onefamousafternoonafterschool,Ipiledtenfriendsintothecar,includingEric,whooptedtorideinthetrunkratherthanbeleftbehind.Wewerejustdrivingaround,feelinggood,talkingabouteverythingandnothing.AndalthoughIhadbeengoingonlyabout20milesanhour,thecollisionwithaschoolbusfullofseven-year-oldscrumpledthefrontofmycar.MyfirstthoughtwasofEricinthetrunk.Irushedoverandopenedittofindhimlyingtheremotionless.Igasped.Heopenedhiseyesandlaughed:"You'retheworstdriverontheplanet."

Bystandersstaredas,onebyone,tendazedhigh-schoolsophomorescrawledoutofmycar.Nooneonthebuswashurt,thoughonelittlegirlwascryingbecauseshehadtogotothebathroom.Asfarasthelittleboyswereconcerned,Iwasahero.Theycrowdedaroundmeinadmiration.Eventhepoliceofficersmanagedtosmile.

Myparents--furious,ofcourse--settledonmypunishment:Iwouldusemyupcomingsummerwagestopayfortherepairs.Tolessenthefinancialblow,Iinsistedthatthemechanicfixthecarwithusedparts.Sowhentheworkwascompleted,theoldredcarhadagreenhood,ayellowfenderandabluedoor.Ididn'tcare.Thecarwasfarfromabeauty,butshewasmine.

Thatsummer,onceschoolwasout,Ifoundmyfreedomexpandedhugely.OndayswhenmyfriendsandIwouldoncehaveriddenbikestothepublicpool,wedrovemycaralongtheriverroadtoexploreanoldabandonedtrainstation.Insteadofridingtobaseballgamesinthecoach'svanlikelittlekids,wenowrodeinmycarassophisticatedadults.Weworesunglasses,andspitsunflowerseedsoutthewindow,andfeltasgoodasifwe'dalreadywonthegame.

OnenightwhileIwaswashingdishesattherestaurantwhereIworked,myfriendsremovedthewheelsfrommycarandleftitstandingdisabledandawkwardonconcreteblocksintheparkinglot.Decidingthebestreactiontotheirtrickwastoignoreit,Iwalkedhome.ThenextmorningIfoundthecarinfrontofmyhouse,coveredwithatwo-inchlayerofshavingcream.

Onebyone,myfriendsgotdriver'slicensesandbroughtdifferentautomotiveoptionstoourfold.Butafterafewdaystryingoutwhoeverwasthenewest,wealwayswoundupbackinmyoldcar.Eventhen,Iwonderedwhy.Itwasn'tflashy-exceptforthosemulti-coloredparts,itlookedjustlikethesensiblefamilycarithadoncebeen.Itwasn'tfast-55milesanhourwasastretch.Anditcertainlywasn'tcomfortable-therewasnoairconditioning,andonhotdaysourbarelegsstucktotheseats.

NotuntilitsenginedieddidIrealizewhathadmadethecarsospecial.Whilemostofmyfriendsinvestedincarstereosthatcouldrattlewindowsablockaway,Istuckwiththeoldoriginalradiothatbarelypickeduptwostationsonagoodnight.Mostly,wejustleftitturnedoff.TherewerenoboredsilencesordemandsthatIbuyabetterradio,though.Wefilledthemusicalvoidbyarguingaboutgirls,makingupsillysongsaboutoneanother,ortellingstories.

Butthemomentsthattrulystandoutweremoresober.I'llneverforgetthesilenceaswedrovehomefromtheplayoffgameinwhichourteamwaseliminated.NorthenightswhenCharlietalkedabouthisparents'financialtroubles,Tomspokesadlyofhisfather'sabsence,andErictoldusofhisdreamofplayingprofessionalhockey.

Sincewegraduatedfromhighschool,myfriendsandIhavespreadoutacrossthecountryandgrownintoadults.YetI'veneverforgottenmyyouthfulemotionsthatdaywhenthemechanicdeliveredhissadverdict.Inthatoldcarofmine,wehadstockpiledmemorieslikefirewood,knowingthatsomeday,somewhere,wewouldgatherasgray-hairedmentore-lighttheblazeofourfriendship.長(zhǎng)大成人塞姆·沃克

好吧,我承認(rèn).在我的第一輛汽車(chē)被拖到廢品舊貨棧之前,我坐在駕駛座上哭了.你可以對(duì)我說(shuō)一輛車(chē)只是一堆玻璃和鋼鐵而已,但我永遠(yuǎn)不會(huì)為那天的失態(tài)而抱歉.一個(gè)年輕人的第一輛車(chē)與其說(shuō)是一種交通工具,還不如說(shuō)是他發(fā)現(xiàn)年輕人之自由的一種紀(jì)念物.至少我的車(chē)是這樣.

一切都是從那時(shí)的兩年前開(kāi)始的：我的１６歲生日過(guò)后不久,我的父母報(bào)廢了家里那輛紅顏色的舊車(chē),把它傳給了我.很快,我和那輛車(chē)便成了最好的朋友.我們幾乎在任何時(shí)候、任何地方讓任何提出要求的人搭車(chē),經(jīng)歷了各種各樣的奇遇.

其中有些奇遇真有點(diǎn)讓人毛骨悚然.眾所周知的一次是在一天下午放學(xué)后,我把10個(gè)朋友塞進(jìn)汽車(chē)?yán)?包括寧愿坐在行李箱里也不愿被丟下的埃里克.我們只是駕著車(chē)得意洋洋地兜風(fēng),海闊天空,東拉西扯.雖然我僅僅以２０英里的時(shí)速開(kāi)著車(chē),但跟一輛載滿(mǎn)７歲孩子的校車(chē)相撞仍把我的車(chē)頭給撞癟了.我首先想到的就是行李箱里的埃里克.我沖過(guò)去,打開(kāi)箱蓋,發(fā)現(xiàn)他躺在那兒一動(dòng)不動(dòng).我倒吸了一口冷氣.他卻睜開(kāi)眼睛,大笑著說(shuō)："你是這個(gè)星球上最差勁的駕駛員."

當(dāng)１０個(gè)神情恍惚的高二學(xué)生一個(gè)一個(gè)從我的車(chē)?yán)锱莱鰜?lái)時(shí),站在一旁觀看的人都看呆了.校車(chē)上沒(méi)有人受傷,只有一個(gè)小女孩因?yàn)榧敝蠋诳?在那些小男孩的眼里,我是個(gè)英雄.他們欽佩不已地圍在我身邊.連警察們也勉強(qiáng)露出了笑容.

我的父母當(dāng)然非常生氣,他們決定了對(duì)我的懲罰：我得用我那年夏天打工賺來(lái)的工資支付修理費(fèi).為了減輕這一經(jīng)濟(jì)上的打擊,我堅(jiān)持要汽車(chē)機(jī)修工用舊零件修車(chē).所以在車(chē)子修好時(shí),那輛舊的紅車(chē)便有了一個(gè)綠色的發(fā)動(dòng)機(jī)罩,一塊黃色的擋泥板和一扇藍(lán)色的車(chē)門(mén).這我倒不介意.這輛車(chē)絕非美輪美奐,但她卻是我的.

那年夏天,學(xué)校一放假,我便發(fā)現(xiàn)我的自由空間大大擴(kuò)展了.以前,我和我的朋友們得騎著自行車(chē)去公共游泳池,現(xiàn)在我們卻可以駕著我的車(chē),沿著河邊的路,去踏勘一座廢棄的老火車(chē)站.我們現(xiàn)在可以象諳于世故的成人一般駕著我的車(chē)去參加棒球比賽,而不再象小孩子一樣坐教練的面包車(chē)去了.我們戴著太陽(yáng)眼鏡,把葵花子殼吐到車(chē)窗外,感覺(jué)好得就象已經(jīng)打贏了比賽一樣.

一天晚上,我正在打工的餐館里洗碟子,我的幾個(gè)朋友趁機(jī)將我的汽車(chē)輪胎卸了下來(lái),讓車(chē)子無(wú)能為力地難堪地躺在停車(chē)場(chǎng)的水泥地上.我認(rèn)為對(duì)于他們的惡作劇最好的反應(yīng)就是置之不理.于是我走回了家.第二天早上我在家門(mén)口發(fā)現(xiàn)了我的車(chē),上面涂滿(mǎn)了兩英寸厚的剃須膏.

我的朋友一個(gè)接一個(gè)地拿到了駕駛執(zhí)照,我們這幫人便有了不同的車(chē)輛選擇.但是不論誰(shuí)的車(chē)最新,試過(guò)幾天之后,最終我們總是又回到我的舊車(chē)?yán)?即使在那個(gè)時(shí)候,我也不懂這是為什么.它毫不花哨除了那些多種顏色的部件,它看上去就象過(guò)去一樣,是一輛實(shí)用的家庭汽車(chē).它跑得不快５５英里的時(shí)速是極限.它當(dāng)然也不舒適沒(méi)有空調(diào),大熱天我們光著的腿就粘在座位上.

直到它的發(fā)動(dòng)機(jī)壽終正寢時(shí)我才意識(shí)到是什么使這輛車(chē)如此特別.當(dāng)我大多數(shù)的朋友買(mǎi)了能將幾條街區(qū)以外的玻璃窗震得格格作響的汽車(chē)立體聲音響時(shí),我一直在繼續(xù)用原來(lái)那臺(tái)即使在晴好的夜晚也只能勉強(qiáng)收到兩個(gè)電臺(tái)的舊收音機(jī).通常,我們只是讓它關(guān)著.不過(guò),車(chē)?yán)飶膩?lái)沒(méi)有百無(wú)聊賴(lài)、默不作聲的時(shí)候,也沒(méi)有人要求我去買(mǎi)一臺(tái)更好的收音機(jī).我們談?wù)撆⒆?相互亂編一些無(wú)聊的歌曲,或者講故事,以此來(lái)填補(bǔ)沒(méi)有音樂(lè)的空白.

但是真正令人難忘的還是更為嚴(yán)肅的時(shí)刻.我永遠(yuǎn)不會(huì)忘記我們的球隊(duì)在季后賽中被淘汰后我們開(kāi)車(chē)回家一路上的沉默無(wú)語(yǔ).也永遠(yuǎn)不會(huì)忘記在那些夜晚,查理談?wù)撍改傅慕?jīng)濟(jì)困難,湯姆憂(yōu)傷地談起他父親的離家出走,以及埃里克告訴我們他要打職業(yè)曲棍球賽的夢(mèng)想.

自從我們高中畢業(yè)后,我和我的朋友們已經(jīng)分散到全國(guó)各地,并已長(zhǎng)大成人.然而,我一直不曾忘記那一天,當(dāng)汽車(chē)機(jī)修工作出令人悲哀的裁決時(shí),我那種年輕人的激動(dòng)情緒.在我的那輛舊車(chē)?yán)?我們已經(jīng)堆積了如同火種般的記憶,并且知道在某一天,某一個(gè)地方,白發(fā)蒼蒼的我們會(huì)聚在一起重新點(diǎn)燃我們的友誼之火.TextCRomancecanbedangerouslyseductive<引誘的,誘人的>.Afullmoon,softcandlelight--themoodiscomplete.Addanattractivepartnerandsomesoftbackgroundmusic,andwhocanresistfeeling"inlove"?This,afterall,iswhatthemagazineadssayloveissupposedtolooklike.Ifyoufindapartnerwhoprovidesthissettingandinvitesyouin,it'snaturaltothinkoflove.

Romanceisbothanatmosphereandastateofmind.It'sgreattorelishitforawhile,butasasteadydietromanceisdangerouslyunder-nourishing.Ideally,romancewillbewoventhroughalovingrelationship,andrevivingitnowandthenisanexcellentwaytoexpressaffection<愛(ài),感情>andcommitment<承諾,許諾>.Butifyouinsistthatyourrelationshipbeinaconstantstateofromance,you'reaskingtheimpossible.Notonlythat,butthepressureofyourdemandsmayendupdestroyingyourchancesforsuccessasatrulylovingcouple.Thisdoesn'tmeanthatweshouldautomaticallybesuspiciousofromanticbehaviororkeepourownromanticfeelingsunderlockandkey.It'snaturaltoexpect,andtoexpress,somedegreeofromanceinanewrelationship.That'spartofwhatmakesarelationshipfunandexciting–butonlyifbothpartnersunderstandtherolethatromanceisplaying.Intruelove,thepurposeofromanceisnottodeceive<欺騙,蒙騙>,buttoexpressrealaffectionandenrichanongoingrelationship.It'ssincere.Itpleasesbothpartnersandrenewstheircommitmenttoeachother.Itgivesthemabriefbreakfromthedailygrind,anopportunitytofocusoneachotherandtherelationshipinapositiveway.

Onceyou'vedeterminedthatyouandyourpartnerbotharepreparedtoaccepttruelove,youneedtomakesurethetiesaretheretoholdthetwoofyoutogetherasacouple.Thesestrengthswillformthebasisforyourlove,supportingyourrelationshipthroughthechallengestocome.Theyfallintothefollowingeightgeneralcategories<種類(lèi),類(lèi)別>:

1.Physicalattraction.Theattractionneednotbeelectric.Withmanylovingcouples,itbuildsgraduallyandgently,sometimestakingyearstoripen.Allthat'sreallyrequiredinthebeginningissomeattraction,mutualopenness,affection,anddesireforintimacy<親密>.

2.Sharedgoals,interests,andbeliefsystems.Coupleswithsimilarreligious,culturalandpoliticalbeliefstendtobemoreunitedthanthosewithdifferingbackgrounds,butdifferencescanbeovercomeifthere'sasolidfoundationofsharedgoalsandinterests.

3.Mutual<相互的>respect,acceptance,andthedesiretopleaseeachother.Inrelationshipsbasedonfalselove,theseattitudesoftenflowfromonepartneronly.Intruelove,theremustbebalance,andbothpartnersmustaccepttheresponsibilityoflivinguptoeachother'sexpectations.

4.Mutualhonestyandtrust.Dishonestyhasnoplaceintruelove;itcanonlyleadtomistrustanddivision.Fromtheverystart,youandyourpartnermustbetruthful,bothwithyourselvesandwitheachother.

5.Realisticexpectationsforeachotherandtherelationship.Yourexpectationsshouldbebasedbothontherequirementsfortrueloveandonyourindividualpersonalitiesandneeds.Discussthemopenly,recognizingthatsomearenonnegotiable<無(wú)法協(xié)商的>whileothersneedtoremainflexible.6.Abalanceofdependenceandindependence.Trueloverequiresaconnection,butnotthesubmersionoftwoindividuals.Matureloversdon'tmeltcompletelyintoeachother,asobsessivecouplesdo,nordotheyremaindisconnected.Rather,theyinterlock<結(jié)合>,sothatpartsoftheirlivesbecomeshared.Indiagramform,thethreepossibilitieslooklikethis:Obsessivecouple

Disconnectedcouple

Lovingcouple

Tosucceedinlove,youandyourpartnermustbeabletorelyoneachotherforcomfortandsupportwithoutexpectingallyourneedstobemetwithintherelationship.Partofyourlifemustremainseparate.Youneedsomefriends,activities,andintereststhatyourpartnerdoesnotshare.Inadditiontothepersonalbenefitsyougetfromtheseoutsidesources,theyprovideideas,energy,andinformationthat