布郎老爹是在大萧条时代长起来的人.他说那时幸亏家里有个农场,让他天天能像只松鼠一样啃花生吃.大概因为这个原因,布郎老爹一生对自然充满了爱戴,他喜欢种植花草蔬菜水果,他种的梨和苹果连我都吃得开始作恶梦了.

布郎老爹对我的影响很大.因为他除了跟我的生父一样有着尊严的一面之外,更多的时候是妙语连珠,充满了智慧与幽默.他一生辛勤,事业成功,可是他处处注意节俭;然而在别人需要帮助时,他又从没吝惜过体力与金钱.

布郎老爹是个电脑老手,按义娘的说法,带线不带线的,只要是带电的玩艺儿他都有.可他更喜欢隔三差五地写亲笔信,给儿孙们发布最高指示.

于是我昨天就接到了他的一封信.掐头去尾我把其中的一段话翻译成中文,供诸君参考.我相信他不是原作者.

生活告诉我,生命就像那卷卫生纸.越到最后,它走得越快.

生活告诉我,应该感激上帝没答应给我们所祈求的一切.

生活告诉我,钱买不来高雅与品味.

生活告诉我,是日常的琐碎使生活变得更美好.

生活告诉我,人人藏在外表之下的是一颗希望得到欣赏与爱的心.

生活告诉我,上帝不是一天创造的世界,我又怎能把一切抢在一天里完成.

生活告诉我,对事实视而不见并不能改变事实本身.

生活告诉我,我花在工作上的时间越短,完成的事越多.

我准备近日启程去看望一直想念的布郎老爹.

2007-8-16 

附原文:

Remember:

I've learned.... That life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes.

I've learned....That we should be glad God doesn't give us everything we ask for.

I've learned.... That money doesn't buy class.

I've learned...that it's those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular.

I've learned.... That under everyone's hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved.

I've learned....That the Lord didn't do it all in one day. What makes me think I can?

I've learned....That to ignore the facts does not change the facts.

I've learned....That the less time I have to work, the more things I get done.

HAPPY FRIENDSHIP WEEK TO YOU!