丢掉爱的记分卡
佚名
我们在电影演完后，开始闲聊起来。温暖的炉火，圣诞的彩灯，家人的笑声，这一切使我满意地笑了。这时，母亲说：“谁想去……”母亲的话还没说完，整个屋子就没人了，比输了足球赛的看台空得还快。
房间里只剩下我和男友托德。他满脸困惑，问我是怎么回事。我看看笑着的母亲，对他说：“让我们准备去给母亲的汽车加油吧。”
他马上回答说：“外边冰天雪地，而且，现在已经是夜里十一点半了。”我笑了笑说：“那你最好穿上大衣，戴上手套。”
我们迅速地擦掉挡风玻璃上的霜，一起进入车内。在去加油站的途中，托德让我解释为什么要在这样的天气、这么晚的夜里给妈妈的车加油。我咯咯地笑着说：“每次我们兄弟姐妹回来过节，都要帮爸爸为妈妈的车加油。我们把它看成一项游戏，我们能猜到妈妈什么时候让我们去，最后留在房间里的人要为她的车去加油。”
“你一定是在和我开玩笑。”托德说。
“我没有和你开玩笑。”我说。
在加油的时候，我们搓着手，蹦跳着让自己感觉暖和一点儿。“我还是不明白，你妈妈为什么不自己来做？”托德问。
我微笑着说：“我知道这听起来有点儿荒唐，我给你解释一下吧。我妈妈二十多年没有自己加过油，总是由我爸爸代劳。” 托德很困惑地问：“你爸爸是否厌烦过？”我摇着头，简单地回答说：“不，他从未抱怨过。”
“真是难以想象。”托德立即回答道。
“不，真的不会。”我耐心地解释，“大学二年级我回家度假的时候，认为什么事情都懂了，尤其认为女人应该独立自主。一天晚上，母亲和我包装礼品时，我对她说，等我结婚了，一定要让我的丈夫帮我打扫房间、洗衣服、做饭，什么家务活他都得干。我还问她，整天洗洗涮涮烦不烦。令我不能相信的是，她说她很乐意做这些事情。我就告诉她这是九十年代了，要男女平等。
“妈妈平静地听我说完，在一件礼物上系完一条丝带后，看着我的眼睛，坚定地说：‘亲爱的，总会有你明白的那天的。’
“她的话使我更生气，更疑惑，于是我要求她解释明白。母亲笑了，开始给我解释：
“‘在婚姻生活当中，有些事是你想干的，有些事是你不愿意干的。你们可以挑出愿意为对方干的事，从而共同承担生活的责任。我挺喜欢洗衣服的，虽然会花很多时间，我还是愿意为你爸爸做这些事情。但是，我不喜欢去给车加油，汽油的味道让我恶心，尤其是在冬天，天气寒冷，我更不喜欢出去，所以你爸爸总是替我干这件事情。还有，你爸爸去杂货店买东西，我做饭；你爸爸割草，我清理。当然，这样的分工还很多。’
“‘你知道吗？’妈妈继续说，‘婚姻当中没有记分卡，你为对方做一些事情，会使他生活得轻松。你不会厌倦为自己心爱的人洗衣服、做饭或干其他的事情，因为你爱他，你做的一切都出自对他的爱。’
“这些年来我一直考虑妈妈的话，她对婚姻有很深的理解。我羡慕爸爸妈妈相亲相爱，而且，我结婚了，也不要记分卡。”
托德在回家的路上，罕见地安静。到家后，他关掉发动机，转向我，带着温暖地微笑着，目光闪烁，捧起我的手，非常温柔地对我说：“我随时准备为你的车去加油。”
The Scorecard
Anonymous
As the movie came to an end the room filled with chatter. The warm fire, twinkling Christmas lights and laughter from family brought a contented smile to my face. The minute Mom said, “Who wants...”the room emptied quicker than the stands at a losing football game.
My boyfriend Todd and I were the only ones left. With a bewildered look on his face he asked me what just happened. Catching the laughter on my mom’s face, I said to Todd, “We are going to go put gas in my mom’s car.” He quickly replied, “It’s freezing out there, and it’s almost 11:30 P.M.” Smiling, I said, “Then you had better take your coat and gloves.”
After hurriedly chipping the frost off the windshield, we bundled into the car. On the way to the gas station, Todd asked me to explain why in the world we were going to get my mom gas so late at night. Chuckling, I said, “When my siblings and I come home for the holidays, we help my dad get gas for my mom. It has turned into a game with all of us. We can tell when at mom is going to ask and the last one in the room has to go.”
“You have got to be kidding me!” Todd responded.
“There is no getting out of it.” I said.
While pumping the gas, we clapped our hands and jumped around to stay warm. “I still don’t get it. Why doesn’t your mom put the gas in the car herself ? ”Todd asked.
With mirth in my eyes, I said, “I know it sounds insane, but let me explain. My mom has not pumped gas in over two decades. My dad always pumps gas for her. ”With a confused look, Todd asked if my dad was ever annoyed with having to pump gas for his wife all the time. Shaking my head, I simply said, “No, he has never complained.”
“That’s crazy.”Todd quickly replied.
“No, not really.” I explained patiently. “When I came home for the holidays my sophomore year of college, I thought I knew everything. I was on this big female independence kick. One evening, my mom and I were wrapping presents, and I told her that when I got married, my husband was going to help clean, do laundry, cook, the whole bit. Then I asked her if she ever got tired of doing the laundry and dishes. She calmly told me it did not bother her. This was difficult for me to believe. I began to give her a lecture about this being the 90s, and equality between the sexes.
“Mom listened patiently. Then after setting the ribbon aside, she looked me square in the eyes. ‘Someday, dear, you will understand. ’
“This only irritated me more. I didn’t understand one bit. And so I demanded more of an explanation. Mom smiled, and began to explain:
“ ‘In a marriage, there are some things you like to do and some things you don’t. So, together, you figure out what little things you are willing to do for each other. You share the responsibilities. I really don’t mind doing the laundry. Sure, it takes some time, but it is something I do for your dad. On the other hand, I do not like to pump gas. The smell of the fumes bothers me. And I don’t like to stand out in the freezing cold. So, your dad always puts gas in my car. Your dad goes to grocery shops, and I cook. Your dad mows the grass, and I clean. I could go on and on. ’
“ ‘You see,’ my mother continued, ‘in marriage, there is no scorecard. You do little things for each other to make the other’s life easier. If you think of it as helping the person you love, you don’t become annoyed with doing the laundry or cooking, or any task, because you’re doing it out of love. ’
“Over the years, I have often reflected on what my mom said. She has a great perspective on marriage. I like how my mom and dad take care of each other. And you know what? One day, when I’m married, I don’t want to have a scorecard either.”
Todd was unusually quiet the rest of the way home. After he shut off the engine, he turned to me and took my hands in his with a warm smile and a twinkle in his eye.
“Anytime you want, ”he said in a soft voice, “I’ll pump gas for you.”
滑向永远的爱情
佚名
1980年春天，我在学校追随一个特别的男孩已经整整一个月了，我只是没有勇气走到他的面前和他交谈。前一年冬天发生了那样令人尴尬的事情，我就更没有勇气接近他了。
当时，他是三年级篮球校队的首发队员，而我是拉拉队的队长，所以我有许多机会观看这个英俊的男孩打球。只是，我得戴上眼镜，要知道，我的视力很差，就像蝙蝠一样瞎，然而我太虚荣了，不愿意佩戴眼镜。
特里在最后一秒投篮命中半场球，我这个视力差到极点的拉拉队队长却把人认错了，并开始叫着另外一个家伙的名字欢呼喝彩。在场的观众都开始低声轻笑，我的脸涨得通红。这时，特里从我身旁走了过去，进了更衣室。过了几个月，他对我的了解仅仅是那个在他投了好球，却把他的名字弄错的糟糕的拉拉队队长。
然而，我最好的朋友常常和特里一起去教堂做礼拜。雪莉决定充当媒人。她不但邀请我去参加教堂组织的一个溜冰派对，而且，她将我推进了特里父母的车里，接着车便向溜冰场开去。尽管溜冰场距离这里有15英里远，然而在路上我们都没说几句话。一路上，我坐在车的后排，真想钻进座位底下去，这真是一个天大的错误。
即使是我们到达溜冰场以后，交往还是没有什么起色。每当有双人滑的时候，我都在心里盼望并祈求特里会过来邀请我。然而，事与愿违！经过了三场双人滑，我已经忍无可忍了！因此，我和他两个最好的朋友轮流滑着。在溜冰场的喇叭响起最后一轮双人滑的通告时，特里终于动作笨拙地溜到栏杆旁，与我站在了一起。
“我猜，你正在想我为什么没有邀请你和我一起双人滑。”这是他对我说的第一句话，我竭力试着不去看他的大眼睛，那双可以将我融化的美丽的棕色眼睛。我装得很冷淡，还对他撒了谎：“不，我并没有这么想。”
他非但没把我刻薄的回答放在心上，还用下面这些话俘虏了我的心。他用他那双漂亮的眼睛盯着自己的溜冰鞋，很谦虚地说道：“我之所以没有邀请你，是因为我滑得不好。假如你不担心我会让你摔倒在地，你是否愿意和我一起滑呢？”这一回，我看着那双眼睛，真的被他融化了。
就在我们手牵手在《直到永远》的歌曲声中滑行的时候，我知道我的生活将从这一刻改变。我从未见过一个会承认自己缺点的男孩，更别说还为一个女孩担心了。最初，我仅仅是着迷于他英俊的外表（哪个人不会注意到那双漂亮的棕色眼睛呢），然而，还是他美丽的心灵让我知道他是多么特别。
最终，我找到了自己的白马王子。
纵然他并未骑着骏马（只是租来的溜冰鞋），然而，在我们绕着溜冰场滑行的时候，他让我觉得我就是舞会上的灰姑娘。我紧紧地拉着他的手——并不是因为对午夜的惧怕——而是为了帮助他，不让他摔倒。
看着我们的结婚照片，我最钟爱的一张是夫妻两人沿着教堂过道朝前走的场景。大多数情况下，都是妻子优雅地用手挽着丈夫的胳膊一起从过道走过。可我们不是这样！在宣布成为夫妻之后，我们走过过道，仿佛七年前我们在溜冰场那样——手牵着手，许下诺言不让对方摔倒。
我们的孩子们喜欢听他们的爸爸不知道怎么滑冰，让我牵着他的手以防两个人摔倒的故事。然而知道他们的爸爸不会滑冰时，对他们的妈妈来讲为时已晚。那双眼睛她只看了一眼，就已经深陷其中，坠入了与白马王子的爱河之中。
Roller Romance
Anonymous
In the spring of 1980, I had been following one particular guy around school for a month. I just did not have the nerve to go up and talk to him. An embarrassing situation, from that winter, truly prevented me from approaching him.
He had been a starter for the junior varsity basketball team and I was a cheerleader, I had many opportunities to see this gorgeous guy in action. That is, if I wore my glasses. You see, I am as blind as a bat and was too vain to wear them.
As Terry sank a half court shot at the last second, this extremely near-sighted cheerleader, misidentified the hero and began cheering for the wrong guy. As the crowd started chuckling, my face turned crimson as Terry walked by me to get to the locker room. Months later, he only knew me as the dingy cheerleader who could not even get his name right when he hit a great shot!
However, my best friend attended church with Terry. Shirley decided to play matchmaker. She not only invited me to a church-sponsored skating party, but also literally pushed me in his parent’s car to ride to the skating rink. Although the skating rink was 15 miles away, very few words were spoken. As I sank down in that backseat, I just wanted to keep sinking. This had truly been a huge mistake.
After we arrived at the skating rink, things did not get any better. Each couple skate I hoped and prayed that Terry would ask me. He didn’t! After about 3 couple skates, I decided enough was enough! So I took turns skating with his 2 best friends. As the last call for a couple skate came over the rink’s loud speakers, Terry finally skated somewhat awkwardly and stood beside the rails with me.
“I guess you wonder why I have not asked you to couple skate? ” were his first words to me. Trying ever so hard not to look in those big beautiful brown eyes that made me melt, I answered nonchalantly and dishonestly, “No, not really.”
This guy not only ignored my tart reply, but would also win my heart with the following reply. Casting those beautiful eyes down at his skates, he humbly remarked, “I didn’t ask because I do not skate very well. If you are not afraid that I will make you fall, would you please skate with me?” This time I did look into those eyes and did melt.
As we skated hand in hand to Always and Forever, I knew my life would never be the same. I never knew a guy that actually would admit any of his faults, let alone worry about a girl to boot! I had first been attracted to his beauty on the outside (who wouldn’t notice those beautiful brown eyes), but it would be his beautiful heart that made me realize how truly special he was.
I had actually found my Prince Charming.
Even though he was not riding on a handsome steed (but rented roller skates), he made me feel like Cinderella at the ball as we skated around the rink. I clung tightly to his hand—not because I was afraid of midnight—but to help keep him from falling.
When I look at our wedding pictures, my favorite is walking down the aisle as husband and wife. Most couples walk down the aisle with the bride’s hand tucked neatly in the crook of her husband’s arm. Not us! We walked down the aisle, after being pronounced man and wife, just like we had done 7 years before at that skating rink—hand-in-hand with the promise of helping keep the other one from falling.
Our children love to hear the story of how their dad did not know how to skate and asked me to hold his hand to help us keep from tumbling. But it had already been too late for their mother. Only after one look into those eyes, she had fallen—fallen in love with Prince Champing.
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