倍可親

回復: 2
列印 上一主題 下一主題

No Time for Dreams

[複製鏈接]

5661

主題

2萬

帖子

1萬

積分

版主

倍可親無極天淵(廿十萬級)

Rank: 7Rank: 7Rank: 7

積分
15732
跳轉到指定樓層
樓主
Blue Ivy 發表於 2004-8-25 09:54 | 只看該作者 回帖獎勵 |倒序瀏覽 |閱讀模式

No Time for Dreams
By Barbara Feder Mindel

Today, for once, I am not late.

For my effort, my thirty-two-year-old son needles me affectionately as he opens the door to his home. "Yo, Mom, fourteen minutes early!"

I smile, try to seem calm, but I'm antsy. I've been playing catch-up since my life began itself over, this time as a single mom. Today, I'm determined to get things right from the start.

Spying Mike's car keys, jacket and the wrapped gifts sitting on the counter, I think we're ready to leave. But no, my bachelor son is making small talk. I shift my weight, put my present on the counter and try to look attentive, but finally blurt out, "Honey, let's go! They're expecting us soon. We can chat in the car."

This is important. Christmas dinner at Sarah's house. First meeting with the girlfriend's parents.

"All right," Mike says, catching on to my mood. "Just let me do something upstairs." Over his shoulder he says, "Relax, Mom, it's going to be a great day."

Somewhat calmed by his good humor, I unbutton my coat and wait, fidgeting with the clippings and photos Mike has tacked to his refrigerator. Photos of his friends . . . his latest interests . . .

My firstborn has turned into a loving, well-adjusted man, I realize - marveling that he even survived his adolescence, with a crumbling marriage as a backdrop and a controlling father for an antagonist. I remember that critical night (was he just sixteen?!) when he cornered me in the kitchen and lectured me: "Mom, you deserve better than this."

At the time, I wasn't sure if it was a plea for my liberation or his.

Did I do right by him? I think so, but did he come through unscathed? After the divorce it was a struggle to raise Mike's teen brothers and try to help him heal, too, into a whole adult. We are close now, maybe because he admired my courage. Or perhaps he respects the life I've carved for myself that makes no demands on his.

Mike's step on the stairs interrupts my reverie. He plants a kiss on my cheek and presents me with an unwrapped box. I'm confused; we already exchanged presents on Chanukah.

The box is filled with travel brochures for the Hawaiian Islands, and I finger them enviously. I almost made it to the islands three years ago, but my mother became ill at the eleventh hour, and I had to cancel my flight.

Here's my son looking out for me again. Still trying to renew my dreams.

"These are great, Honey," I say, but inside I know I have no room for dreams. With my parents to care for, so many expenses, I can't even think about a vacation right now. And right now it's time to meet our dinner obligations.

"I can't wait to read these at my leisure," I hint, none too subtly, and slip the cover back on the box. Mike stops me.

"Have a look now," he insists.

"We're going to be late, Mike," I almost plead.

"I'm not going anywhere until you look these over," he says quietly.

I work through the brochures and find an envelope at the bottom of the stack.

"What's this?"

My son just shrugs.

I gasp as I open the envelope to find a gift certificate for an open-ended, pre-paid, round-trip airline ticket to Oahu.

"I don't believe this!" I breathe out. "You're giving me this? Honey, I can't accept this from you."

Mike beams. "What do you mean, you can't accept this from me?" he laughs.

"Mike," my voice down to a whisper, "you work too hard for your money."

He's whispering now, too. "Mom, who deserves it more than you?"

Suddenly, I know: He really is okay.

Suddenly, I don't feel so lost for time.


[/COLOR]
※人生有三件美事,讀書、交友、穿行於山水之間※

681

主題

4563

帖子

1590

積分

有過貢獻的斑竹

倍可親智囊會員(十八級)

Rank: 3Rank: 3

積分
1590
沙發
Adelyn 發表於 2004-8-25 15:55 | 只看該作者

Can't put the pieces together...

My firstborn has turned into a loving, well-adjusted man, I realize - marveling that he even survived his adolescence, with a crumbling marriage as a backdrop and a controlling father for an antagonist.
________
Easy and fluent, a model essay by a pro writer
回復 支持 反對

使用道具 舉報

3474

主題

9508

帖子

1萬

積分

七級貝殼核心

倍可親決策會員(十九級)

Rank: 5Rank: 5

積分
14231
3
水影兒 發表於 2006-3-23 02:41 | 只看該作者
Good article, which could teach young generation to appreciate their parents' effort raising them.
回復 支持 反對

使用道具 舉報

您需要登錄后才可以回帖 登錄 | 註冊

本版積分規則

關於本站 | 隱私權政策 | 免責條款 | 版權聲明 | 聯絡我們

Copyright © 2001-2013 海外華人中文門戶:倍可親 (http://big5.backchina.com) All Rights Reserved.

程序系統基於 Discuz! X3.1 商業版 優化 Discuz! © 2001-2013 Comsenz Inc.

本站時間採用京港台時間 GMT+8, 2025-7-26 22:39

快速回復 返回頂部 返回列表