第二单元译文.doc

这是2003年12月初，我作为一个救世军敲钟，当我面临的问题与第一个赛季。我站在外面的沃尔玛门口，提供一个“谢谢”，微笑每个人谁投进我的红kettle.A捐赠衣着整洁的女人和她的小儿子走到水壶立场。虽然她寻找一些现金她的钱包，男孩抬头看着我。我仍然可以看到他的眼睛，好奇的混乱，他问道：“你穷呢？” “嗯，”我结结巴巴地说，试图想：“我比有些人多，但不如别人了。”他妈骂他为社会的禁忌，他们急急忙忙走了尽自己的购物。他的问题，但是，并没有离开我。 我从没想过自己是“穷”，但我不能否认某些事实。每当我填写我的1040表格，我陷入了最低收入阶层之一。在过去的35年里，我只花一度假。我的电视是一个非黑即白集，有人给了我八年前。可是我觉得只不过是昙花一现的念头更达到物质的东西很多其他人都有。我在1999年车展的磨损10.5万英里。但它仍是可靠的。我的公寓是温和的，但宁静和放松。我的衣服很适合我的工作，这主要是室外。我最小的电脑需要能够得到满足图书馆看书。在我没有什么，尽管我不觉得差。为什么呢？我已经享受了53年来特别好的健康。这不仅是因为我一直在生病，免费的，它的，我觉得充满活力和精神。其实对我来说是锻炼的乐趣。我期待着长，活力散步。我还喜欢“我能”的态度如下。我也珍惜创造力的礼物。当我写一个美丽的诗行，或者编造一个笑话，发痒的人，我感到充实进去。我不断惊讶的见解，通过我的写作过程中来。而且有这么多有趣的作家朋友聊天，是享受我的主要来源之一。但有一个我一生中，我不是那么富裕的重要领域。在一个社会的财富花在追求如此多的感情能量，我觉得自己很迷茫。当我年轻的时候，有一个非常有趣的人，我约会。什么是最重要的是她，她告诉我，是“什么在里面的。”我想我已经找到了特别的人分享我的生活与。然后我带她去看我的公寓。当时，我住在一间地下室效率日期为几件家具。唯一的新的，舒适的椅子是在我的办公桌之一。不久后，她的访问，我们的关系直奔南方。看似在她的关注点突变是颠簸。它仍然是一个最难忘的转折点，我个人的旅途。与此相反的关系，东西并不意味着就多给我。我想大多数人有同样的感受 - 除非有社会后果不具有特定的项目。有一个由电台开始，“每个人都想要一个高端彩电.”购买的压力是真正的商业。它可能是真实的，每个人都想要一个高端电视。毕竟，没有人想成为什么人。但我很高兴生活在没有之一。事实上，没有对重点物资感觉很自然的我。世界各地有许多人会认为我的谁是富裕的生活方式。在接近年底时，当我在救世军红色围裙，改变我的东西放在里面。而不是感觉出来的地方经济，我开始感到真正意义上的归属感。正如我我的响钟，人们停下来分享这意味着多少得到帮助时，他们正在经历艰难的时间将他们的个人故事。人帮助人是我深深感到相连。当我按门铃，我带来了完全陌生的热巧克力，留下了挥之不去的微笑。无数人帮助我，让本赛季的情感温暖：？“。保佑你的好工作，你”“。感谢在这样一个寒冷的日子铃声你”“我可以给你一杯咖啡”十二月是一年的时间，我觉得富有。 在过去的四年里，我已经长大了理解，因为一个好奇的孩子从一个单一的问题是关于我自己。正如我已经分析意味着什么是穷人，它已成为我清楚我最感谢：我的两个有形和无形的我的好运。It was early December 2003, my first season as a Salvation Army bell ringer, when I was confronted with the question. I was standing just outside the doorway of a Wal-Mart, offering a “thank you” and a smile to each person who dropped a donation into my red kettle.A neatly dressed woman and her young son walked up to the kettle stand. While she searched her purse for some cash, the boy looked up at me. I can still see the confusion and curiosity in his eyes as he asked, “Are you poor?” “Well,” I stammered, trying to think, “I have more than some people, but not as much as others.” His mother scolded him for the social no-no, and they hurried off to do their shopping. His question, however, did not leave me. Ive never thought of myself as “poor,” but I cant deny certain facts. Every time I fill out my 1040 form, I fall into one of the lowest income brackets. In the past 35 years, Ive taken just one vacation trip. My TV is a black-and-white set that someone gave me eight years ago.Yet I feel nothing more than a passing whim to attain the material things so many other people have. My 1999 car shows the wear and tear of 105,000 miles. But it is still dependable. My apartment is modest, but quiet and relaxing. My clothes are well suited to my work, which is primarily outdoors. My minimal computer needs can be met at the library.In spite of what I dont have, I dont feel poor. Why? Ive enjoyed exceptionally good health for 53 years. Its not just that Ive been illness-free, its that I feel vigorous and spirited. Exercising is actually fun for me. I look forward to long, energizing walks. And I love the “can do” attitude that follows.I also cherish the gift of creativity. When I write a beautiful line of poetry, or fabricate a joke that tickles someone, I feel rich inside. Im continually surprised at the insights that come through my writing process. And talking with so many interesting writer friends is one of my main sources of enjoyment.But there is one vital area of my life where I am not so well off. In a society that spends so much emotional energy on the pursuit of possessions, I feel out of place.When I was younger, there was an exceptionally interesting person I dated. What was most important to her, she told me, was “whats on the inside.” I thought I had found someone special to share my life with. Then I took her to see my apartment. At the time, I lived in a basement efficiency with a few pieces of dated furniture. The only new, comfortable chair was the one at my desk. Shortly after her visit, our relationship went straight south.The seemingly abrupt change in her priorities was jolting. It remains a most memorable turning point in my personal journey.In contrast to relationships, stuff just doesnt mean that much to me. I think most people feel the same way except when there are social consequences to not having particular items. There is a commercial on the radio that begins, “Everybody wants a high-end TV ” The pressure to purchase is real. It may be true that everybody wants a high-end TV. After all, nobody wants to be a nobody.But Im happy to live without one. In fact, not being focused on material goods feels quite natural to me. There are many people throughout the world who would consider my lifestyle to be affluent.Near the end of the year, when I put on the Salvation Armys red apron, something changes inside me. Instead of feeling out of place economically, I begin to feel a genuine sense of belonging. As I ring my bell, people stop to share their personal stories of how much it meant to be helped when they were going through a rough time. People helping people is something I feel deeply connected to. While Im ringing the bell, complete strangers have brought me hot chocolate, leaving me with a lingering smile. Countless individuals have helped to keep me warm with the sentiments of the season: “Thank you for ringing on such a cold day.”“Can I get you a cup of coffee?” “Bless you for your good work.” December is the time of year I f