By Melissa K.Beynon
本章内容导读
回首逝去的岁月，遗憾的泪水几乎要夺眶而出。
不，这不是遗憾的泪水。
对这个男孩儿，不，是对这个男人，我没有什么可遗憾的。他一直，也将永远会是我快乐的源泉。时间洗刷不掉那些悲伤与心酸，但是永远不会感到后悔。有孩子就会有伤心，就如同活着就会有伤心的时候一样。假如我的儿子已经心想事成，那么我也就无怨无悔了。
The hand that clasps mine is not that of the child I can still remember，but that of the man he has become.From that hand to his face to the smile he beams1 at me，he is his father in days gone by.We move across the floor gracefully as his young bride looks on.My new daughter.Oh，how the years have passed.It seems I don't even notice.One day，I held a squalling2 infant in my exhausted arms and counted tiny pink fingers and toes.The next，I'm no longer the most important woman in his life.
An effortless spin and he's taking me across the floor with a flare like his father's.I wonder if he's looking down on us at this moment as my son's eyes sparkle3 with his mischief.Suddenly，I'm bent backward and laughing like a girl half my age，my young rogue4 leaning over me and guests applauding.He kisses my cheek and spins me upright again.The regretful tears of the past has threaten my eyes.
No，they are not regretful tears.I have no regrets where this boy—this man—is concerned.He has been，and always will be，my pure joy.Time cannot wipe away the sadness and heartache，but there is never regret.Heartache comes with having children as it does with being alive.If my son is all he wants to be，I have no regrets.
As the music slows，his mood seems to waver5.Knowing that if I see any of what I'm feeling in his eyes I will surely cry，I move into his arms and rest my head on his strong shoulder.A hush has descended6 on the entire room；not even the babies are fussing7.The gentle piano guides us around the floor，passed faces that have always been near，and new ones destined for the same.Their smiles bring one to my face as I realize this is not a day for tears.The hand against my back gives me a squeeze.It is a most subtle gesture to let me know my new daughter's turn to care for him has come.
It is not a day for tears，but they threaten nonetheless8.I sigh and touch his smooth cheek，seeing the face of a baby，child，teen，and man.Is this day so difficult for all mothers？I can't help wondering.As the music switches with ease to the one he choses to dance to with his bride，I turn and find her shy face with my other hand.I can't speak to either，but I know that my heart is in my eyes as each receives my kiss.
Walking to the edge of the floor，I suddenly realize I do have one regret today.I regret that my husband is not here to hold my hand.
美丽莎·K·贝隆
他握着我的手，他已不再是我记忆中的那个孩子，如今他已长大成人了。随着时间的流逝，不论是他的手、他的脸、还是他冲着我微笑的样子，都越来越像他的父亲了。我们俩沿着地板优雅地翩翩起舞，而他年轻的新娘则站在旁边看着我们。我有了一个新的女儿。哦，日子过得可真快，不知不觉已过去了好多年。那天，我还疲惫不堪地怀抱着一个哇哇啼哭的婴儿，数着他粉嫩的小手指和小脚趾。可是如今，我却已不再是他生命中最重要的女人了。
就像他父亲当年一样，时而一个轻盈的旋转，接着他带我疯也似的大步舞动起来。此时此刻，我儿子的眼睛里闪动着当年他父亲的那份顽皮，我不知道他父亲是否正在看着我们。突然，他揽住我的腰，让我仰面向下折弯，我笑了起来，就像一个小我一半岁数的女孩儿笑的那样爽朗。我的小调皮鬼顺势俯身贴近我，宾客们都鼓起掌来。他在我的面颊上吻了一下，然后又扶我起身。回首逝去的岁月，遗憾的泪水几乎要夺眶而出。
不，这不是遗憾的泪水。对这个男孩儿，不，是对这个男人，我没有什么可遗憾的。他一直，也将永远会是我快乐的源泉。时间洗刷不掉那些悲伤与心酸，但是永远不会感到后悔。有孩子就会有伤心，就如同活着就会有伤心的时候一样。假如我的儿子已经心想事成，那么我也就无怨无悔了。
舞曲放慢了节奏，儿子的情绪似乎也开始发生了变化。假若从他的眼神中我能看出他理解了我此时心中的感受的话，我肯定会哭出声来的。一想到这里，我情不自禁地投入他的怀抱，把头靠在他宽厚的肩膀上。整个房间这时一片安静，就连婴儿也不再哭闹了。轻柔的钢琴曲带着我们在地板上旋转。经过一张张熟悉的面孔，又经过一张张陌生的面孔。他们的微笑也让我笑了起来，我同时意识到今天不是哭泣的日子。儿子的手在我的后腰上推了一下，这一微妙的动作让我知道，该轮到我的新女儿来照顾他了。
今天这个日子不该哭泣，可是我的眼泪却差点儿要落下来。我轻叹了一声，用手抚摸着他光滑的脸颊，我看到了那张脸由婴儿，到儿童，再到少年，最后到成人的变化。对所有的母亲来讲，这一天是否都是难过的一天？我不禁这样想到。当音乐慢慢地过渡到儿子特意挑选的要与新娘共舞时的舞曲，我转过了身，用另一只手抚摸她那羞涩的脸。我对他们俩什么也没说，但是我知道，当我亲吻他们时，他们能从我的眼神中读出我内心的想法。
在走向舞池的尽头时，我猛然意识到，我今天的确有件遗憾的事——我的丈夫没能在我身边紧握着我的手。
生词空间 New Words
1.beam v.微笑，眉开眼笑
2.squall v.啼哭，嚎哭（尤指婴儿）
3.sparkle v.用眼神表达
4.rogue n.淘气孩子，小淘气
5.waver v.摇摆不定
6.descend v.下来，降临
7.fuss v.忙乱
8.nonetheless adv.尽管如此，依然，然而（=nevertheless）
妙语连珠：Beautiful Sentences
1）From that hand to his face to the smile he beams at me，he is his father in days gone by.
随着时间的流逝，不论是他的手、他的脸、还是他冲着我微笑的样子，都越来越像他的父亲了。
2）The regretful tears of the past has threaten my eyes.
回首逝去的岁月，遗憾的泪水几乎要夺眶而出。
心灵感悟：
从妈妈臂弯里的婴儿长成朝气蓬勃的少年，到最后步入结婚的殿堂，可不管他（她）长得多大，走得多远，在妈妈的眼里，永远都是她长不大的孩子，永远都是妈妈幸福快乐的源泉。
