Anonymous
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我有一个不间断的研究项目。当然，我的工作是人类要求最高的工作之一，我通常一天工作14小时。但是这项工作比大多数普通工作都具有挑战性，而通常它带来的回报不是金钱，更多的是满足感。
A woman named Emily renewing her driver's license at the County Clerk's office was asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation.She hesitated，uncertain how to classify herself.
'What I mean is，'explained the recorder，'Do you have a job，or are you just a ……'
'Of course I have a job，'snapped1 Emily.'I'm a mother.'
'We don't list'mother'as an occupation ……'Housewife' covers it.'said the recorder emphatically2.
I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in the same situation，this time at our own Town Hall.The Clerk was obviously a career woman，poised3，efficient4，and possessed of a high sounding title like，'Official Interrogator'or'Town Registrar.''What is your occupation？'she probed5.
What made me say it，I did not know …… The words simply popped out.'I'm a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations.'
The clerk paused，ballpoint pen frozen in midair，and looked up as though she had not heard right.
I repeated the title slowly，emphasizing the most significant words.Then I stared with wonder as my pronouncement was written in bold，black ink on the official questionnaire.
Coolly，without any trace of fluster6 in my voice，I heard myself reply，'I have a continuing program of research（what mother doesn't？），in the laboratory and in the field（normally I would have said indoors and out）.I'm working for my Masters（the whole darned family），and already have four credits（all daughters）.Of course，the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities（any mother care to disagree？）and I often work 14 hours a day（24 is more like it）.But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill7 careers and the rewards are more of a satisfaction rather than just money.'
'May I ask，'said the clerk with new interest，'just what you do in your field？'
There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as she completed the form，stood up，and personally ushered me to the door.
As I drove into our driveway，buoyed up by my glamorous8 new career，I was greeted by my lab assistants—ages 13、7and 3.Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model，（a 6 month old baby），in the child-development program，testing out a new vocal pattern.
I felt triumphant！I had scored a beat on bureaucracy！And I had gone on the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than'just another mother.'
Motherhood …… What a glorious career！Especially when there's a title on the door.
一位名叫埃米莉的妇女在县办事处为其驾驶执照续期时，一名女记录员问到了她的职业。她犹豫了一下，不确定应该如何将自己归类。“我的意思是问你有没有工作，”那名记录员解释道，“还是说你只不过是一位……”
“我当然有工作了，”埃米莉马上回答说，“我是一位母亲。”
“我们这里不把‘母亲’单独列为一个职业……说‘家庭主妇’就可以了。”那名记录员断然回答。
这个故事听过之后，我就给忘了。直到有一天在市政厅，我也遇到了同样的情况。显然，那名办事员是位职业女性，既自信又有能力，并有着一个类似“官方讯问员”或“镇登记员”之类很堂皇的头衔。“你的职业？”她问我。
至今我也不知道，当时到底是什么因素在作怪，我脱口而出：“我是儿童发育和人类关系研究员。”
那名办事员愣住了，拿着圆珠笔的手也僵在了半空中。她抬起头来看着我，好像没有听清楚我说什么似的。
我慢慢地又把我的职业重复了一遍，在说到重要的词时还加重了语气。然后，我惊奇地看着我的话被粗黑的笔记录在了官方的问卷上。
“我能不能问一下，”这名办事员饶有兴趣地问道，“你在这个领域具体做什么？”
我非常镇定地这样答道：“我有一个不间断的研究项目（哪位母亲不是这样的呢？），工作地点既有实验室又有现场（通常我会说是室内和户外）。我在为我的学位而努力奋斗（就是指我们一家人），而且已经修得了四个学分（全部都是女儿）。当然，我的工作是人类要求最高的工作之一（有哪位母亲会反对吗？）我通常一天工作14小时（24小时更准确些）。但是这项工作比大多数普通工作都具有挑战性，而通常它带来的回报不是金钱，更多的是满足感。”
那名办事员填完表格之后，站起来，亲自把我送到门口。在这一过程中，她说话的语气中流露出了一股敬意。
我回到家，将车停在家门前的车道时，仍为自己响亮的头衔而觉得飘飘然。我那三名年龄分别为13岁、7岁、3岁的实验室助手在门口迎接我，楼上又传来我们的新实验模特儿（六个月大的婴儿）的声音，她正放开嗓门，测试着新的声音模式。
我有种欢欣鼓舞的感觉。我竟然打败了官僚机构！如今，在官方的纪录表上，我成了人类超群出众又不可或缺的人物，而不仅仅是一位母亲。
母亲……这是一项多么荣耀的职业啊！尤其是现在它已经成为官方记录了。
生词与短语 New Words and Expressions
1.snap v.厉声说，没好气地说
2.emphatically adv.强调地；断然地
3.poised adj.沉着自信的
4.efficient adj.有能力的，效率高的
5.probe v.探索，调查
6.fluster adj.使惊慌失措
7.run-of-the-mill一般质量
8.glamorous adj.迷人的
妙语连珠：Beautiful Sentences
1）The words simply popped out.
我脱口而出。
2）The clerk paused，ballpoint pen frozen in midair.
那名办事员愣住了，拿着圆珠笔的手也僵在了半空中。
3）As I drove into our driveway，buoyed up by my glamorous new career.
我回到家，将车停在家门前的车道时，仍为自己响亮的头衔而觉得飘飘然。
心灵感悟：
It is at our mother's knee that we acquire our noblest truest and highest，
but there is seldom any money in them.
就是在我们母亲的膝上，我们获得了我们的最高尚、最真诚和最远大的理想，但里面很少有任何金钱。
