ts； unselfishness； physical attraction； munication。 Yet there’s more。 We still have fun。 Spontaneous2 good times。 Yesterday； after slipping the rubber band off the rolled up newspaper； Scott flipped it playfully at me： this led to an all…out war。 Last Saturday at the grocery； we split the list and raced each other to see who could make it to the checkout first。 Even washing dishes can be a blast。 We enjoy simply being together。
And there are surprises。 One time I came home to find a note on the front door that led me to another note； then another； until I reached the walk…in closet。 I opened the door to find Scott holding a “pot of gold” （my cooking kettle） and the “treasure” of a gift package。 Sometimes I leave him notes on the mirror and little presents under his pillow。
There is understanding。 I understand why he must play basketball with the guys。 And he understands why； once a year； I must get away from the house； the kids—and even him—to meet my sisters for a few days of nonstop talking and laughing。
There is sharing。 Not only do we share household worries and parental burdens—we also share ideas。 Scott came home from a convention last month and presented me with a thick historical novel。 Though he prefers thrillers and science fiction3； he had read the novel on the plane。 He touched my heart when he explained it was because he wanted to be able to exchange ideas about the book after I’d read it。
天底下最真挚的爱情（3）
There is forgiveness。 When I’m embarrassingly loud and crazy at parties； Scott forgives me。 When he confessed losing some of our savings in the stock market； I gave him a hug and said； “It’s okay。 It’s only money。”
There is sensitivity。 Last week he walked through the door with that look that tells me it’s been a tough day。 After he spent some time with the kids； I asked him what happened。 He told me about a 60…year…old woman who’d had a stroke。 He wept as he recalled the woman’s husband standing beside her bed； caressing her hand。 How was he going to tell this husband of 40 years that his wife would probably never recover？ I shed a few tears myself。 Because of the medical crisis。 Because there were still people who have been married 40 years。 Because my husband is still moved and concerned after years of hospital rooms and dying patients。
There is faith。 Last Tuesday a friend came over and confessed her fear that her husband is losing his courageous battle with cancer。 On Wednesday I went to lunch with a friend who is struggling to reshape her life after divorce。 On Thursday a neighbor called to talk about the frightening effects of Alzheimer’s disease on her father…in…law’s personality。 On Friday a childhood friend called long…distance to tell me her father had died。 I hung up the phone and thought： this is too much heartache for one week。 Through my tears； as I went out to run some errands； I noticed the boisterous4 orange blossoms of the gladiolus5 outside my window。 I heard the delighted laughter of my son and his friend as they played。 I caught sight of a wedding party emerging from a neighbor’s house。 The bride； dressed in satin and lace； tossed her bouquet to her cheering friends。 That night； I told my husband about these events。 We helped each other acknowledge the cycles of life and that the joys counter the sorrows。 It was enough to keep us going。
Finally； there is knowing。 I know Scott will throw his laundry just shy of the hamper6 every night； he’ll be late to most appointments and eat the last chocolate in the box。 He knows that I sleep with a pillow over my head； I’ll lock us out of the house at a regular basis； and I will also eat the last chocolate。
I guess our love lasts because it is fortable。 No； the sky is not bluer： it’s just a familiar hue。 We don’t feel particularly young： we’ve experienced too much that has contributed to our growth and wisdom； taking its toll on our bodies； and created our memories。
I hope we’ve got what it takes to make our love last。 As a bride； I had Scott’s wedding band engraved with Robert Browning’s line “Grow old along with me！” We’re following those instructions。
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干不完的家务活（1）
佚名
11月，一个雨天的早上，我已经对周围的一切感到极度厌烦，如果不马上离开家的话，我会对丈夫艾？克发火的。
“我送你去上班吧。”艾？克说。我猛地穿上夹克，抓起包和教案说：“我已经在这条路上开了很多年了，现在也可以。”
“我说过要送你去上班。”他说着，伸手去够他的靴子。
我看着桌上成堆的报纸和脏盘子，说道：“你闲着没事吗？我能照顾我自己。”说完就仰起头走了，连一个吻和再见都没有。
“唐娜，不要抄近道啊！”他在我身后喊道。
春天时，心脏病迫使丈夫离开了工作岗位。在一所中学教高中的我从教已有22年了，而艾？克则待在家里做家务。
新的生活安排简直是场天灾。每天没完没了地开会和上课使我筋疲力尽，我只想回家吃顿热乎乎的家常饭、睡个舒适觉。
然而，桌上摆的总是用微波炉热好的速食品。
一天晚上，我惊奇地发现艾？克把洁白的床单染成了粗布般的蓝色。
“我发现怎样省水、肥皂和电了。”艾？克成功地宣布，“就是把所有的东西放在一起洗。”
在接下来的几个月里，不知道为什么，他做的饭越来越难吃了。我很想说，至少我做的饭还能营养均衡呢！但我想起有一次做甜菜，他称赞我做的好，后来才发现，他最讨厌吃甜菜了，于是就没有说他什么。
之后，有些事更糟糕。这个雨天的早上，我发现一件染成蓝色的裙子被塞在抽屉里时，我咬着牙，我受不了啦！
上帝啊，在照顾人的基本常识方面，你就不能帮帮他吗？我气冲冲地出了门。
我没有理睬艾？克的劝告，十分钟后，在这个坏天气里，我抄了近道。
不料，拐弯时，污水一下子涌进了我要穿过的小道。我想水应该不会很深。但没走多远，车子就抛锚了。大概20分钟过去了，车子开始摇晃，污水也开始湍急起来。上帝，救救我啊！
突然，三声长长的鸣笛声打断了我的祈祷。我扭头一看，是艾？克！
“唐娜！我扔给你一条绳子，”他喊着，“抓住它，向我这边走。”
我打开车门，抓住绳子。在激流的水中，我滑倒了。“我过不去！”我喊道，并使劲拽着绳子。
“能，你能的。”他的声音很平静。
如果那不是艾？克，而是其他任何一个人，我想我是不会成功的。但我信任我的丈夫。我完全按他的指挥做，最终扑到他的怀里。“谢谢，”我说，然后靠在他的胸膛哭了，“我很抱歉，刚才跟你发脾气，那是……”
“嘘……”艾？克低声说，“现在好了，你没事就好。”
上帝提醒了我，艾？克完全懂得怎样照顾人。
■ 心灵小语
现代人，总是不满于繁杂的家庭琐事，不甘于平淡的生活，挣扎着想要逃。可是尝试了“刺激”的生活，才发现，平平淡淡才是真。身边最熟悉的普通人才是自己最该珍惜的。无疑，文中的主人公是幸运的，因为当她埋怨放弃后，还可以选择回去。只是在这个世界上，并不是每个人都有重新选择的机会。朋友，珍惜现在，感恩现在吧！
Homemaking
Anonymous
One rainy November morning I had about all I could take。 I knew if I didn’t leave the house soon I would unleash1 a storm of anger on my husband；
“I’m taking you to work。” ； and then grabbed my satchel2 and lesson plans。 “I’ve been driving that route for many years。 I can drive it now。”
“I said I’m taking you to work。” He reached for his boots。
I looked at the stacks of newspaper； the dirty dishes still on the table。 “Don’t you have enough to do？ I can take care of myself。” l shouted out； not even kissing him good…bye。 。。
干不完的家务活（2）
“Don’t take the shortcut； Donna！” He shouted after me。
A heart attack that pa