一生中最美好的时光

佚名等

It was June 15， and in two days I would be turning thirty. I was insecure about entering a new decade of my life and feared that my best years were now behind me.

My daily routine included going to the gym for a workout before going to work. Every morning I would see my friend Nicholas at the gym. He was seventy-nine years old and in terrific shape. As I greeted Nicholas on this particular day， he noticed I wasnt full of my usual vitality and asked if there was anything wrong. I told him I was feeling anxious about turning thirty. I wondered how I would look back on my life once I reached his age， so I asked him， “What was the best time of your life？”

Without hesitation， Nicholas replied， “Well， Joe， this is my philosophical answer to your philosophical question.

“When I was a child in Austria and everything was taken care of for me and I was nurtured by my parents， that was the best time of my life.

“When I was going to school and learning the things I know today， that was the best time of my life.

“When I got my first job and had responsibilities and got paid for my efforts， that was the best time of my life.

“When I met my wife and fell in love， that was the best time of my life.

“The Second World War came， and my wife and I had to flee Austria to save our lives. When we were together and safe on a ship bound for North America， that was the best time of my life.

“When we came to Canada and started a family， that was the best time of my life.

“When I was a young father， watching my children grow up， that was the best time of my life.

“And now， Joe， I am seventy-nine years old. I have my health， I feel good and I am in love with my wife just as I was when we first met. This is the best time of my life.”

那天是6月15日，再过两天我就要30岁了。要进入生命中又一个新的十年，我对此感到忐忑不安，担心自己最美好的岁月已经离我远去了。

我每天上班前都去体育馆锻炼一阵。每天早上我都会在体育馆见到我的朋友尼古拉斯。他79岁，身材棒极了。那天我跟他打招呼时，他注意到我不像往常那样充满活力，便问我出了什么事。我告诉他自己就要30岁了，心里很担忧。我不知道自己要是到了他的岁数会怎么回顾自己的一生，于是我问他：“你一生中最美好的时光是在什么时候？”

尼古拉斯毫不迟疑地答道：“好吧，乔，以下就是我对于你那富有哲理的问题所给出的富有哲理的回答。

“小时候我在奥地利，一切都被照顾得好好的，我在父母的抚育下成长，那是我一生中最美好的时光。

“上学的时候我学着至今都牢记的知识，那是我一生中最美好的时光。

“当我找到第一份工作，承担了工作中的职责并且因自己的努力获得报酬时，那是我一生中最美好的时光。

“当我遇到我的妻子并坠入爱河时，那是我一生中最美好的时光。

“二战来临，妻子和我为活命不得不逃离奥地利。当我们一起安安全全地坐上驶往北美洲的轮船时，那是我一生中最美好的时光。

“当我们来到加拿大建立了家庭时，那是我一生中最美好的时光。

“当我成了一位年轻的父亲，看着自己的孩子一点点长大时，那是我一生中最美好的时光。

“而现在，乔，我79岁了。我身体健康，感觉很好，而且还和初次相遇时一样爱着我的妻子。这是我一生中最美好的时光。”endprint