生命是最令人留恋的，同样，热爱生命的人是最值得纪念的。杰夫和詹森父子俩的感情令人感动，而詹森的生命活力也令人赞叹……
Thecolorfulfallingleavesrustle(发出沙沙声)throughthetreesonthisbriskOctobermorningin1990.JasonandhissisterJoannagetintothecaranddrivetoschool.Jasonisdrivingthismorning.Hehasjustreceivedhispermitandisveryanxioustostartdrivingonhisown.HissisterJoannaisoneyearolderthanhimandisshowinghimthespecificpointsofdriving,asifinaworkshop.Today,shedecidesthatheshoulddrivetoschool.HetakesthewheelandproceedsslowlydownthebackroadstoHillHighSchool.Thesearebackcountry(边远地区)roadsandthetwistscauseJasontodriveslowlyandcautiously(慎重地).Hetakeseachturnwithabitofbravado(虚张声势)andhissisterteaseshimthatheisbecominga“coward”andtellshimtospeedupabit.Theywillbelateforschoolifhedoesn’tsteponit!Hepressesthegaspedaldownandacceleratesbutfindsitdifficulttotamethesteeringwheelofthemobilelocomotive.Hissistertellshimtowatchtheroadattentively,butheturnstotellherawitty(机智的)remakeanddoesn’tseetheembankment(路基)aheadofhim.Justasecondofdistraction(分心)rotatingthewheel,hesendingthecardowntotheembankment,andthecarroilsoverandoverandhitsatree.Jason’sheadhitsthewindshieldandheistrappedbetweenthatandthesteeringwheel.Hecan’tbreatheandislosingconsciousness(意识).Joannatriesdesperatelytofreehim,butisunable(不能的)to.Shedoestheonlythingpossible—thatistoescapeoutoftheopenwindowandfindhelp…fast!
AmbulancesarriveinafewminutesbutJasonisunconscious.Theyhavetoextricate(救出)himwiththe“JawsofLife”(救生颚(商标名)).Heistakentothehospitalandforthreedaysheliesbetweenlifeanddeath.Heisbreathingonlywiththeassistanceofarespirator(呼吸器).Thathaslimitedhisbrainactivity.ThedoctorstakeJeffasideandnotifyhimthatJasonhasextensivebraindamageandthatthereisnorealhopethatJasonwouldbenormalagain.JeffmustmakeadecisionwhethertoturnofftherespiratorandletJasondieinpeace.Hethinksthatit’sthebestdecisionbutitisalsothemostpainfulonehehasevermadeinhislife.
JasonandJeffsharedadurablebond.Theydideverythingtogetherfromthetimehewasborn.Whentheyhadafreemoment,theywouldbegolfing,skiing,playingbadminton.Theyformedabondoflovethatremainsevenbeyondtheboundariesoflifeanddeath.Itisanextraordinaryrelationshipbetweenfatherandson.
JasonlivedonlysixteenyearsbuthedidsomuchinhisshorttimeonEarth.Hewasveryacademic,amusician,anathlete,agolffanatic,likedarcheology(考古学)andwasaloveroflife.Hehadmany,manyfriendsandthirstedforliving,whichwasquiteunlikeanyoneIhadwitnessed.Hehadthekindofboyishcharmandhelituparoomwhenheenteredit.Hehadabeautiful:smileandkindwordsforeveryone.Ihaveneverseenhimgetangrybuthewasalwayscheerfulandintelligent.IwasJason’sgodmother(教母)andwhenhewasbaptized(受洗礼)in1974,hehadthecoolestpriest.Thepriesthadlonghairandsandals.IstillsmilewhenIthinkaboutthatpriest.JasoncriedwhenIheldhimfortheblessing(祈祷)ofthewaterbutnotforverylong.Theceremonyonlytookafewmoments,butlookingdownatJason,Iknewthen,thatthiswasindeedaspecialchild.Itturnedoutmyimpressionswerecorrect.
Jeffwasanenthusiastic,devotedandasuperbfathertoJasonandJoanna.Hemadesurethathespentalotoftimewithhischildren.Timeseemedtobeoftheutmostimportancetohimaswellashavingfun.Healwaysenjoyedlifeandwasabitofarisktaker.GolfwasapastimethatJasonandJeffshared.Itwasalmostreligions.Theywouldevenattempttogolfwhentherewasaccumulationofsnowonthegolfcourse.Jasonwouldjustputhisglovesonandlaugh.“Imustgolf!”hewouldsay,“Iloveit!”
Oneyearearlier,Jasonwaspursuinganotherkindofsports:Skiing.Helikedtheskiingattitude.AfewofhisfriendsdroveuptoSugarloafMountainandskiedforthewholeday.Youknow,Sugarloafhasawonderfulmountainslopeforskiing.Jasonspentthedaybackandforthalongthemountainskiingtrailsformanyruns.Oncesunsetwasilluminatingthesnowandtherewasagroupoftreesahead.Thesunblindedhimforasecondandhetriedtoavoidthetreesbutraninto.Theskipoleplungedrightintohisheadandfracturedhisskull.TherewasagushofbloodonhisheadbutJasondidhisbesttoslidedownthemountain.Hedrovehimselftotheemergencyroom,wherethedoctorsscratchtheirheadswonderinghowhewasinjured.Buthewasluckytobealive.Afewdayslater,Jasonwasbackontheskislopeslikenothinghappenedatall.Hewasjustthatkindofyoungman.Heovercamethemisfortuneandlivedforexactlyoneextrayear.JefftoldthisstoryatJason’sfuneral.HiseyesfilledupwithtearsofloveeverytimehementionedJason’sname.
Jason’sbedroomisatestimonytohispersonalityandhislife.Hehasacollectionofmodelairplanes.OnthepianothereisstillthemusicofthesongthatwasJason’sfavoriteofhistime,“Chariots(战车)ofFire”.Jasonwasaveryoutgoing(对人友好的)youngman.Hewasanaccomplishedstudentandasportsman.Jasonhadlotsofmeritsandhadmany,manyfriendswholovedhim.IlovedJasonverymuch.JeffandJasonshareabondofaffectionthatdefiesdeath.
Today,Jeff’shomeisopentoanyonewhohasathirstforliving.Helovestohavefun.Heisn’ttheonetositstillandletlifepasshimby.Hewantstohelpyoungpeopledeveloptheirpotentials.Heisamemberofamutualaidassociation.HesetupacollegefundforthestudyofmusicanditwouldbeavailabletoanyeligiblestudentwhosharesJason’sphilosophyofbeingoutgoingandhardworking.ItiscalledtheJasonMusicScholarshipFund.ItishiswayofcarryingonJason’smusicaldreams.NowJasonrestsbyabeautifulriverinabedofroses.Jeffvisitshimeveryweek,alongwithhiswife.
注释:
brisk
specific
workshop
proceed
twist
tease
coward
gasgas
pedal
accelerate
tame
steer
mobilemotor
locomotivemotor
attentively
witty
remarkmark
rotate
shield
desperately
unable
escape
ambulance
unconscious
jaw
assistance
limitlimit
activity
aside
notify
extensive
painfulpain
durableduring
golf
ski
badminton
remain
boundary
extraordinary
relationship
academic
musicianmusic
athlete
fanatic(al)
lover
thirst
unlike
witness
kind
intelligentelect
priest
blessing
ceremony
impressionpress
enthusiastic
devotedevote
superb
utmost
risk
pastimepass
religious
attempttempt
accumulation
glove
attitude
slope
forth
trail
illuminate
avoidavoid
plunge
fracturefragment
skull
emergencyroom
scratch
injure
overcome
misfortune
funeral
testimony
personality
collection
accomplish
sportsmanman
defy
potential
membermember
mutualmutual
aid
associationsociety
fund
available
eligibleelect
philosophy
scholarship