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Years ago when I first heard the term “empty nest”, it sounded like a pleasant position to be in.I had three toddlers1 and the thought of waking up in the morning fully rested, instead of having my eyes pried open by tiny fingers, was quite attractive.
I correctly assumed2 that in an empty nest, I could wear clothes without spit-up stains, finish sentences when speaking to my husband, and carry a purse without squeak toys, or pacifiers3, or cookie crumbs.
Oh, the beauty of dinnertime without spilled milk, a house without the background sounds of crying, walls without sticky fingerprints, and being able to sleep through an entire night.I could push a shopping cart that was filled with groceries instead of children!
However, when I reached that sought-after goal, it was rather a disappointment.Up close, the empty nest no longer looked quite as attractive.This was partly because the ensuing years had automatically solved many of the distasteful4 parts of motherhood.For some time, no one had been spitting up on me or crying to be fed in the middle of the night.Nobody needed to be bathed or dressed or have their shoes tied ten times a day.Just when the children became pleasant company, they moved out.Is there no justice?
I tried not to look into the three empty bedrooms as I passed by them.Even though the beds were all neatly made, the rooms lacked character.The one-eyed teddy bear was missing from his favorite spot on the floor.School books, papers, and cans of hair spray had all disappeared.The closet doors covered vacant areas that at one time had been stuffed beyond their limits.
When I finally crept out of my depression to take a peek around me, I noticed my dear husband, Jack, looking almost the same as when I had fallen wildly in love with him.Except for showing a bit of wear and tear, the years had been good to him.I fondly looked at the gray hairs at his temple5, knowing exactly where they had come from.I caught myself grinning when I realized that the creases on his face were smile lines, not worry wrinkles.
As I sat gazing at him, I realized my nest was not empty after all.It still held the one special person I had chosen to share my life with.In the quiet of the empty nest, it might be easier for us to find each other.As I looked at him I wondered if maybe, just maybe, we could rekindle the sparks we had originally ignited.And then, as if to answer my unspoken question, he looked up at me and winked.
数年前，当我第一次听到“空巢”这个词的时候，我觉得它听起来好像是一个快乐的地方。那时候，我有三个刚开始学走路的孩子，我认为早晨熟睡之后醒来比被孩子们的小手弄醒更有吸引力。
我合理地假想着自己在一个空巢中，能穿没有被吐上口水的衣服，能对丈夫说一句完整的话而不会被打断，能携带一个女式手提包，而包里不必装着吱吱作响的儿童玩具或哄婴儿用的橡皮奶嘴或饼干屑。
噢，一顿没有泼翻牛奶的美好的晚餐，一所没有哭声的房子，四面没有粘乎乎的小手印的墙壁，以及能够安静地睡上一整夜而不被吵醒。还有，我能够推一辆装满了食品和杂货而不是孩子的购物手推车！
可是，不知为什么，当我到达那个令人惬意的目标时，我却感到有点儿失望。靠近那个目标，空巢对我不再那么有吸引力了。部分是因为在随后的数年中，作为母亲所必须面临的一些令人不愉快的问题已经自然而然地解决掉了。很长时间以来，没有哪个孩子再朝我吐口水，或者半夜三更哭着要吃的。也没有哪个孩子需要我为他洗澡或者穿衣服或者一天为他系十次鞋带。就在孩子们成为令人愉快的陪伴者的时候，他们却都搬出去住了。这公平吗？
当我从那三间空卧室外走过的时候，我尽量不朝里面看。即便是那些床铺都被收拾得整整齐齐，房间里也没有人。那个独眼玩具熊不再出现在地板上它一向喜欢待的地方。课本、试卷和喷发定型剂也都不见了。那些一度被塞得满满的壁橱现在也都空空如也。
当我终于从沮丧失意中慢慢地挣扎出来，看一眼我周围的环境时，我注意到我那亲爱的丈夫杰克几乎仍然像我当初疯狂地爱上他的时候一样。除了稍稍有点儿显老以外，他几乎没有什么改变。我怜爱地看着他两鬓的灰白头发，知道它们因何而来。当我意识到他脸上的那些褶皱是笑纹而不是担忧的皱纹时，我也咧开嘴笑了。
当我坐在那儿凝视着他的时候，我意识到我的巢根本不空。它仍然拥有一个我选择来分享我的生活的特殊的人。在这个安静的空巢里，我们也许能更容易地找到对方。当我看着他的时候，我心想，也许，只是也许，我们是否还能够重新点燃我们初恋时的爱情火花。接着，好像是为解答我心里的疑问似的，他抬起头来看了看我，并且，眨了眨眼睛。
檀木柳摘译自Feeling
I correctly assumed2 that in an empty nest, I could wear clothes without spit-up stains, finish sentences when speaking to my husband, and carry a purse without squeak toys, or pacifiers3, or cookie crumbs.
Oh, the beauty of dinnertime without spilled milk, a house without the background sounds of crying, walls without sticky fingerprints, and being able to sleep through an entire night.I could push a shopping cart that was filled with groceries instead of children!
However, when I reached that sought-after goal, it was rather a disappointment.Up close, the empty nest no longer looked quite as attractive.This was partly because the ensuing years had automatically solved many of the distasteful4 parts of motherhood.For some time, no one had been spitting up on me or crying to be fed in the middle of the night.Nobody needed to be bathed or dressed or have their shoes tied ten times a day.Just when the children became pleasant company, they moved out.Is there no justice?
I tried not to look into the three empty bedrooms as I passed by them.Even though the beds were all neatly made, the rooms lacked character.The one-eyed teddy bear was missing from his favorite spot on the floor.School books, papers, and cans of hair spray had all disappeared.The closet doors covered vacant areas that at one time had been stuffed beyond their limits.
When I finally crept out of my depression to take a peek around me, I noticed my dear husband, Jack, looking almost the same as when I had fallen wildly in love with him.Except for showing a bit of wear and tear, the years had been good to him.I fondly looked at the gray hairs at his temple5, knowing exactly where they had come from.I caught myself grinning when I realized that the creases on his face were smile lines, not worry wrinkles.
As I sat gazing at him, I realized my nest was not empty after all.It still held the one special person I had chosen to share my life with.In the quiet of the empty nest, it might be easier for us to find each other.As I looked at him I wondered if maybe, just maybe, we could rekindle the sparks we had originally ignited.And then, as if to answer my unspoken question, he looked up at me and winked.
数年前，当我第一次听到“空巢”这个词的时候，我觉得它听起来好像是一个快乐的地方。那时候，我有三个刚开始学走路的孩子，我认为早晨熟睡之后醒来比被孩子们的小手弄醒更有吸引力。
我合理地假想着自己在一个空巢中，能穿没有被吐上口水的衣服，能对丈夫说一句完整的话而不会被打断，能携带一个女式手提包，而包里不必装着吱吱作响的儿童玩具或哄婴儿用的橡皮奶嘴或饼干屑。
噢，一顿没有泼翻牛奶的美好的晚餐，一所没有哭声的房子，四面没有粘乎乎的小手印的墙壁，以及能够安静地睡上一整夜而不被吵醒。还有，我能够推一辆装满了食品和杂货而不是孩子的购物手推车！
可是，不知为什么，当我到达那个令人惬意的目标时，我却感到有点儿失望。靠近那个目标，空巢对我不再那么有吸引力了。部分是因为在随后的数年中，作为母亲所必须面临的一些令人不愉快的问题已经自然而然地解决掉了。很长时间以来，没有哪个孩子再朝我吐口水，或者半夜三更哭着要吃的。也没有哪个孩子需要我为他洗澡或者穿衣服或者一天为他系十次鞋带。就在孩子们成为令人愉快的陪伴者的时候，他们却都搬出去住了。这公平吗？
当我从那三间空卧室外走过的时候，我尽量不朝里面看。即便是那些床铺都被收拾得整整齐齐，房间里也没有人。那个独眼玩具熊不再出现在地板上它一向喜欢待的地方。课本、试卷和喷发定型剂也都不见了。那些一度被塞得满满的壁橱现在也都空空如也。
当我终于从沮丧失意中慢慢地挣扎出来，看一眼我周围的环境时，我注意到我那亲爱的丈夫杰克几乎仍然像我当初疯狂地爱上他的时候一样。除了稍稍有点儿显老以外，他几乎没有什么改变。我怜爱地看着他两鬓的灰白头发，知道它们因何而来。当我意识到他脸上的那些褶皱是笑纹而不是担忧的皱纹时，我也咧开嘴笑了。
当我坐在那儿凝视着他的时候，我意识到我的巢根本不空。它仍然拥有一个我选择来分享我的生活的特殊的人。在这个安静的空巢里，我们也许能更容易地找到对方。当我看着他的时候，我心想，也许，只是也许，我们是否还能够重新点燃我们初恋时的爱情火花。接着，好像是为解答我心里的疑问似的，他抬起头来看了看我，并且，眨了眨眼睛。
檀木柳摘译自Feeling