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翻译：小虎
Dear Daughter
What I definitely do not want for Thanksgiving this year:
A tie (I have plenty); a CD (I can listen to my new iPod you’re off the hook[脱离困境]!); a new car (well, okay, if you can somehow get me a Volvo). What I do want for Thanksgiving: for us to talk more openly, honestly, from the heart about what’s on our minds, what we’re happy about, what we’re sad about, what we want for ourselves, from the world, from each other. Less a litany[冗长而枯燥的故事] of events, appointments, and achievements more what’s really swirling[缠绕] up there.
It can be hard to talk to a 16-year-old are you mad, tired, hate me, in a mood? and it’s all the more complicated since Mom and I split up. Since you and I don’t see each other so often, I ask a lot of questions quickly. When do curiosity and concern become prying[窥探] and prattle[空谈]? So sometimes you’ll have to help me (occasionally it would be nice if you asked what’s going on with me too).
I know I have it easier than many dads, in that[因为] you are already so driven, so kind, so conscientious[尽责的] just so wonderful. And I know that there will be times when you’re reluctant[勉强的] to tell me something because you’re embarrassed, scared, confused, hurt. But that’s when you most have to trust me, and yourself, because that’s what people who love each other do they share the bad as well as the good. And that means we both have to let our guards down. Don’t be afraid to tell me what you’re going through. I might understand, I might not, but I promise I will listen suggest, not judge; consider, not scold[责骂]. Let’s make that a lifetime pledge[誓言]. Pinkie[小手指] shake on it. It will be a Thanksgiving gift we both can enjoy.
今年感恩节我肯定不想要的东西是：
一条领带（我有很多了）；一张CD（我可以听自己新买的iPod—你就不用愁了！）；一辆新车（呃，好吧，如果你有办法送我一辆富豪汽车我就收下）。感恩节我最想要的是我俩能多聊一点—要敞开心扉、开诚布公地聊天，把自己心底在想什么、我们为何开心、为何伤心、我们希望自己得到什么、能为世界或彼此做些什么都倾吐出来。不用诉说那么多冗长而枯燥的活动、约会以及成就，更重要是找出那些缠绕不解的问题症结所在。
与一名16岁的孩子谈话并非易事—你在生气吗？你疲倦吗？讨厌我吗？在闹情绪吗？—自从你妈妈跟我分开后，一切都变得更加复杂棘手。因为你我不常见面，我很容易会提出许多问题。从什么时候开始，好奇与关心变成了打探与套话呢？因此有时候你要帮帮我（如果你偶尔也问候一下我，那就更好了。）
我知道自己比许多父亲更幸福，因为你已变得那么有使命感、那么亲切、那么尽责—一切都那么好。我知道有些时候你会不太愿意告诉我某些事情，因为你觉得尴尬、害怕、困惑或受伤了。可是那才是你最需要信任我和你自己的时候，因为那正是相互深爱对方的人才会做的事情—他们分享好与坏、喜与悲。也就是说我们要放下彼此的戒心。不要害怕告诉我你正经历着的事情。我或许明白，或许不明白，但我保证我会聆听—我会给你建议而不会评论你；我会思考而不会斥责你。让我们以此作为一生的誓言。勾勾小手指，一言为定。这将会是我俩都会喜欢的感恩节礼物。
爱你的，
爸爸
Dear Daughter
What I definitely do not want for Thanksgiving this year:
A tie (I have plenty); a CD (I can listen to my new iPod you’re off the hook[脱离困境]!); a new car (well, okay, if you can somehow get me a Volvo). What I do want for Thanksgiving: for us to talk more openly, honestly, from the heart about what’s on our minds, what we’re happy about, what we’re sad about, what we want for ourselves, from the world, from each other. Less a litany[冗长而枯燥的故事] of events, appointments, and achievements more what’s really swirling[缠绕] up there.
It can be hard to talk to a 16-year-old are you mad, tired, hate me, in a mood? and it’s all the more complicated since Mom and I split up. Since you and I don’t see each other so often, I ask a lot of questions quickly. When do curiosity and concern become prying[窥探] and prattle[空谈]? So sometimes you’ll have to help me (occasionally it would be nice if you asked what’s going on with me too).
I know I have it easier than many dads, in that[因为] you are already so driven, so kind, so conscientious[尽责的] just so wonderful. And I know that there will be times when you’re reluctant[勉强的] to tell me something because you’re embarrassed, scared, confused, hurt. But that’s when you most have to trust me, and yourself, because that’s what people who love each other do they share the bad as well as the good. And that means we both have to let our guards down. Don’t be afraid to tell me what you’re going through. I might understand, I might not, but I promise I will listen suggest, not judge; consider, not scold[责骂]. Let’s make that a lifetime pledge[誓言]. Pinkie[小手指] shake on it. It will be a Thanksgiving gift we both can enjoy.
今年感恩节我肯定不想要的东西是：
一条领带（我有很多了）；一张CD（我可以听自己新买的iPod—你就不用愁了！）；一辆新车（呃，好吧，如果你有办法送我一辆富豪汽车我就收下）。感恩节我最想要的是我俩能多聊一点—要敞开心扉、开诚布公地聊天，把自己心底在想什么、我们为何开心、为何伤心、我们希望自己得到什么、能为世界或彼此做些什么都倾吐出来。不用诉说那么多冗长而枯燥的活动、约会以及成就，更重要是找出那些缠绕不解的问题症结所在。
与一名16岁的孩子谈话并非易事—你在生气吗？你疲倦吗？讨厌我吗？在闹情绪吗？—自从你妈妈跟我分开后，一切都变得更加复杂棘手。因为你我不常见面，我很容易会提出许多问题。从什么时候开始，好奇与关心变成了打探与套话呢？因此有时候你要帮帮我（如果你偶尔也问候一下我，那就更好了。）
我知道自己比许多父亲更幸福，因为你已变得那么有使命感、那么亲切、那么尽责—一切都那么好。我知道有些时候你会不太愿意告诉我某些事情，因为你觉得尴尬、害怕、困惑或受伤了。可是那才是你最需要信任我和你自己的时候，因为那正是相互深爱对方的人才会做的事情—他们分享好与坏、喜与悲。也就是说我们要放下彼此的戒心。不要害怕告诉我你正经历着的事情。我或许明白，或许不明白，但我保证我会聆听—我会给你建议而不会评论你；我会思考而不会斥责你。让我们以此作为一生的誓言。勾勾小手指，一言为定。这将会是我俩都会喜欢的感恩节礼物。
爱你的，
爸爸