365个英语简短小故事-84. Death Is Part of Life

"Happy birthday! This is your dad calling," Dad said. Dad always identified himself, as if after 60 years Joel didn't recognize his own dad's voice. "Well, you're getting pretty old, aren't you?" Dad asked.

"I sure am," Joel said. "In fact, I'm the same age you were 20 years ago!"

"Yes, who'd ever think that they wished they were 60 again," said his dad. "This aging process is certainly no fun."

"You can say that again," Joel said. But as they say, it's a lot better than the alternative¹. As long as you're reasonably healthy in mind and body. They both agreed.

His dad and mom were still quite active. They lived together in their house. They both drove². They both played golf regularly³ and were active volunteers in the community.

But, such independence would not last forever. Both of them would eventually need part-time or full-time⁴ nursing⁵ assistance⁶ at home, or maybe even have to be moved into a nursing home.

What a quiet end that will be, Joel thought, to such fun, productive⁷, and eventful lives. Lying in a bed in a nursing home, waiting for relatives and friends to come visit. Waiting for the nurse’s aide to bring medication, dinner, or an extra blanket. Waiting for help to use the bathroom.

Much of that time spent waiting would also be spent in thought. What do people think about when they know their time is almost up, Joel wondered.

 

1 alternative   

n.两者挑一的，可供选择的；adj.选择性的，二中择一的

参考例句：

• There was no alternative for them to vote in favor.他们别无选择，只有投票赞成。
• She had no alternative but to ask for a few days'leave.实在不得已，她只好请几天假。

2 drove   

vbl.驾驶，drive的过去式；n.畜群

参考例句：

• He drove at a speed of sixty miles per hour.他以每小时60英里的速度开车。
• They drove foreign goods out of the market.他们把外国货驱逐出市场。

3 regularly   

adv.有规则地，一丝不苟地，正式地

参考例句：

• Check the engine oil level regularly.要时常检查机油量。
• We meet regularly to discuss business.我们定期会面讨论事务。

4 full-time   

adj.满工作日的或工作周的，全时间的

参考例句：

• A full-time job may be too much for her.全天工作她恐怕吃不消。
• I don't know how she copes with looking after her family and doing a full-time job.既要照顾家庭又要全天工作，我不知道她是如何对付的。

5 nursing   

n.看护，养育，授乳

参考例句：

• She takes up nursing as a career.她以看护为职业。
• They trained her for nursing.他们培训她做护理工作。

6 assistance   

n.援助，帮助

参考例句：

• She called and called but no one came to her assistance.她叫了又叫，但没有人来帮。
• He will get the great possible assistance.他将获得尽可能大的帮助。

7 productive   

adj.能生产的，有生产价值的，多产的

参考例句：

• We had a productive meeting that solved some problems.我们开了一个富有成效的会议，解决了一些问题。
• Science and technology are part of the productive forces.科学技术是生产力。