精美英文欣赏:与老朋友们保持联系

Staying in touch with old friends

与老朋友们保持联系

I recently met an old friend I hadn’t seen in ages.

我最近见了一位许久没见面的老朋友。

He said that he had been busy and also didn’t really know to contact me.

他说自己过去一直很忙,也真的不知道与我联系。

I told him the same.

我告诉我也是一样。

The truth is, we have a few mutual¹ friends, if we had really wanted to contact each other, we could have.

事实是,我们有一些共同的朋友,如果我们真的想联系对方,我们可以马上联系得到。

But with busy schedules, and family life--and all sorts of things going on --well, I guess we just lost touch.

但是繁忙的日程安排和家庭生活——及各种各样的事情——嗯,我想我们就失去联系了。

So, I got to thinking about the people I am in touch with now and those I’d like to contact.

所以,我开始思考我现在联系到的人及我想联系的人。

I have a lot of friends and acquaintances²,

我有很多朋友和老相识,

I used to have many more. Somewhere along the line,

我以前有更多。但事与愿违,

we just lost contact with each other.

我们刚刚失去了联系。

I’d like to contact some of my friends from high school.

我想联系一些高中的朋友。

I’d like to say hello to some of the people I used to know in New York and California,

我想和一些自己曾经在纽约和加利福尼亚州认识的人打个招呼,

I know I could do it.

我知道我能做到。

It wouldn’t require me to bend over backwards³,

它不会让我使出浑身解数,

but I am not sure if I should.

但是我不确定自己是否应该这样做。

I mean, I have my hands full right now with family and work.

我的意思是,现在的工作和家庭已经让我分身乏术。

Plus, I have people that I am in contact with now,

另外,我现在也和一些人保持着联系,

and I fell kind of guilty that I am not able to spend more time with them.

有种罪恶感蒙上我的心头,我不可以在他们身上再花更多的时间。

Who needs more guilt⁴? Not me!

谁需要更多的罪恶?不是我!

1 mutual   

adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的

参考例句：

• We must pull together for mutual interest.我们必须为相互的利益而通力合作。
• Mutual interests tied us together.相互的利害关系把我们联系在一起。

2 acquaintances   

n.相识的人( acquaintance的名词复数 )；熟人；对…有了解；（与某人）认识

参考例句：

• Claire has a wide circle of friends and acquaintances . 克莱尔交游很广。
• We are the casual acquaintances of a long railway journey. 我们是在火车长途旅行中相识的朋友。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

3 backwards   

adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地

参考例句：

• He turned on the light and began to pace backwards and forwards.他打开电灯并开始走来走去。
• All the girls fell over backwards to get the party ready.姑娘们迫不及待地为聚会做准备。

4 guilt   

n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责

参考例句：

• She tried to cover up her guilt by lying.她企图用谎言掩饰自己的罪行。
• Don't lay a guilt trip on your child about schoolwork.别因为功课责备孩子而使他觉得很内疚。