英语美文:所有的路，最终都是回家的路

 　　When I was a boy there were no smart phones, computers were something you saw on STAR TREK¹, and our television only got one channel clearly. Still, I was never bored. The fields, hills, and woodlands around my home were the perfect playground whose adventures were only limited by my imagination.

　　当我还是个小男孩的时候，没有智能电话、电脑，也没有什么东西能够播放“星球大战”，电视只有一个频道是清楚的。即使这样，我也不觉得无聊。家附近的田野、山坡、林地都是极佳的玩耍场所，只有想不到，没有玩不到的冒险。

　　I can remember once hiking to a nearby lake and slowly walking around it. At the backside of it I was amazed² to find an old, one lane³, dirt road that I had never seen before. I immediately set out to travel it. It was full of potholes⁴ and muddy tire tracks and deep woods bordered it on both sides, but exploring it still seemed like a fine adventure.

　　我还记得有次徒步去附近的一个湖，我沿着湖边慢慢地走着，在湖的后部沿岸，我惊奇的发现之前没有的一条上了些年头的草坪泥泞路。我当即就决定去走走。这条路上遍布凹坑以及泥巴上的轮胎印，在路的两边类似分界线般的扎根的植物，这不失为一个冒险的好场所。

　　I walked on and on for what seemed like hours. I am sure my guardian⁵ angel was whispering in my ear to turn around and head back home but I was stubborn⁶ and even a bit stupid, so I walked on.

　　我走啊走，可能有好几个小时，守护我安全的小天使在我耳边低语，让我掉头回家，但我执拗，甚至显得有些愚蠢，依然执意往前走。

　　The dirt road gave way to a gravel⁷ one and then a paved⁸ one, yet there was still neither a car nor a house in sight. My legs were getting tired. I noticed that the sun was starting to go down and I grew scared. I didn’t want to end up trapped on this road in the dark of night, but I was sure it would be dark before I could make my way back to the lake again.

　　泥泞的路走着走着，渐渐变成了砂石路，又慢慢变成了平路，但是目力所及之处未见车和房子。我走得双腿疲累，太阳开始下山了，我开始害怕起来，我不想等天黑以后困在这条路上，但是如果现在往回，天黑前也回不到湖边。

　　I continued to walk on with the fear growing inside of me. My heart was pounding and my legs were aching. I was almost in tears when I turned one last curve⁹ and saw something in the distance. It was a house that I recognized.

　　我继续朝前走着，恐惧在我心理蔓延，心跳加速，双腿疼痛，泪水几乎要夺眶而出，我最后抬头一瞥，远处好像有什么东西，我认出那是一幢房子。

　　My heart leapt up! I jumped up and down and laughed out loud. I knew the way home! It was still over a mile away but my legs felt like feathers and I hurried back to my house in no time. I walked in with a big smile on my face just in time for dinner. Then I ended my adventure with a good night’s sleep.

　　我激动不已，上窜下跳，高兴地笑出了声，我认得这是回家的路。尽管还要一英里才能到家，我的腿却像羽毛般轻快，我迫不及待地回到家里，走进家中，喜悦之情溢于言表，而且正好赶上晚上的饭点。我的冒险以晚上的一场酣睡收尾。

　　I remembered this recently when I saw a sign that said: “All roads lead Home.” This is true. In this life all roads no matter what their twists and turns can lead us home again. They can lead us to our homes here on Earth. They can lead us to our homes in our hearts.

　　我记得最近见过的一则标语是这样说的：“所有的路都是回家的路。”确实是这样，这辈子所有的路不管怎样波折最终都会引导着我们回家，有的是回到地球上看得见摸得着的家，有的是回到心里的家。

　　May you always walk your path with love. May you always help your fellow travelers along the way. And may your roads always lead you Home again.

　　愿你的人生之路都有爱为伴，愿你在旅途中帮助同路人，愿你人生中的一段又一段旅程都是通往“家”的旅程。

1 trek   

vi.作长途艰辛的旅行；n.长途艰苦的旅行

参考例句：

• We often go pony-trek in the summer.夏季我们经常骑马旅行。
• It took us the whole day to trek across the rocky terrain.我们花了一整天的时间艰难地穿过那片遍布岩石的地带。

2 amazed   

adj.吃惊的，惊奇的v.使大为吃惊，使惊奇( amaze的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Just the size of the place amazed her. 仅仅地方之大就使她十分惊奇。
• I was amazed at her knowledge of French literature. 她的法国文学知识之丰富使我大为惊奇。

3 lane   

n.(乡间)小路(巷)；车(跑，泳)道；航道

参考例句：

• There is a shop at the end of this lane.这条胡同的顶头有一家商店。
• The champion is running in lane five.冠军跑在第五跑道上。

4 potholes   

n.壶穴( pothole的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Potholes are also home to tiny desert animals. 洞穴也是弱小动物的家。 来自互联网
• If you're going to enjoy the good times, you've certainly got to deal with some potholes. 如果要享受甜美的胜利果实，当然要应付这些战绩不佳的指责压力。 来自互联网

5 guardian   

n.监护人；守卫者，保护者

参考例句：

• The form must be signed by the child's parents or guardian. 这张表格须由孩子的家长或监护人签字。
• The press is a guardian of the public weal. 报刊是公共福利的卫护者。

6 stubborn   

adj.难以移动，去除的，固执的，顽固的

参考例句：

• I can not cope with that boy;he is stubborn.我对付不了那个孩子，他很固执。
• When he's in his stubborn mood,he isn't easily talked round.他那股牛劲上来了，一时不容易说服。

7 gravel   

n.砂跞；砂砾层；结石

参考例句：

• We bought six bags of gravel for the garden path.我们购买了六袋碎石用来铺花园的小路。
• More gravel is needed to fill the hollow in the drive.需要更多的砾石来填平车道上的坑洼。

8 paved   

v.铺( pave的过去式和过去分词 )；为…铺平道路

参考例句：

• a paved area near the back door 后门旁一块石板地
• The wide paved road degenerated into a narrow bumpy track. 铺好的宽阔道路渐渐变窄，成了一条崎岖不平的小径。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 curve   

n.曲线，弯曲，曲球；v.弯，使...弯曲

参考例句：

• The train slowed its speed as it went around the curve.火车在弯道行驶时放慢了速度。
• The path of an arrow is a curve.箭的轨迹是一条曲线。