歲月在一刻不停地溜走，記憶在點點滴滴間收藏。不經意間打開的一只盒子，裝的原來全是溫馨的過往。那不僅是一個孩子成長的痕跡，更是一個母親幸福的回憶……
After having been settled in our new home for almost a year, I decided to finish unpacking the last few boxes. Hidden low in the stack was a box simply marked “Nick”. Excitement jolted my empty-nest heart upon seeing the name of my eldest son, who now lives eleven hundred miles away.
搬到新房子快一年了，我才決定把帶過來的最后那幾個盒子都打開整理一下。在這堆盒子底下不起眼的地方，有一個盒子，上面只標注了兩個字：尼克。尼克是我的大兒子，這會兒突然看見他的名字，我本來空落落的心頓時為之一振：尼克現在可是住在離我1100多英里遠的地方啊。
Delighted, I spent hours poring1) through the artwork2), awards and report cards that propped3) my memory door wide open and let the days of his childhood come home.
在接下來的幾個小時里，我帶著愉悅的心情細細地翻看著盒子里的那些畫兒、獎狀和成績報告單。記憶的大門就此打開，尼克的兒時場景又回到家中，一幕幕在我眼前浮現。
I found his soccer “trading card” at age six and a Mother's Day card from the year he was nine with coupons4) for extra chores neck rubs and breakfast in bed. I found an award Nick won in the second grade for top sales in a school fundraiser. First place in the entire elementary school. Even at the age of seven, he had a way with5) people. Next I found an envelope addressed to Nick in my own handwriting.
我找到了他六歲時收藏的足球球星“交換卡”，還有他九歲時送給我的母親節賀卡，上面還畫了很多“優惠券”，表示他可以額外提供做家務、幫我揉脖子、送早餐到床邊等服務。我還找到了尼克上二年級時得的一張獎狀，獎勵他在學校的籌集善款活動中賣東西賣得最多——在全小學里排名第一。當時他只有七歲，但向人推銷起東西來卻很有一套。接著，我又找到了一個信封，信是寫給尼克的，信封上的筆跡是我的。
“For Nick to read when he is grown,” the envelope said. I have a tradition of writing letters to my kids at different times in their lives and saving them to read when they are older. This particular letter I had written to my son, now age twenty-one, was dated Mother's Day fifteen years ago. He had been in kindergarten, and reading it brought back memories of a day I realized what a truly selfless, kind child I had been blessed with6).
信封上寫著“致長大后的尼克”。我有一個習慣，就是在孩子成長的不同階段都給他們寫信，并把這些信都保存下來，留到他們長大以后再讀。現在，尼克已經21歲了，這是我當初寫給他的一封特殊的信，信上的日期是15年前的母親節。那會兒他還在上幼兒園。讀著這封信，我漸漸回想起那天發生的點點滴滴，正是在那一天，我意識到上帝賜給了我一個多么無私、善良的孩子。
Dear Nicholas,
親愛的尼古拉斯：
Today was Mother's Day. As I watch your beautiful sleeping face, I wanted to write this letter to give you later so you will always know how much joy you bring me.
今天是母親節。我看著你睡夢中漂亮的小臉，突然很想給你寫下這封信，等你長大后交給你。這樣，你就會知道，你給我帶來了多少的歡樂。
You gave me the best present I've ever received today! It has a little story behind it that I will treasure forever. You have been diligently saving your allowance7) for weeks to buy some material for Grandma to make a teepee8) for you. You had $7.00 saved last week, but you asked me to take you to a nearby boutique9) where handmade crafts (which I love!) were sold. You were so cute, watching me as I looked at things, and if I liked something, you would ask how much it cost. We found an adorable little teddy bear with an antique lace collar and a ribbon tied around its neck and a ring attached. You pretended you loved it and even tried on the ring. You were very sneaky10) for a five year-old! You bought the bear all by yourself and said you were sorry, but you spent all your money and would just make me something for Mother's Day. (I would have loved anything you made!)
今天，你送給了我一份禮物，這是我收到過的最好的禮物！這份禮物的背后有一個小故事，我將會把它永遠珍藏于心。這幾個星期以來，你一直在辛苦地積攢零花錢，為的是買些布料讓奶奶給你縫一個帳篷。上周，你終于攢夠了七美元，但你卻讓我帶你去附近的一個精品店轉轉，那兒專賣一些手工藝品(是我的最愛！)。你真的好可愛，我看東西的時候，你就在一邊觀察我，要是看見我喜歡什么，你就會問這東西多少錢。我們發現了一個非常可愛的小泰迪熊：古典的蕾絲領口，脖子上圍了一條絲帶，絲帶上還系了一枚戒指。你假裝很喜歡這個小熊，甚至還試了試那枚戒指。對于一個只有五歲的孩子來說，你還真挺狡猾的呢！你用自己的錢買下了這只小熊，還跟我說你很抱歉，但因為你把自己所有的錢都花了，母親節就只能自己做個禮物送我了。(寶貝，如果真是那樣，那無論你做什么禮物我都會非常喜歡！)
This morning you woke me up with a big grin and a package wrapped in paper towels11) and duct tape12). You were so proud and excited! There inside was the little bear that I will always treasure. You sacrificed your teepee for me.
今天早晨，你跑來把我叫醒，臉上是燦爛的笑容，手里拿著一個用紙巾和膠帶包好的包裹。你看上去既自豪又興奮！包裹里正是你買的那只小熊，它將是我永遠珍藏的寶貝。為了我，你放棄了你的帳篷。
I am so proud of your sweet, generous spirit and the many ways every single day that you bring me joy. You are truly special and I am honored to be your mom.
我為你的貼心與慷慨而自豪，更為你每一天帶給我的快樂而驕傲。你真是一個特別的孩子，能做你的媽媽真是我的榮幸！