The best time of my life
一生中最美好的时光
It was June 15, and in two days I would be turning thirty.
那天是6月15日,再过两天我就要30岁了。
I was insecure about entering a new decade of my life and feared that my best years were now behind me.
要进入生命中又一个新的十年,我对此感到忐忑不安,担心自己最美好的岁月已经离我远去了。
My daily routine included going to the gym for a workout before going to work.
我每日上班前都去体育馆锻炼一阵。
Every morning I would see my friend Nicholas at the gym. He was seventy-nine years old and in terrific shape.
每天早上我都会在体育馆见到我的朋友尼古拉斯。他79岁,身材棒极了。
As I greeted Nicholas on this particular day, he noticed I wasn't full of my usual vitality and asked if there was anything wrong.
那天我跟他打招呼时,他注意到我不象往常那样充满活力,便问我有什么不对劲。
I told him I was feeling anxious about turning thirty.
我告诉他自己就要30岁了,心里很担忧。
I wondered how I would look back on my life once I reached Nicholas's age,so I asked him, What was the best time of your life?
不知道我要是到了尼古拉斯的岁数会怎么回顾自己的一生,于是我问他:你一生中最美好的时光是在什么时候?
Without hesitation, Nicholas replied, Well, Joe, this is my philosophical answer to your philosophical question.
尼古拉斯毫不迟疑地答道:好吧,乔,以下就是我对于你那富有哲理的问题所作出的富有哲理的回答。
When I was a child in Austria and everything was taken care of for me and I was nurtured by my parents, that was the best time of my life.
小时候我在奥地利,一切都被照顾得好好的,我在父母的抚育下成长,那是我一生中最美好的时光。
When I was going to school and learning the things I know today, that was the best time of my life.
上学的时候我学着至今都不忘记的知识,那是我一生中最美好的时光。
When I got my first job and had responsibilities and got paid for my efforts, that was the best time of my life.
当我找到第一份工作,承担了工作中的职责并且为自己的努力获得报酬时,那是我一生中最美好的时光。
When I met my wife and fell in love, that was the best time of my life.
当我遇到我的妻子并坠入爱河时,那是我一生中最美好的时光。
The Second World War came, and my wife and I had to flee Austria to save our lives.
二次大战来临,妻子和我为活命不得不逃离奥地利。
When we were together and safe on a ship bound for North America, that was the best time of my life.
当我们一起安安全全地坐上驶往北美洲的轮船时,那是我一生中最美好的时光。
When we came to Canada and started a family, that was the best time of my life.
当我们来到加拿大建立了家庭时,那是一生中最美好的时光。
When I was a young father, watching my children grow up, that was the best time of my life.
当我成了一位年轻的父亲,看着自己的孩子一点点地长大时,那是我一生中最美好的时光。
And now, Joe, I am seventy-nine years old. I have my health, I feel good and I am in love with my wife just as I was when we first met.
而现在,乔,我79岁了。我身体健康,感觉很好,而且还和初次相遇时一样爱我的妻子。
This is the best time of my life.
这是我一生中最美好的时光。