We slid into a booth and our conversation picked up where it left off before. He， too， was making a career change and was moving back to South Africa. His departure date was one week before mine. Now I knew I had to calm my pounding heart. We obviously had no future together. He took my phone number and invited me to dinner sometime. I accepted， suppressing my sadness， knowing I would be leaving in two short weeks and the date would probably never happen.
But it did. He picked me up a few days later for a movie and dinner. We talked for hours about our lives， our hopes， our separate dreams--- mine in New York， his in South Africa. Never had I spoken so freely， so comfortably， with a man. He reached across the table and took my hand. I thought I saw in his eyes the same love l felt swelling in my hear. He said， "I"m just sorry I met you only one week before l leave."
"We still have seven days， " I said meekly.
"Then let"s make the most of it." He helped me on with my sweater. Hand in hand， we strolled to the car and made plans for the next day and the next and the next. As he drove me home， Tracy Chapman sang， "Give me one reason to stay， and I"ll turn right back around." Was his heart singing along like mine？
We spent part of every day together for the next week. I knew I was falling in love， but dared not speak it. I couldn"t upset our chances for a lifetime.
" And I know he loves me， too，" l moaned to Stacy over a cup of coffee in my near-empty restaurant. "We"ve even talked about trying to get together over holidays. He"s meeting me here soon to bring me a gift to remember him by."
Just then， Bary strolled in. I stood to welcome his arms around me. We sat， sipping our coffee. "I will miss you so much， "he said softly. "But I know you"ll think of me whenever you hear this. "He placed a Tracy Chapman CD on the table in front of me. Then he pointed to the song title， Just Give Me One Reason. "We can listen to the same music and remember each other."
"Oh， and one more thing to remember me by." He set a small box on top of the CD. The same awe I felt at our first meeting paralyzed me now. The love I saw in his eyes as we gazed across the table was gift enough for a lifetime. Finally I reached for the box and opened it slowly. A diamond ring！
"Michelle， I have loved you from the first moment I saw you. On our first date， even before we had coffee， l knew you were the woman I was going to marry. I woke up this morning， desperate， thinking， it"s May 3！ In three days I"ll lose my angel. Sure， my career in South Africa is a chance in a lifetime， but you， Michelle， are my dream come true. Please marry me."
"Yes， Barry， yes， "I cried. "
I know what moving to New York means to you， but will you come with me to South Africa？ I believe with all my heart， Michelle， that we were brought together on purpose. Nothing in my life is going as I planned it， but l know it"s all a part of a bigger plan." Barry chuckled. "God has a great sense of humor， but a poor sense of timing."
Exactly one year later， on May 3， we were married under an African sky. Our dream come true. Our chance of a lifetime.
"这可是我生命中的一次机遇，"我对斯泰西说。说着，我锁上办公室的门，离开了我经营多年的饭店。在纽约生活，这可是每个27岁的女人所梦寐以求的，还有几个月我就可以知道能否获准迁入。
我凝视着倒映在拉古纳湾水面上的月光。"我很留恋这里，可住在纽约是长久以来我心中惟一的梦想--如今，美梦就要成真了！"
在街上的一家小咖啡店里，我们遇到了一群朋友，我便和他们闲聊着我可能要走的事。这时，邻近的一张桌子爆发出阵阵笑声。我应声望去，看见一个英俊的男人正在给他的朋友讲一个引人人胜的故事。他那坦率、温暖的笑容和自信的模样让我不由地发怔。斯泰西轻轻地捅了我一下，说道："嘿，米歇尔，你发什么呆，好像着魔了一样。"
我看着那英俊的家伙卷起他那宽松外套的衣袖。他桌边的同伴都全神贯注地望着他。我轻呼道；"哦！那正是我要嫁的男人。""的确不错，"斯泰西说。"不过，还是快说说你在纽约打算住哪儿？要知道我们都打算等你工作定了去那儿看你。" 我回答着她的问题，目光却不由自主地移向那个神采飞扬的男人。
三个月后，我和朋友又相聚在同一家餐厅里。我们互相碰杯，欢呼道："为了纽约的新生活！"我们聊了几个小时，我总说这是我生命中的一次机遇。我告诉他们为省钱我决定搬出海边的小木屋，准备在离开前的几个月内租一间房间住。"我有一个来自南非的朋友，"一个朋友主动提出，"他叫巴里，是个很不错的家伙。""这是他的电话，"他在一张餐巾纸上写下了号码。"他是个42岁坚定的单身主义者。他戏言自己忙于做一个单身父亲而没有时间再做丈夫。"
当天，我便预约去看房子。我正朝那所大房子走去时，门开了。"你一定是米歇尔，"他说着，卷起他宽松外套的衣袖，脸上漾起迷人的微笑。这不就是几个月前饭店里的那个男人--那个我想要嫁的男人！
我目瞪口呆地站在那里，希望自己没有失态。
"你就是米歇尔，对吗？"他打断了我的思绪，说道："你想看看房间吗？"
我便随着他参观了一下房子，并接受了他的邀请，喝了一杯茶。巴里沉稳而耐心，他专心地听我喋喋不休地谈论着自己。他那银镶边的眼镜使他深色头发中的几缕白发格外醒目。很快，他灿烂、热情的微笑令我放松。在接下来的两个小时里，我们随意地聊着。最后，我决定不租那房间，并依依不舍地和他道别。
之后，我整天忙于搬家的事，几个月飞快地过去了。这段日子里，尽管我常常想到巴里，却不曾想过要打电话给他。
一天，当我和斯泰西离开我的办公室走向饭厅时，我说："再过三个星期，我就要去纽约了，再见他一面，只会使我的生活变得一团糟。"
"那么，就让它一团糟吧！"斯泰西低语道，朝着门那边点了点头。是巴里，他用那双蔚蓝色的眼睛望着我，脸上带着摄人心魄的微笑，走进了饭店。
"你好，"他温柔地说道。"现在有空喝杯咖啡吗？ "
"当然！"我试着不让自己窒息。
我们拐进了一家路边小店，接着上次的话题聊了起来。从他的谈话中，我得知他也正要换一份工作，回到南非去。他的行程先于我一个星期。现在我明白我必须让自己冲动的心冷静一下。很明显，我们俩不会有结果。他问了我的电话号码，说以后会请我吃饭。我强忍着悲痛接受了，因为我知道两个星期后我将离开，这可能是永远都无法实现的约会。
可它竟然实现了！几天后，他来接我，我们一起看电影，吃晚饭。我们聊了几个小时，聊生活，聊希望，聊我们各自的梦想--我的在纽约，而他的在南非。我从不曾和一个男人谈得如此畅快，如此舒服。他握住我的手。从他的眼神里，我想我看到了正在我心中急剧膨胀的爱。他说。"我真的很遗憾，走前的一个星期才遇到你。"
"可我们还有整整七天。"我无限深情地答道。
"那么就让我们充分地享受它们吧，"说着，他帮我穿上外套。我们手牵着手走向汽车，计划着我们的明天以及明天的明天。在他开车送我回家的路上，我心中响起了特蕾西？查普曼的歌？ "给我一个留下的理由，我将会回头……"。不知他心里是否也在和我一起歌唱呢？
在之后的一个星期里，我们每天都会抽时间在一起。我深知自己已坠入了爱河，可却没有胆量说出来。我不愿因此而破坏我们各自生活中的良机。
"我知道，他也爱我，"当我和斯泰西在我那已快人去楼空的餐厅里喝咖啡时，我轻声说。"我们甚至已经在计划假期如何一起度过。他很快就要上这儿来，送我一件礼物做纪念。"
正说着，巴里走了进来。我站起来，投入他的怀抱。坐下后，我们各自抿着杯中的咖啡。"我会想你的，"他无限温存地说道。"不过，我想当你听它的时候一定会想起我，"他拿出那张特蕾西？查普曼的CD放在我的面前，他指着那首主打歌《我只要一个理由》，说道："当我们听同一首歌时，我们都正在思念着对方。
"对了，还有一样东西。"他拿出一个小盒子放在CD上。我好像第一次见他那样完全怔住了。我们彼此凝望，他眼中的爱意是我一生都受用不尽的礼物。最后，我拿起那只盒子，慢慢地打开了它。一枚钻石戒指！
"米歇尔，我见到你的第一眼便深深地爱上了你。在我们第一次约会之前，不，甚至在我们一起喝咖啡之前，我已经知道你是我要娶的女人。今天早上，我睁开眼睛，一想到已经是5月3号，我绝望极了，再过三天，我将失去我的天使。的确，在非洲的事业是我生命中的一个转机。可是你。米歇尔，让我的梦想成真。请嫁给我吧，亲爱的米歇尔？ "
"噢，是的，巴里，是的，我同意！"我流着泪答道。
"我知道到纽约对你意味着什么，可是你能到南非和我一同生活吗？我深深地感到，米歇尔，我们的相遇是上天的安排。我生活中的许多事都与计划背道而驰。可我相信那都是一个更大计划的组成部分？ "巴里笑言："上帝的确够幽默，可却不太会安排时间。"
一年后的5月3号，我和巴里在南非的天空下举行了婚礼。我们都梦想成真，也不曾错过我们生命中的机遇。
Bug Spray #5
5号杀虫剂
Our wedding was on October 14， 1996. But our marriage began three weeks later. We were dressed up and on our way to the swankiest restaurant in town. We had saved all week for the big splurge.
One problem—my bride was wearing the most horrible perfume ever manufactured. Smelled like a mixture of mustard gas， black pepper， and vaporized maple syrup. I still get queasy thinking about it.
We had stopped at a railroad crossing. It was cold outside. The windows were up and the heater was on. My nose and lungs silently begged for mercy. But I didn’t want to upset my bride with a comment about her perfume.
