If you want a slingshot, I hope your father teaches you how to make one instead of buying one. I hope you learn to dig in the dirt and read books, and when you learn to use computers, you also learn how to add and subtract in your head.
I hope you get sick when someone blows smoke in your face. I don' t care if you try beer once, but I hope you won' t like it. And if a friend offers you a joint or any drugs, I hope you are smart enough to realize that person is not your friend.
I sure hope you make time to sit on a porch with your grandpa or go fishing with your uncle.
I hope your mother punishes you when you throw a baseball through a neighbor' s window, and that she hugs you and kisses you when you give her a plaster of pared mold of your hand.
These things I wish for you—tough times and disappointment, hard work and happiness.
我们努力想让子女生活得更好，最终却事与愿违。对我的孙儿们，我知道怎么做才会更好。
我很想让他们知道，兄长传给我的旧衣服，小时候吃过的家里自制的冰淇淋，以及吃剩的肉糕。我的确很想讲给他们听。
我的宝贝孙子，我希望你在遭遇失败后懂得谦逊，也希望你能诚实，即使没有人注意你。
我希望你能学会整理床铺，修剪草坪，清洗汽车，也希望当你满16岁时，没有人送你新轿车。
我希望你能有幸目睹一次牛犊出生的过程，或者在你不得不为老狗送终时有朋友陪伴。
我希望你能为自己的信仰与别人打得鼻青脸肿。
我希望你能和弟弟分享同一间卧室——即使你在卧室中间画一条分界线也无所谓。当弟弟因为害怕要钻进你的被窝时，我希望你能收留他。
还有，当你要去看迪斯尼电影，而弟弟想跟你一起去时，我希望你能带上他。
我希望你能与朋友们一起爬山，如果这项运动在你生活的城市没有任何危险。
如果你想要一把弹弓，我希望你父亲能教你自己制作，而不是给你买把现成的。我还希望你学会挖泥巴和读书；而当你学会使用电脑时，也应该学会加减法的心算。
我希望吸烟的人在你面前吞云吐雾时，你会感到厌烦。我不介意你喝一次啤酒，但我希望你不会喜欢上它。如果有朋友请你吸含大麻的香烟或其他毒品，我希望你能清醒地认识到他并不是你的朋友。
我当然希望你能抽时间陪爷爷坐在门廊上聊天，或陪叔叔钓鱼。
如果你把棒球扔到邻居的窗户上，我希望你的母亲会责罚你。如果你把以自己的手为原型做成的石膏模型送给母亲，我希望她会拥抱你、亲吻你。
我希望你能饱尝岁月的艰辛、挫折与失望，并希望你努力工作，幸福快乐。
幸福不是拥有名望和财富，它只是一个过程，而不是终点。承认生活中有希望与快乐，同时也有痛苦和悲伤，这不会阻碍幸福的降临，却能让你更加容易发现生活中的幸福。
leftover ['left-uv] n. 残留物；吃剩的饭菜；剩余物
Donate your leftover paint to a community project.
将你剩余的涂料捐给社区的工程。
cherished ['teriid] adj. 珍爱的；宝贝的
The most cherished thing in life is friendship.
在生活中，最值得珍视的事是友谊。
slingshot ['slit] n. 弹弓
I took my slingshot from my pocket.
我从兜里拿出我的弹弓。
subtract [sb'tr鎘t] v. 减去；扣掉
You have to subtract 25% tax from the sum you receive.
你必须从所得款中扣除25%的税款。
我希望你能为自己的信仰与别人打得鼻青脸肿。
如果有朋友请你吸含大麻的香烟或其他毒品，我希望你能清醒地认识到他并不是你的朋友。
我希望你能饱尝岁月的艰辛、挫折与失望，并希望你努力工作，幸福快乐。
My cherished grandson, I hope you learn humility by surviving failure and that you learn to be honest even when no one is looking.
learn to do：学习做某事
I sure hope you make time to sit on a porch with your grandpa or go fishing with your uncle.
sit on：坐在上面；压制；成为……的成员
29生活故事之感悟
The Story of Life
佚名 / Anonymous
Sometimes people come into your life and you come to realize that they were meant to be there, to serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson, or to help you figure out who you are or who you want to become. You never know who these people may be (possibly your roommate, neighbor, co-worker, long-lost friend, lover, or even a complete stranger), but when you lock eyes with them, you know in an instant that they will affect your life in some profound way.
And sometimes things happen to you that may seem horrible, painful, and unfair at first, but in reflection you find that without overcoming those obstacles you would have never realized your potential, strength, willpower or heart. Everything happens for a reason. Nothing happens by chance or by means of good luck. Illness, injury, love, brilliant achievements, and sheer stupidity all occur to test the limits of your soul. Without these small tests, whatever they may be, life would be like a smoothly paved, straight, flat road to nowhere. It would be safe and comfortable, but dull and utterly pointless.
The people you meet who affect your life, and the success and downfalls you experience, help to create who you are and who you become. Even the bad experiences can be learned from. In fact, they are probably the most poignant and important ones. If someone hurts you, betrays you, or breaks your heart, forgive them, for they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious when you open your heart. If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally, not only because they love you, but because in a way, they are teaching you to love and how to open your heart and eyes to things. Make every day count. Appreciate every moment and take from those moments everything that you possibly can, for you may never be able to experience it again. Talk to people that you have never talked to before, and actually listen. Let yourself fall in love, break free, and set your sights high. Hold your head up because you have every right to. Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself, for if you don' t believe in yourself, it will be hard for others to believe in you.
You can make of your life anything your wish. Create your own life and then go out and live it with absolutely no regrets. Most importantly, if you love someone tell him or her, for you never know what tomorrow may have in store.
人们不时地走进你的生活，有时你会觉察出，他们是出于某种特定目的：给你一个教训，帮你认清自己或你理想中的自己。你永远不知道这些人是谁（可能是你的室友、邻居、同事、久违的朋友、爱人，甚至完全是一个陌生人）。一旦你开始关注他们，很快便会发现，他们影响了你的生活，而且往往很深刻。
