The Very Last Birthday

When I was approaching 50, I announced to my three grown children that I no longer wanted to celebrate my birthday and that they could phone me instead of sending a gift. At first they protested¹, but finally they agreed to go along with my wish. So when the doorbell rang on the morning of my birthday, I was surprised to see the florist² delivering a huge, beautiful plant. Suddenly, without a word, she rushed back to the truck and , with a sad look, turned once to glance at me. Puzzled, I read the card attached to the plant: "To Mom-with lots of love-on your very last birthday.

接近五十岁的时候，我对我的三个成年孩子宣布说我不再想庆祝我的生日，并说他们可以给我打电话，不要再送礼物。开始他们反对，但终于他们同意随我愿。所以我生日那天早上门铃响的时候，我惊奇地发现花店营业员送来一束又大又美的鲜花。突然她一声不响地跑回到车上，并回过头来悲哀地看了我一眼。我感到纳闷，我看了一下花上的卡片，上面写着：“献给妈妈----无尽的爱----在您最后的生日里。”