I was ten years old

那时我十岁

riding my bicycle

骑着自己的自行车

at break-neck speed

速度足以让我摔断脖子

down a hill near my home.

从家附近的山坡上向下俯冲

This was long before bike helmets were used

自行车头盔是很久之后才发明的

Only a month before

就在一个月之前

I had hit a rock in the road,

我撞到马路上的一块石头

flown over my handlebars

从车把手前面飞了出去

and smashed open my skull¹ .

脑瓜开了瓢

I had walked home bleeding,

我浑身是血，走回了家

terrified my Mom,

吓坏了我的母亲

and gotten a trip to the hospital

去了一趟医院

to have my skull stitched shut again.

才把我的脑壳缝合好了

The memory of a boy is brief, however,

可是，小男孩都是好了伤疤忘了疼

so here I was back on my bike,

所以此刻我又在自己的自行车上了

flying fearlessly down a hill again.

义无反顾，飞也似地从山坡上往下冲

I was picking up speed

我一路加速

as I neared a curve in the road.

很快冲到马路上的一个拐弯处

I started to hit my brakes when I saw it:

直到我看到一样东西，才开始猛踩刹车

a pothole² in the road.

马路上有一个大坑！

Not wanting to go flying over my handlebars again我可不想第二次从车把手前面飞出去

I twisted my wheel

我调转车头

and stomped³ on my foot brakes

踩住脚下的刹车

as hard as I could.

用尽全力

I could hear the tires skidding⁴

我听到轮胎摩擦地面的声音

as I flew off the bike.

接着就从车上飞了起来

Thankfully,

幸好

this time I landed on my back

这次我是背部着地

and in the soft grass

底下是柔软的草地

of the field along the side of the road.

原来是路边的一块草坪

I got up and laughed.

我站起来，大笑起来

I was happy to be alive

我为自己还活着感到高兴

and ready for one more ride

准备好了再骑一次

before heading home.

然后再回家

These days

如今

I am fifty one years old

我已经五十一岁了

and my bike riding days are far behind me.

骑着自行车撒野的岁月早已离我而去

I try not to stress my guardian⁵ too much these days either.

不过，我仍不敢让自己的看护人过于心力憔悴

I am sure

我很确信

I made him work hard enough when I was a boy.

当自己年少的时候，我已经给他添了够多的麻烦了

These days

如今

my adventures involve

我的冒险举动包括

hugging my boys

拥抱我的两个儿子

and petting my dogs.

轻拍我的狗

Still,

仍然

each day

每天

when I wake up in the morning

当我早上起床的时候

I am happy to be alive.

我为自己活着感到高兴

Each day when I open my eyes

每天我睁开眼睛的时候

I am ready

我都准备好了

for one more ride through this life

在这趟生命之旅中再骑一次

before heading home.

在我回“家”之前

I am not sure

我不知道

how many days, months, or years I have left

自己还剩下多少天，多少个月，抑或多少年

but I am determined⁶

但我决心

to live them all in laughter, love and joy.

要用欢笑，爱和喜悦度过每一天

Life is a glorious adventure .

生命是一次荣耀的冒险

Its most exciting parts, though ,

不过，这旅行中最精彩的时刻

aren’t when you risk your neck.

却不是你差点摔断脖子的时候

They are when you share your heart.

而是你将自己的心意分享出去的时候

May you give your love freely,

愿你能自由的播撒自己的爱

to yourself,

愿你爱自己

and to everyone else.

也爱所有其他的人

May you make your ride through this life

希望你能让自己在这一世的旅行

a joyous⁷ one for everyone you can.

让尽可能多的人感到快乐