It was June 15， and in two days I would be turning thirty. I was insecure① about entering a new decade of my life and feared that my best years were now behind me.
My daily routine② included going to the gym for a workout③ before going to work. Every morning I would see my friend Nicholas at the gym. He was seventy-nine years old and in terrific shape. As I greeted Nicholas on this particular day， he noticed I wasn’t full of my usual vitality④ and asked if there was anything wrong. I told him I was feeling anxious about turning thirty. 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？”
Without hesitation⑤， Nicholas replied， “Well， Joe， this is my philosophical⑥ answer to your philosophical question：
“When I was a child in Austria and everything was taken care of for me and I was nurtured⑦ by my parents， that was the best time of my life.
“When I was going to school and learning the things I know today， that was the best time of my life.
“When I got my first job and had responsibilities and got paid for my efforts， that was the best time of my life.
“When I met my wife and fell in love， that was the best time of my life.
“The Second World War came， and my wife and I had to flee⑧ Austria to save our lives. When we were together and safe on a ship bound for⑨ North America， that was the best time of my life.
“When we came to Canada and started a family， that was the best time of my life.
“When I was a young father， watching my children grow up， that was the best time of my life.
“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. This is the best time of my life.”
① insecureadj. 不可靠的， 不安全的
② routinen. 常规， 日常事务， 程序
③ workoutn. 锻炼
④ vitalityn. 活力， 生命力， 生动性
⑤ hesitationn. 犹豫， 踌躇
⑥ philosophicaladj. 哲学的，达观的
⑦ nurturev. 养育， 给与营养物， 教养
⑧ fleev. 从……逃跑
⑨ bound for驶往
最美好的时光
那天是6月15日，再过两天我就要30岁了。即将进入生命中的又一个十年，我对此感到不安，担心自己最美好的岁月已经离我远去了。
我每天的惯例是上班之前先去体育馆锻炼。每天早上我都会在体育馆见到我的朋友尼古拉斯。他79岁，身材很好。那天我跟他打招呼时，他注意到我不像往常那样充满活力，就问我有什么不对劲。我告诉他我就要30岁了，心里感到焦虑。我寻思着等我到了尼古拉斯的岁数真不知该怎样回顾自己的一生，于是我问他：“你一生中最美好的时光是什么时候？”
尼古拉斯毫不犹豫地回答：“你瞧，乔，对于你这个富有哲理的问题，这就是我富有哲理的答案。”
“小时候我在奥地利，凡事都不用操心，父母抚育我长大，那是我一生中最美好的时光。”
“上学以后，我学习知识，直到今天都没有忘。那是我一生中最美好的时光。”
“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。”
“当我遇到我的妻子而且爱上她时，那是我一生中最美好的时光。”
“第二次世界大战来临，我和妻子为了活命不得不逃离奥地利。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。”
“当我们来到加拿大并建立了家庭时，那是我一生中最美好的时光。”
“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。”
“现在，乔，我79岁了。我身体健康，感觉良好，爱我的妻子如同我们初次相遇。这是我一生中最美好的时光。”