佚名/Anonymous
岁月在古老的风车上留下了沧桑的印记。锈迹斑斑的车轮静卧在繁茂的草丛中。曾经生机勃勃的风车,在落日余晖的映照下犹如高耸的尖塔,了无生趣。
我已有15年未光顾我的农场了。然而,曾经的感觉还是涌上心头。我仍可以闻到新割的苜蓿的清香,仍可以感觉到冰冷的夏雨敲打万物的“砰砰”声,还有那七月的暴风雨过后,阳光猛然照射在我淋湿的肩头的暖意。
不管是晴天还是雨天,我曾天天走过小径去探望葛丽塔姐姐。即使我和姐姐刚刚大吵一架后,她也能使我开怀而笑。我会帮葛丽塔做些家务。我们会畅快地品尝她自制的巧克力曲奇饼和冰淇淋。坐着轮椅并未妨碍她成为一名出色的厨师。
葛丽塔曾送给我两件最重要的礼物。首先她教会我读书。教我用宽容的心去对待与我发生争执的姐姐。让我不再有受过伤害的委屈感,反而令我的心情更加愉悦舒朗。
葛丽塔的丈夫逝世后,当地的银行家丁肯先生曾要收回抵押给银行的房子和土地。多亏爸爸和约翰叔叔,才使葛丽塔保住了这一切。爸爸说,帮助这样一位能教会我读书识字的聪明人,这不过是件他力所能及的、微不足道的小事而已。
不久,数英里外的人们都赶来买葛丽塔做的蛋糕、馅饼、面包、小甜点、苹果汁和冰淇淋。每周,杂货店的老板汉克都要来她这儿买一些食品,丰富货架。
丁肯先生也成为葛丽塔的顾客和朋友,葛丽塔甚至让我给他也送去一个大苹果馅饼。她就是这样一个人,能把任何人都看成朋友!
葛丽塔总是说:“亲爱的,要走在阳光里!”每天,不管开始有多么糟糕,从她的家走出来,都会感觉像走在阳光中,即便是走在冬夜的星光里。
这天,太阳刚刚落山,我到了葛丽塔的家。看到一辆救护车停在她门前几英尺外。车上的红灯不停地闪着。当我冲进那所旧屋子时,葛丽塔立即认出了我。
她用那双令人难忘的深邃的蓝眼睛望着我,用手轻触我的手臂,已近奄奄一息了。最后对我说一句:“亲爱的,要记住走在阳光里!”
我坚信葛丽塔正漫步于她曾见过的灿烂阳光中。我也坚信她能听得见我在追悼会上为她祷告的每一个字。
Years of storms had taken their toll on the old windmill.Its wheel,rusted and fallen,lay silent in the lush bluegrass.Its once animated silhouette was now a tall motionless steeple in the twilight sun.I hadn’t walked across our old farm in fifteen years.Yet the sensations came flooding back.I could smell the freshness of new mown alfalfa.I could feel the ping of the ice cold summer rain,and the sun’s sudden warmth on my wet shoulders when it reappeared after a brisk July thunderstorm.Rain or shine,I used to walk this path each day to see Greta.She always made me smile,even after Sis and I had just had a big squabble.I would help Greta with her chores.Then we would visit over a generous helping of her delicious homemade chocolate cookies and ice cream.Being confined to a wheel chair didn’t stop Greta from being a fabulous cook.Greta gave me two of the greatest gifts I’ve ever received.First,she taught me how to read.She also taught me that when I forgave Sis for our squabbles,it meant I wouldn’t keep feeling like a victim.Instead,I would feel sunny.Mr.Dinking,the local banker,tried to foreclose on Greta’s house and land after her husband passed away.
Thanks to Pa and Uncle Johan,Greta got to keep everything.Pa said that it was the least he could do for someone talented enough to teach me to read!Soon folks were coming from miles around to buy Greta’s homemade cakes,pies,breads,cookies,cider,and ice cream.Hank,the grocery store man,came each week to stock his shelves and bring Greta supplies.Greta even had me take a big apple pie to Mr.Dinking who became one of
her best customers and friends.That’s just how Greta was.She could turn anyone into a friend!Greta always said,“Dear,keep walking in sunshine!”No matter how terrible my day started,I always felt sunny walking home from Greta’s house-even beneath the winter starlight.I arrived at Greta’s house today just after sunset.An ambulance had stopped a few feet from her door,it’s red lights flashing.When I ran into the old house,Greta recognized me right away.She smiled at me with her unforgettable twinkling blue eyes.She was almost out of breath when she reached out and softly touched my arm.Her last words to me were“Dear,keep walking in sunshine”!I’m sure that Greta is walking in the brightest sunshine she’s ever seen.And,I’m sure that she heard every word I read at her memorial service.