Anonymous
For most of the past 12 years，Kate has traveled with me to New Mexico for the holidays。In the early years，she would go with me several times a year，but as vacation time got tighter，I started making the other trips by plane，saving my one longer trip for Christmas。Kate doesn't travel by air，but she always makes the trip with me when I drive。It takes about nine hours to get to my hometown in northern New Mexico，and Kate has always been a very amiable car companion。
We have a pretty good routine for the drive，and it starts with me getting my luggage packed and ready to go in the most casual way possible。On the day of the drive，I try to remain nonchalant as I get up and feed Kate。Usually it works。But by the time I start taking things out to the car，she realizes something is up and hides under the bed。That works fine for me，because it usually takes several trips to get everything loaded up，including the litter pan and her food。As a perfect car cat，Kate never uses the litter box or eats during the trip，preferring to save it all up as a welcome present for grandma。After the car is loaded，I get Kate's pet carrier out of the closet and then almost always have to move my bed to get her out from under it。
For such a long drive，Kate has always been pretty content with riding in the carrier and only occasionally venturing into the backseat。As long as her carrier door is open，she doesn't cry。She loves my parents'house，with all its new smells and new areas to explore。She seems to have a pretty good memory of the house and enjoys the holiday season。
This year will be a little different。
Duncan will be joining us in New Mexico for the holiday this year，and all of us are curious to see how the trip goes。We have several concerns，including：
Duncan has never taken a long car ride。How will he respond？Will he cry？Will he need to be restrained in the carrier？
Duncan and Kate will have to spend a lot of time together at grandma's house。Will they get along？Will Kate be miserable？
Grandma's house has many decorations and breakable items。Kate was never an issue，because of her disability。Will Duncan have too much fun at grandma's，including climbing the Christmas tree or eating her plants？
I have faith that Duncan will do well during the car ride，based on his extremely laissez faire attitude for shorter trips。I have to make some additional preparations though，since I don't know how he'll react。I'm adding a small litter pan to the main area of the car and I'm bringing accessible cat food and extra towels。Kate will also have to swap carriers with Duncan，since hers turned out to be roomier and he is five pounds bigger than she is。My mom has also scaled back on her house decorations。
With only two weeks to go until the trip，I'm gearing up for what might be the most exciting Christmas I've had in a while！
12年过去了，几乎每一年，凯特都和我一起到新墨西哥城去度假。刚开始那几年，她每年都会跟随我旅行好几次。可是，后来假期越来越短，我就改乘飞机旅行了。飞机迅速、快捷，我可以把时间省出来，这样圣诞节的假期就变得长了。凯特不能坐飞机，但她总是坐我的车旅行。我的家乡在新墨西哥城北部，开车需要九个小时才能到达。在旅途中，凯特总是一路相伴，让我觉得亲切、愉悦。
每次开车回老家，我们都会执行一样的程序，安排非常合理。我先是收拾行李、打包，准备好出发，非常随意，尽量放松心情。出发的当天，我起床喂凯特吃东西，努力做到平静如常，若无其事似的。通常这都很有效果。可是，到了该把行李搬到车上的时候，只要我一行动，她就会意识到有什么事情要发生，所以赶快把自己藏在床下面。凯特这个样子倒是让我觉得很方便，因为，我需要来回几次，才能把所有要带的东西都搬到车上，包括猫砂盒和她的猫粮。凯特非常适合乘车出行，她从来不在我开车的过程中用猫砂盒，从来不吃东西，宁愿一路忍着，好让自己在奶奶家里很受欢迎。东西都装上车以后，我从壁橱里面取出凯特的宠物篮，然后，总是还必须把我的床挪开一些，再从床下抱她出来。
在这样漫长的旅途中，凯特总是非常乐意呆在她的宠物篮里，偶尔才大着胆子从篮子里出来，坐在后座上。即使宠物篮的门晃开，她也不会大声叫喊。凯特喜欢我父母的家，家里满是不一样的气味，总有新奇的地方等着她去探索，去玩。她好像清清楚楚地记着那座房子，而且，节日里，她玩得很愉快。
可是，今年会有一些不一样。
今年，邓肯会在新墨西哥和我们一起过节。家里所有人都充满了好奇，想看看这次驾车旅行会是什么情景。我们担心，有好多事都让我们担心，包括：
邓肯从来不曾在车里长途跋涉。他会是什么反应？会叫喊吗？需要把他拴在宠物篮里吗？
在奶奶家里，邓肯和凯特需要一块儿呆很长时间。他们两个会相处得好吗？凯特会不会伤心？
奶奶家的房子里有很多漂亮的装饰品，还有很多易损坏的物件。凯特从来不惹是生非，因为她是个有残疾的猫，所以不需要担心她会把家里弄得一片狼藉。但是，邓肯会不会在奶奶家玩得太高兴，高兴得昏了头，包括爬上奶奶做的圣诞树，或者，他会吃掉奶奶养的花？
邓肯在乘车做短途旅行的时候，我们可以任由他自己管束自己。基于这一点，我相信，在去奶奶家的路上，邓肯会老老实实地呆在我的车里。虽然如此，我必须另外做一些准备，因为我说不准他会有什么反应。我打算在车里加放一个小垃圾桶，还要带些拿来就能吃的猫粮，再带上几条另备的毛巾。凯特还需要和邓肯互换一下宠物篮，原因是她的宠物篮空间很大，而邓肯比她的体重多五磅。换过以后，他们各自都可以比较舒服。我妈妈也已经把家中的装饰品撤掉了。
离出发只有两个星期的时间了。我也将要做好准备，迎接这个圣诞节，这个也许是我所拥有的最让人激动的圣诞节！
牛角挂书
New Words
nonchalant adj。漠不关心的，冷淡的，不激动的，平静的，若无其事的
laissez faire n。放任政策；不干涉主义adj。自由放任的；放任主义的
swap vt。以……作交换；与……交换vi。交易；交换
scaled back 相应缩减，按比例缩减
gear up
1.（齿轮、车辆等）增速，换成高速挡：
例句：The driven part should be geared up。从动齿轮的速度应该提高。
2.提高效率，添置（机械设备等）：例句：The directors decided to gear the factory up for increased production，by bringing in new machine。
3.使（某人、某物）作好（行动）准备：
例句：Are the players geared up for the game？运动员作好比赛准备了吗？
T
猩猩出手
ranslation
1.We have a pretty good routine for the drive，and it starts with me getting my luggage packed and ready to go in the most casual way possible。
2.That works fine for me，because it usually takes several trips to get everything loaded up，including the litter pan and her food。
3.Kate was never an issue，because of her disability。
4.I have faith that Duncan will do well during the car ride，based on his extremely laissez faire attitude for shorter trips。
Keys：
1.每次开车回老家，我们都会执行一样的程序，安排非常合理。我先是收拾行李、打包，准备好出发，非常随意，尽量放松心情。
2.凯特这个样子倒是让我觉得很方便，因为，我需要来回几次，才能把所有要带的东西都搬到车上，包括猫砂盒和她的猫粮。
3.凯特从来不惹是生非，因为她是个有残疾的猫，所以不需要担心她会把家里弄得一片狼藉。
4.邓肯在乘车做短途旅行的时候，我们可以任由他自己管束自己。基于这一点，我相信，在去奶奶家的路上，邓肯会老老实实地呆在我的车里。