心靈雞湯:我最難忘的人My Most Unforgettable Character

She challenged us to succeed-and then showed us the way.
　 她激勵我們要有所建樹：並一直爲我們指點迷津。

In June 1976, I graduated from North-western University Medical School in Chicago. When my name was called, I walked quickly across the stage and reached for my diploma. But before the medical-school dean handed me the certificate, he asked my parents, Anna and Carlo Michelotti, to stand. Surprised, they rose from their seats in the audience. They looked at each other and seemed puzzled.
　 1976年6月，我畢業於芝加哥的西北大學醫學院。在畢業典禮那天，當叫到我名字時，我迅速起身穿過前臺去領學位證書。但在醫學院院長把證書發給我之前，他先讓我的母親安娜和父親卡羅·米歇洛蒂站起來。他們驚奇地從觀衆席座位上站起身，四目對視，似乎有些困惑。

The dean told the crowd that my parents, an immigrant Italian couple from a farm outside Chicago, had managed to send their six children to top colleges and graduate schools. (Three of us would become doctors, two were already lawyers and one was a physicist.) "It's remarkable," the dean said. Everyone cheered loudly.
　 院長告訴臺下的觀衆，我的父母是意大利移民，來自芝加哥郊外的一個農場，他們已設法把自己的六個孩子都送進了最好的大學和研究生院。(我們之中的三個將成爲醫生，兩個已經做了律師，還有一個是物理學家。)“這很了不起啊!”院長說完，臺下一片歡呼。

Mama's face was radiant with pride. I knew that everything we had achieved or would achieve was because of my parents. When we were young children, my mother, especially, was our mentor . Not until I became an adult did I realize how special she was.
媽媽臉上泛出自豪的光芒。我知道我們所取得的和將要取得的一切都要歸功於我的父母。在我們小的時候，尤其是母親，成了我們的啓蒙老師。直到我長大後才認識到母親是多麼不平凡。

Delight in Devotion. My mother was born in a small town in northern Italy. She was three when her parents immigrated to this country in 1926. They lived on Chicago's South Side, where my grandfather worked making ice cream.
　　樂於奉獻 母親出生於意大利北部的一個小鎮。1926年她3歲時隨父母移民到了美國。她家住在芝加哥南區，當時外祖父在那兒做冰淇淋買賣。

Mama thrived in the hectic urban environment. At 16, she graduated first in her high-school class, went on to secretarial school, and finally worked as an executive secretary for a railroad company.
　　母親就在這樣喧囂的都市環境中成長起來。她16歲中學畢業，畢業成績是全班最高的，後來上了祕書學校，最後在一家鐵路公司擔任行政祕書。

She was beautiful too. When a local photographer used her pictures in his monthly window display, she was flattered. Her favorite portrait showed her sitting by Lake Michigan, her hair windblown, her gaze reaching toward the horizon. My mother always used to say that when you died, God gave you back your "best self". She'd show us that picture and say, "This is what I'm going to look like in heaven."
母親長得也很美。那時當地有位攝影師把她的照片放在一月一換的櫥窗裏展覽，她心裏美滋滋的。母親最心愛的照片是她坐在密歇根湖畔照的，照片上，她的頭髮被風吹起，眼睛眺望着遠方。母親總說，一個人死後，上帝會歸還他“他最美好的形象”。她會給我們看這張照片並說；“這就是日後我在天堂裏的樣子。”

My parents were married in 1944. Dad was a quiet and intelligent man who was 17 when he left Italy. Soon after, a hit-and-run accident left him with a permanent limp. Dad worked hard selling candy to Chicago office workers on their break. He had little formal schooling. His English was self-taught. Yet he eventually built a small, Successful wholesale candy business. Dad was generous, handsome and deeply religious. Mama was devoted to him.
　 我的父母是在1944年結婚的。父親話不多，人很聰明，17歲離開意大利。此後不久，發生了一起車禍，肇事者逃了，卻使父親只能終身跛行了。他工作勤奮，向工間休息的芝加哥辦公樓的工作人員兜售糖果。父親沒受過什麼正規教育，他的英語是自學的。然而最終他開起了一家小型的糖果批發店，生意很紅火。爸爸爲人慷慨，相貌英俊，還是一個虔誠的教徒。媽媽深深地愛着他。

　　After she married, my mother quit her job and gave herself to her family. In 1950, with three children, Dad moved the family to a farm 40 miles from Chicago. He worked the land and commuted to the city to run his business. Mama said good-by to her parents and friends and traded her busy city neighborhood for a more isolated life. But she never complained. By 1958, our modest white farmhouse was filled with six children, and Mama was delighted.
　 婚後，母親辭去工作，一心照顧家庭。1950年，爸爸帶着 3個孩子把家搬到了離芝加哥40英里的一家農場。他一面在農場幹活，一面往返芝加哥做他的糖果批發生意。媽媽也告別了父母和朋友及快節奏的城市生活，過起了離羣索居的日子。但她從無怨言。到1958年，我們這座簡樸的農場白色小屋裏有了六個孩子，媽媽非常高興。

"Think Big". My mother never studied books on parenting. Yet she knew how to raise children. She heightened our self-esteem and helped us reach our potential.
　　“胸懷大志” 母親從沒看過生兒育女方面的書籍，然而她懂得該如何教育子女。她激發我們的自尊心，並幫助我們發揮自己的潛能。

One fall day, I sat at the kitchen table while Mama peeled potatoes. She spied Dad out the window on his tractor and smiled. "Your father has accomplished so much, ' she said proudly. "He really is somebody."
　　秋季的一天，我坐在廚房桌子旁邊，母親在削土豆皮。她透過窗子看到父親坐在拖拉機上，笑了。“你爸爸已卓有成就了，”她自豪地說。“他真是個了不起的人!”

　　My mother wanted each of us to be somebody too. "Your challenge is to be everything you can. Mine is to help," she always said.
　 母親也希望我們每個人將來都有所作爲。她總是說：“對你們的要求就是將來要大有作爲。而我則是幫你們去實現。”

She read to us every day and used homemade flash cards to teach us phonics. She bolstered our confidence, praising even our most ordinary accomplishments. When I was ten, I painted a stack of wooden crates white and nailed them together to make a wobbly bookcase. "It's wonderful!" Mama exclaimed. "Just what we need." She used it for many years.
　 她每天給我們讀書，還用自制的卡片教我們學語音。她激勵我們，對我們做成的一般小事也要讚揚一番。在10歲那年，我把一些板條木箱漆成白色，然後把它們訂成了一個搖搖晃晃的書櫃。“棒極了!”母親讚歎道。“我們正好用得着。”這書櫃她一用就是好多年。

In the dining room are two paint-by-number pictures that my sister Gloria and brother Leo did as kids. Several years ago, Leo commented that the pictures weren't very good and offered to take them down. But Mama wouldn't hear of it. "They are there to remind you how much you could accomplish even as children," she said.
　　在我們家餐廳裏掛着兩張按數字塗顏色的畫，那是姐姐格羅麗亞和哥哥利歐小時候的作品。幾年前，利歐說這兩張畫不怎麼樣，主動要取下來。可媽媽反對。她說：“畫掛在那裏可以讓你們記得，你們自打小時候就有多能幹了!”

From the very beginning, she urged us to think big. One day, after visiting our grandparents on the South Side, she made Dad detour past the Prudential Building construction site. Mama explained that when finished, the 41-story building would be Chicago's tallest. "Maybe someday one of you can design a building like this," she said.
　 從一開始，母親就教導我們要胸懷大志。一天，在看望了住在芝加哥南區的外祖父母后，母親要爸爸繞道帶我們經過普魯登希爾大廈的施工場地。媽媽說，這座41層高的大廈建成後將是芝加哥市最高的。“也許將來有一天你們中有個人也能設計出這樣的高樓呢。”她如是說。

Her confidence in us was infectious. When my sister Carla was 12, she announced she was going to be a lawyer.
　　她對我們的信心使我們深受感染。當姐姐卡拉12歲時，便雄心勃勃地宣佈她將來要當律師。

　 You can do that," Mama said. You can do anything you put your mind to."
　 "你行的!"媽媽說。"只要你用心去做，你什麼都能幹好!"

Tour Guide. To Mama, education was a key part of her blueprint for success. Four of us went to a nearby, one-room schoolhouse. My mother made up for its shortcomings by getting us educational toys, talking to us about history, politics and current events, and helping with home-work . The best part of getting a good report card was her unstinting praise.
　 人生嚮導:在媽媽看來，她描繪的成功藍圖的一個關鍵因素是教育。我們兄妹四個在附近一所學校上學，學校只有一間教室。母親就給我們找一些有教育意義的玩具，跟我們談歷史、政治和時事，並給我們佈置家庭作業，以彌補學校的不足。我們取得了優異成績她便大加讚揚。

　　When I was in third grade, she urged our teacher to organize a field trip to Chicago museums. My mother helped the teacher rent a bus and plan the trip. She even served as tour guide, pointing out landmarks and recounting local history.
我上三年級時，母親力勸我們的老師組織一次到芝加哥各個博物館的實地調查旅行。她幫老師租車和安排行程。她甚至當起了嚮導，指出一些重要的標誌物，並介紹一些當地的歷史。

When it came time to think about college, there was never a question that we'd all go. Inspired by our parents' sacrifice, we studied hard to earn scholarships, and applied for grants and financial aid. We also took jobs to earn money for school. Working in a grocery store, I learned the value of a dollar. "Work is a blessing," Mama always reminded us.
到了該考慮是否繼續上大學時，毫無疑問我們都要上。在父母自我犧牲精神的激勵下，我們更加發奮學習以獲取獎學金，並申請助學金和財政援助。我們還靠打工掙錢來上學。我曾經在一家雜貨店打過工，體會到了一塊錢都來之不易。"工作就是幸福。"媽媽總是讓我們記着這話。

She never asked for anything for herself. "You don't have tobuy me a birthday present," she said one time. "Instead write me a letter about yourself. Tell me about your life. Is anything worrying you? Are you happy?"
　　母親從不求回報。"你們不要爲我買什麼生日禮物，"她有一次說。"只要給我寫封信講講你們自己就行了。告訴我你們過得怎麼樣。有沒有煩心的事?是否快樂?"

"You Honor Us All." My mother made family values and pride tangible. One time when I was a high-school junior, our school put on a production of The Music Man. My role was totally insignificant. I played bass in the orchestra. "You don't have to come and see me," I told Mama.
"你們給我們大家帶來了榮耀" 母親讓我們都能感受到家的價值和爲此驕傲。我在上高二時，一次學校上演一部叫《音樂人》的作品。我在裏面的作用真是無足輕重，只是在樂隊的低音部演奏。

"I'm not doing anything important."
"你們不必去看我演出了，"我對媽媽說。"我只是打打雜。"

"Nonsense," she said. "Of course we're coming, and we're coining because you're in the program." The whole family showed up.
　 她說："瞎說，我們當然得去，因爲你參加演出。"結果全家都到場了。

　　The next year when I was elected president of my high school's National Honor Society, my mother pulled Michael and Maria, my younger brother and sister, out of grade school and brought them to the ceremony. Other students' parents came to the event. But I was the only one with a brother and sister there.
第二年，我當選了所在高中的國民榮譽協會會長，在舉行儀式那天，母親把弟弟邁克和妹妹瑪麗亞從小學叫出來，帶他們來到會場。其他學生的家長也來了。但只有我除了父母外，還有弟弟、妹妹在場。
　　
　　"Everything you do reflects on the family," Mama explained. "If you succeed, you honor us all."'
"你們的所做所爲會給全家帶來影響，"媽媽解釋說。"如果你們取得了成功，你們就給我們大家帶來了榮耀。"

In the same way, she crowded us all around the kitchen table for breakfast and supper. She made sure we shared chores. She nurtured our religious faith, which kept our family close. Every Sunday, we filled a pew at church. At night, we knelt together in the Living room and prayed.
　　同樣，她要我們在廚房裏圍着桌子一起吃早餐和晚飯。她確保我們分擔家務。她培養我們對宗教的信仰，這使全家親密和睦。每個週日，我們去教堂做禮拜。晚上，我們一起跪在起居室裏禱告。

My mother suggested games everyone could play and often joined in. I remember laughing as she marched us around the dining-room table one evening, while John Philip Sousa boomed from the record player. "Keep in step now," she called out to her parading children. "If you're gonna march or do anything else, you always want to do it the best you can."
母親提議玩一些大家都能玩的遊戲，經常自己也參加。我記得，有天晚上，她讓我們列隊站好，並繞着餐桌齊步走，我哈哈大笑，而錄音機裏響着約翰·菲力昔·蘇沙的進行曲。"跟上節奏，步伐要整齊，"她對行進中的我們喊道。"如果你們要齊步走，或者做其它任何事，你們一定要盡力於好。"

Time for Everyone. Success wasn't just making money, Mama always said. Success was doing something positive for others.
　 分憂解愁 母親總是說，成功並不就是賺錢。成功是做有益於他人的事。

In 1977, when Leo received his Ph. D. in physics from the University of California at Irvine, my mother wrote him a long, warm letter. She praised his years of hard work and, typically, reminded him to use his education to help others. "To think, you have the knowledge to work for the betterment of mankind!" she stressed. "There is much good for you to accomplish."
　 1977年，利歐在加州大學歐文分校獲得物理學博士學位，媽媽給他寫了一封充滿溫情的長信。她讚揚了他多年的刻苦努力，還特別提醒他要把所學的知識用來幫助他人。"要記住，你有知識，可以爲改善人類的生活做出貢獻!"她強調道。"有很多好事等着你去做。"

Mama took time for everyone. One cold day, she saw the neighbors' three young children playing in our yard. They were shivering in thin, worn sweaters. Mama called the youngsters to our door, where they stared greedily at a pot of steaming homemade soup she was making for supper. She hustled them in, fed them and rummaged through our closets for extra coats.
　　媽媽總替別人分憂解愁。一個冷天，她看到鄰居三個小孩在我們院子裏玩。他們穿着很薄的破毛衣，凍得發抖。她把他們叫到門前，桌上有媽媽爲晚飯做的一鍋熱氣騰騰的肉湯，他們眼饞地盯着。媽媽讓他們都進屋，給他們吃飽飯，還在衣櫃裏到處翻尋我們不穿的外衣讓他們穿上。

From that day, until the family moved a year later, Mama often brought stew, soup and pasta to their home. She telephoned the children in the morning to make sure they got up for school. Often, she walked them down the lane and waited with them for the bus. At Christinas, she even bought the children gifts.
　　從那天起直到一年後那家人家搬走，媽媽經常給他們送些燉肉、湯和點心。早晨她用電話叫那些孩子起牀去上學。她常常送他們出小路，陪他們等車。到了聖誕節，她還給他們買禮物。

　　My mother was the driving influence in my decision to become a physician. "Do good" she always said--and be there for others. I recall a long, difficult night when I was a resident at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. I hadn't slept much for days. Finally, one morning at around four o'clock, I dropped into a restless slumber. An hour later, I awoke with a jolt. I had dreamed my father died. Confused and exhausted, I called home in tears. "Everything is all right," my mother assured me. "Don't worry."
　 我決定做一名內科醫生是受了媽媽的很大影響。她總是說要"助人爲樂"。我記起我在西北紀念醫院做值班醫生時度過的一個難熬的長夜。當時我已經有幾天沒有睡過好覺了。終於，在一天清晨大概4點鐘左右，我睡着了，但睡得很不踏實。一小時後，我突然驚醒了。我夢見父親死了。我不知所措，又精疲力竭，哭着給家裏打電話。"一切平安，"母親寬慰我說。"別擔心。"

At six o'clock, the hospital security buzzed my room. I had visitors. Stumbling into the elevator, I wondered who had come to see me at that hour. There stood my parents. They had gotten up and driven into the city in the predawn darkness. " I just wanted to make sure you were okay," Mama said, sleepy-eyed and anxious.
六點鐘，醫院保衛處打電話到我的房間，說有人找我。我急急忙忙上了電梯，心裏納悶誰會在這個時候來找我。啊，是我父母。他們天還沒亮就起牀，開車進城趕來看我。"我只想看看你是不是平安無事。"媽媽說，她睡眼艨朧，一臉焦慮。

View From Above. While my mother's spirit remained indomitable, her health turned poor. Early last year, she had major surgery. Complications developed. Eight days later, on January 31, 1990, Mama died suddenly. She was 66.
　　從天堂俯視。雖然媽媽精神依然矍鑠，但身體卻差了。去年年初她動了大手術，術後出現併發症。八天後，也就在 1990年1月31日，媽媽突然離開了我們，享年66歲。

More than 200 people came to her funeral service. In his eulogy, Leo said, "Mama poured her life out for us, reserving nothing for herself, thinking of us always, of herself never."
　　有200多人來參加她的葬禮。利歐在悼詞中說："母親把畢生都獻給了我們，對自己毫無保留，心裏總想着我們，唯獨沒有她自己。"

Sitting in church, I could picture my mother in heaven, looking young and beautiful just as she did in her favorite photograph. But instead of gazing out over Lake Michigan, she would be looking down at us, her six children. And she would be bursting with pride.
　　坐在教堂裏，我能想像出母親在天堂裏的樣子--看上去年輕、美麗，就像她那張心愛的照片上的樣子一樣。不過她不是在眺望密歇根湖，而是在向下注視着我們--她的六個孩子。她會一直爲此自豪。

But we're the proud ones--proud of her and all she accomplished. More than any of us, Mama was really somebody.
　　但應該感到自豪的是我們——爲母親及她的成就而自豪。母親比我們任何一個人都更了不起，她是真正了不起的人。