The Time You Spent
Classes came,
Classes went,
It's worth a lot,
The time you spent.
Congratulations
Are now due
To the graduate,
Special you!
By Joanna Fuchs
以下是約翰•奧哈拉(John O' hara,1905-1970)寫給女兒的一封信。
女兒將從中學畢業，這就意味著她將不再是小孩了。
在這人生關鍵時刻，作為父親，
他既對女兒過去的表現表示滿意，也對女兒的將來充滿信心。然而，
他卻不忘再次重複自己對女兒立身行事的一句忠告：真誠地對待自己。
這是要求女兒具有自信、自助、自律、自尊、自愛的品質。
My dear:
Well, here we are — but not here. You at St. Tim's, Sister in Princeton, and me in Quogue, and another brand new year is about to start for you. For me, too. I always seem to approach the autumn in the frame of mind that spring induces in most people. The excitement of new things; the new plays, the new books, new clothes, etc., etc., etc. At the same time the autumn for me is a season of a sweet melancholy that is hard to explain. I love the early evenings, the leaves burning, the lights in houses.
It is the beginning of a big year for you, in many respects your biggest so far. By the time June comes around you will be 18, and graduating from school. In the past week or so I have called you “Kid” but subconsciously I have been doing that because your kid days are over, or just about. I suspect that you are going through the experience of first love, and no matter what else happens, after that experience you are never a kid again.
Most of the nice things we associate with being a kid are okay — while you are still kid. But you gain more than you lose. You gain in understanding standing, in appreciation of people, in understanding and appreciation of yourself. You begin to see the wisdom in that quotation I have so often repeated to you: to thine own self be true. Every year at this time I have repeated that quotation to you, and the time is not really too far distant when you will be passing it on to your own children. It is probably the best single piece of advice I can give you, or you can give them.
You have done well, and I am pleased with you, not only for what you have done, but for what you are. As Miss Finnegan said to Sister, “Wylie has the right reactions.” So good luck in your Senior Year, and always know that the old man loves you very much.
Always
Dad
Classes came,
Classes went,
It's worth a lot,
The time you spent.
Congratulations
Are now due
To the graduate,
Special you!
By Joanna Fuchs
以下是約翰•奧哈拉(John O' hara,1905-1970)寫給女兒的一封信。
女兒將從中學畢業，這就意味著她將不再是小孩了。
在這人生關鍵時刻，作為父親，
他既對女兒過去的表現表示滿意，也對女兒的將來充滿信心。然而，
他卻不忘再次重複自己對女兒立身行事的一句忠告：真誠地對待自己。
這是要求女兒具有自信、自助、自律、自尊、自愛的品質。
My dear:
Well, here we are — but not here. You at St. Tim's, Sister in Princeton, and me in Quogue, and another brand new year is about to start for you. For me, too. I always seem to approach the autumn in the frame of mind that spring induces in most people. The excitement of new things; the new plays, the new books, new clothes, etc., etc., etc. At the same time the autumn for me is a season of a sweet melancholy that is hard to explain. I love the early evenings, the leaves burning, the lights in houses.
It is the beginning of a big year for you, in many respects your biggest so far. By the time June comes around you will be 18, and graduating from school. In the past week or so I have called you “Kid” but subconsciously I have been doing that because your kid days are over, or just about. I suspect that you are going through the experience of first love, and no matter what else happens, after that experience you are never a kid again.
Most of the nice things we associate with being a kid are okay — while you are still kid. But you gain more than you lose. You gain in understanding standing, in appreciation of people, in understanding and appreciation of yourself. You begin to see the wisdom in that quotation I have so often repeated to you: to thine own self be true. Every year at this time I have repeated that quotation to you, and the time is not really too far distant when you will be passing it on to your own children. It is probably the best single piece of advice I can give you, or you can give them.
You have done well, and I am pleased with you, not only for what you have done, but for what you are. As Miss Finnegan said to Sister, “Wylie has the right reactions.” So good luck in your Senior Year, and always know that the old man loves you very much.
Always
Dad
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