阅读理解
I made a pledge(发誓) to myself on the way down to the vacation beach cottage. For two
weeks I would try to be a loving husband and father. Totally loving. No ifs, ands or buts.
The idea had come to me as I listened to a
talk on my car radio. The speaker was quoting (引用) a
Biblical(圣经的) passage about husbands being thoughtful(体贴的) of their wives. Then he went on to say. "Love is an act of
will. A person can choose to love. "To myself, I had to admit that I had
been a selfish husband. Well, for two weeks that would change
And it did. Right from the moment I kissed
Evelyn at the door and said, "That new yellow sweater looks great on you."
"Oh, Tom, you noticed," she said,
surprised and pleased, maybe a little puzzled.
After the long drive, I wanted to sit and
read. Evelyn suggested a walk on the beach. I started to refuse, but then I
thought, "Evelyn's been alone here with the kids all the week and now she
wants to stay with me." We walked on the beach while the children flew
their kites.
So it went. Two weeks of not calling the
Wall Street firm where I am a director; a visit to the shell museum though I
usually hate museums. Relaxed and happy, that's how the whole vacation passed.
I made a new pledge to keep on remembering to choose love. There was one thing that went wrong with
my experiment, however. Evelyn and I still laugh about it today. Last night at
our cottage, preparing for bed, Evelyn stared at me with the saddest
expression.
"What's the matter?" I asked her.
"Tom," she said in a voice filled
with distress, "do you know something I don't?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well…that
checkup(体检)I had several weeks ago… our doctor…did he
tell you something about me? Tom, you've been so good to me…am I dying?"
It took a moment for it all to sink in.
Then I burst out laughing.
"No, honey, "I said, wrapping her
in my arms." You're not dying; I'm
just starting to live."