I love my mom. But it would be hard to deny that I have been somewhat relieved to have 2,000 miles between us since she moved back to Mississippi.

 

我爱妈妈。但不可否认，自从她搬回密西西比州，我们之间这 2000 英里的距离确实让我松了口气。

 

My mother is the bipolar product of an anxious Japanese woman and a stereotypical Southern man.

 

我的妈妈有着双重性格，她既像一个热情奔放的日本女子，又像一个古板保守的南方男人。

 

Raised in the South, she was a teenage hippie, minus the politics and plus a country-club membership.

 

她在南方长大，青年时期她是一个嬉皮士，很少投身于政治，却经常去参加乡村俱乐部并成为其中的会员。

 

She and my dad the product of a talented salesman and an immaculated housewife moved from Mississippi to Hollywood in the 70s so he could become a professional musician.

 

她和我爸爸一个才华横溢的推销员和完美主妇二者相加的产物在 70年代便从密西西比搬到了好莱坞，这样做是为了让他成为一名专业音乐人。

 

In sixth grade, my dad announced their separation and divorce.

 

在我上六年级的时候，爸爸便宣告与妈妈分居、离婚。

 

It wasn't especially surprising, but I cried, and then thought that living in two places might be fun.

 

虽然这不算特别意外，但我还是哭了，而后又想到在两个地方生活也许颇为有趣。

 

Through the years, my mom has taught me many things, not so much through her words,but through her actions.

 

许多年过去了，妈妈教会了我许多东西，但大多不是用言传，而是身教。

 

I remember watching her bake cheesecakes, hem skirts, efficiently manage departments at Macy's and stand up for her children.

 

我记得看着她烤牛乳饼，给衣裙缝边，高效率地管理梅西商场的各个部门以及站出来为她的孩子辩护。

 

But I also remember my mother twisting words so she'd appear in a more favorable light,spending money she didn't have, choosing “friends” she correctly believed she was above,and investing in weak pride because she lacked confidence in her skills, talents and future.

 

但我同样记得妈妈也曾用曲解言辞的做法来使自己的形象更加光彩，也曾挥霍原本不属于自己的钱，也曾结交那些她自认为，也确实没有她高明的人为朋友，也曾因为对自身能力、天赋以及未来缺乏信心而去做不当的投资。

 

I remember my mother doing all these things, and I remember my dad explaining her childhood and early adulthood: her emotional abuse, her drug abuse, her promiscuity and her avoidance of therapy and help. I remember my dad reassuring me that I wouldn't “be like my mother”, but I knew that before he said it.

 

我能记得妈妈做过的所有一切，也能记得爸爸如何为她的童年以及成年初期来解释：她乱发脾气、吸毒、乱性、抗拒治疗和帮助。记得父亲曾向我保证我不会“变成妈妈那个样子”，不过这一点在这以前我早就清楚。

 

I enjoy life, its belessings and challenges, I am thankful for my abilities, and for the people in life who help where I am weak.

 

我热爱生活，热爱生活的美好和坎坷，我为自己拥有的能力而心存感激，同时我感谢生活中那些帮助我进步的人们。

 

And I realize that the most I share with my mom is a knack for making cheesecake, a talent for taking the wrong exits on freeways, gratitude for our time spent reading and playing together, and thankfulness for an always mutual love.

 

我还知道我和妈妈最大的共同处就是：会做很好吃的牛乳饼，在高速公路上总是走错出口，对我们在一起看书和玩耍而心存感激以及对我们拥有对彼此永恒的爱心而感恩不已。

 

I love mom: that's never been hard, though it's certainly been a struggle to respect the woman who made so many faulty decisions that led to a nearly hopeless life.

 

我爱妈妈，爱她从来不是一件难事，尽管要尊重一个因为做出过多错误决定而几乎招致生活无望的女人是得经过一番努力。

 

It's still a struggle to think of my mother and not cry for her, and want her to enjoy life.

 

而要在想到妈妈时不会为她哭泣，期盼她生活顺心，也要费很大工夫。

 

And because of these things it's tempting to think life is unkind, but stronger than that temptation is the knowledge that my parents have always, and will always, love ,cherish,support, and in two very different ways, teach their children what they can.

 

想到这些，我会很容易觉得生活并不美好，而这时另一种感受会比这更加强烈，那就是：我的父母一直、永远都在宠爱、珍视、支持以及用两种截然不同的方式尽其所能地教育着他们的孩子。

 

Because of this, I know I'm tremendously fortunate.

 

正因如此，我知道，我幸运极了!