I was ten years old
那時我十歲

riding my bicycle
騎著自己的自行車

at break-neck speed
速度足以讓我摔斷脖子

down a hill near my home.
從家附近的山坡上向下俯沖

This was long before bike helmets were used
自行車頭盔是很久之后才發(fā)明的

Only a month before
就在一個月之前

I had hit a rock in the road,
我撞到馬路上的一塊石頭

flown over my handlebars
從車把手前面飛了出去

and smashed open my skull .
腦瓜開了瓢

I had walked home bleeding,
我渾身是血，走回了家

terrified my Mom,
嚇壞了我的母親

and gotten a trip to the hospital
去了一趟醫(yī)院

to have my skull stitched shut again.
才把我的腦殼縫合好了

The memory of a boy is brief, however,
可是，小男孩都是好了傷疤忘了疼

so here I was back on my bike,
所以此刻我又在自己的自行車上了

flying fearlessly down a hill again.
義無反顧，飛也似地從山坡上往下沖

I was picking up speed
我一路加速

as I neared a curve in the road.
很快沖到馬路上的一個拐彎處

I started to hit my brakes when I saw it:
直到我看到一樣?xùn)|西，才開始猛踩剎車

a pothole in the road.
馬路上有一個大坑！

Not wanting to go flying over my handlebars again
我可不想第二次從車把手前面飛出去

I twisted my wheel
我調(diào)轉(zhuǎn)車頭

and stomped on my foot brakes
踩住腳下的剎車

as hard as I could.
用盡全力

I could hear the tires skidding
我聽到輪胎摩擦地面的聲音

as I flew off the bike.
接著就從車上飛了起來

Thankfully,
幸好

this time I landed on my back
這次我是背部著地

and in the soft grass
底下是柔軟的草地

of the field along the side of the road.
原來是路邊的一塊草坪

I got up and laughed.
我站起來，大笑起來

I was happy to be alive
我為自己還活著感到高興

and ready for one more ride
準備好了再騎一次

before heading home.
然后再回家

These days
如今

I am fifty one years old
我已經(jīng)五十一歲了

and my bike riding days are far behind me.
騎著自行車撒野的歲月早已離我而去

I try not to stress my guardian too much these days either.
不過，我仍不敢讓自己的看護人過于心力憔悴

I am sure
我很確信

I made him work hard enough when I was a boy.
當自己年少的時候，我已經(jīng)給他添了夠多的麻煩了

These days
如今

my adventures involve
我的冒險舉動包括

hugging my boys
擁抱我的兩個兒子

and petting my dogs.
輕拍我的狗

Still,
仍然

each day
每天

when I wake up in the morning
當我早上起床的時候

I am happy to be alive.
我為自己活著感到高興

Each day when I open my eyes
每天我睜開眼睛的時候

I am ready
我都準備好了

for one more ride through this life
在這趟生命之旅中再騎一次

before heading home.
在我回“家”之前

I am not sure
我不知道

how many days, months, or years I have left
自己還剩下多少天，多少個月，抑或多少年

but I am determined
但我決心

to live them all in laughter, love and joy.
要用歡笑，愛和喜悅度過每一天

Life is a glorious adventure .
生命是一次榮耀的冒險

Its most exciting parts, though ,
不過，這旅行中最精彩的時刻

aren’t when you risk your neck.
卻不是你差點摔斷脖子的時候

They are when you share your heart.
而是你將自己的心意分享出去的時候

May you give your love freely,
愿你能自由的播撒自己的愛

to yourself,
愿你愛自己

and to everyone else.
也愛所有其他的人

May you make your ride through this life
希望你能讓自己在這一世的旅行

a joyous one for everyone you can.
讓盡可能多的人感到快樂