感恩亲情：父亲教给我们的13堂人生课

1. Precisely where to kick a male assailant (or an over-eager date) to make him forget about you fast.

知道踢一个男性攻击者或是热烈追求者的精准位置，让他看不到你有多迅速。

2. How to marinate a steak.

父亲教会我怎么腌牛排。

If it isn't overnight, it isn't marinated. Period. Dad could always tell.

如果没有过夜，牛排就没有腌制好。父亲总是会说，让它放一段时间。

3. How school matters a lot, but so does knowing how to change a flat on a dark and lonely road in the middle of nowhere with no one around to help you.

父亲告诉我们上学很重要，但也让我们明白在无人援助的情况下，懂得于漆黑而偏僻的马路上更换轮胎同样重要。

4. That we were never to travel on dark and lonely roads in the middle of nowhere, like ever.

父亲教导我们绝对不要像之前那次一样，走在漆黑又偏僻的道路中央。

5. To give generously to charity.

父亲教育我们要慷慨大方地做慈善。

Everyone needs a reminder that there is someone else who has less, who suffers more, who has things worse than you do. Help when and where you can -- because you can.

每个人都需要被提醒，世上有人过得更艰难，有人没有你拥有的东西多，没有你的条件好。父亲告诉我们去帮助这些人，在时间和地点允许的情况下。因为你有这个能力。

6. To never trust a cheater.

父亲说绝不要信任一个骗子。

Someone who cheats with you will cheat on you -- although at the time Dad taught us this, I think the occasion was a 5th grade math test.

父亲曾告诉我，欺骗你的人将会对你不忠，尽管我觉得当时的情境是一次五年级的数学测试。

7. Always take the aisle seat on the plane.

父亲告诉我们乘飞机时总坐在过道旁。

Faster exit in case you need to make one. First one to the bathroom after the cart clears the aisle too.

过道边的座位能让你更快离机，这么做是以防万一。（父亲还告诉我们）在过道清理完毕后，做第一个去洗手间的人。

8. Always try to help your neighbors.

父亲老教导我们试着给邻居伸出援手。

Having good neighbors will make a difference in your life. Good ones become extended family, people you can rely on in emergencies. Bad ones will make your life miserable. Do your best to help the neighbors and get along.

好邻居将给你的人生带来很大的影响，他们相当于你的又一家庭成员，是你在危急时刻可以依靠的人。而不和睦的邻居则将使你的人生悲惨。尽力帮助你的邻居，和他们好好相处吧。

9. Holidays are for family, then friends -- in that order.

父亲教育我们假期应该先和家人分享，然后才是朋友。

Celebrate holidays with your family, even if they live far away. Do your best to make them festive and happy occasions. Holidays are memory-makers.

即使家人远在千里，也要和他们一起庆祝节日。尽你最大的努力营造欢庆的气氛。假期能制造满满的回忆。

10. Bring your lunch to work.

父亲说上班时带好午餐。

Eating out every day at lunch is a waste of money. You can still take a walk around the block, but just don't fall into the trap of spending $15 a day on a sandwich or salad that you could have made for yourself.

他告诉我们每天在外边吃中饭浪费钱。你仍能在街道附近走走，但就是不要被（路边摊）诱惑，一天花上15美元买上本来你自己能做的三明治或是沙拉。

11. Save your money.

父亲教导我们节约用钱。

Even small amounts will add up. Everyone should save for a rainy day because every life will have at least a few of them.

即使是零头也能积攒出大数额。每个人都应该存钱，以防捉襟见肘，因为每个人一生中都或多或少会碰上那样的情况。

12. Don't kill yourself with worry.

父亲开导我们不要为愁所扰。

If you have 10 problems on Friday and don't think about them until Monday, there will be only three problems left. Besides, your mother worries enough for both of us, Dad would always say.

父亲总是这么对我们说，如果你在周五有十个问题，直到周一再去想它，那么最后将仅剩下三个问题。再说了，你们的母亲为你们每个人都操碎了心。（你们就没有必要担心了。）

13. Honor our soldiers.

父亲教育我们要以战士为荣。

If you see a member of our military in the airport, go thank him for his service. He's defending you, after all.

如果你在几场看到一名军队战士，走过去感谢他的服务。毕竟他正在守卫你的安全。