50 Things to Do Before I Die
佚名 / Anonymous
A few weeks ago， I followed a friend into an art-supply store. I found him picking out tubes of water-color paint， which surprised me because he’s not an artist.
“I signed up for a water-color class， and it starts next week，” he said sheepishly， “I don’t really have time for it， but it was on my list of 50 things to do before I die， so I went for it.” This sounds interesting， “What else is on the list？” I asked him.
“All kinds of things，” he said， “Every few months I look at the list and decide what to focus on next. Before I had the list， I moaned a lot about what I was missing in my life. Now I just do stuff. ”
“Can I see your list sometime？” I asked.
“I don't know，” he said， “it reveals a lot about me. Write your own list， and you'll see what I mean.”
So that night I did just that， and he was right. The list revealed a whole lot about what was important to me. It also revealed how hopelessly behind I am at getting to the things I really want.
Just writing the list helped me sort through some of my prioritiess. I filled up the first 20 blanks quickly， but then began to think carefully. Eventually I added items I've thought about for years， dreams I’ve carried with me since I was young， and things that resonated when I first heard about them. When I reviewed the list later， some entries surprised me.
First， I want to travel much more， particularly now that my children are older and can go with me to see the world. I would like to take them to bike through Denmark and camp in the Canadian Rockies.
I’m also surprised to find some things on the list that need to be done soon. If I’m going to learn to roller-blade， for instance， I’d better start before I turn 50.
A few of the items are intimidating because they mean a serious commitment of some sort. I would like to publish a novel before I die， and I also would like to learn to play piano with a string quartet. If I'm going to accomplish these things， I need to start writing every day and polishing my piano skills.
Like my friend， I now have an alternative to complaining. When I'm bored with life， I take out my list. Maybe I’ll send off for travel brochures or sit down in front of the piano.
I have a cousin who has accomplished an amazing string of interesting things. She told me the key was preparing the ground so that life could work in mysterious ways. “If you want your ship to come in， you must build a dock，” she said.
Thanks to my list， I’m working on some big docks.
几周前，我和一个朋友去了一家美术用品商店。他不画画，所以当看到他挑选水彩时，我觉得很奇怪。
“我在一个水彩画学习班报了名，下周开课，”他羞怯地说，“事实上我根本没时间去学，可那却是我列出的一辈子要做的50件事之一，所以我还是报名了。”听起来很有趣。我便问他：“你列出的还有别的什么事呢？”
“各种各样，”他说，“每隔几个月我就拿出单子来看看，决定下次该做什么事。在没列出这个单子时，我总对生活中失去的太多而感慨。而如今我只是努力使生活更充实。”
“我什么时候可以看看你的单子吗？”我问。
“不知道，”他回答，“它毫无保留地将自我展现出来。你若也列出自己的单子，就会理解我的意思。”
那晚，我照他的建议做了，的确没错。这个单子将我生活中的重要事情突显出来，并使我意识到，有些我确实想得到的东西，如今已无力获取。
列出单子，使我思绪清晰，主次分明了。我很快把前20项填好了，然后开始仔细思考。最后，我附加了一些心中多年的愿望，年少时的梦想，以及第一次听到就引起心灵共鸣的憧憬。最后我又看了一遍单子，有些条款令我自己都很吃惊。
首先我想更多地游览世界，特别是现在，孩子都长大了，可以同我一道去看世界。我想带他们骑车穿越丹麦，去加拿大的落基山脉露营。
我惊异地发现单子上有很多事情我应该尽快去做。比如，我想学会滑旱冰，那须在50岁之前学才好。
有几项看起来几乎不可能，因为它们需要付出许多。我想在死前出版一部小说，还想在一个弦乐四重奏乐团做钢琴伴奏。如果我想实现这些愿望，就必须每天练习写作和提高钢琴演奏技艺。
我和朋友一样，怨天尤人时，也有了另一种选择。当对生活厌烦时，我就把那张单子拿出来。或许我也会写信索取一份旅游指南，或坐到钢琴前弹上几曲。
我的一个多才多艺的表姐曾告诉我说，创造奇迹生活的关键是夯实基础。她说：“如果你想让船进港，必须先建好码头。”
我正在筹建几个大码头，真要感谢这张单子。
记忆填空
1. So that night I did just ， and he was right. The list revealed a lot about what was important to . It also revealed how hopelessly I am at getting to the things I really .
2. A few of the are intimidating because they a serious commitment of some sort. I would like to publish a before I die， and I also would like to to play piano with a string quartet.
3. I have a cousin who has accomplished an amazing string of interesting . She told me the was preparing the ground so that life could work mysterious ways.“If you want your ship to come in， you must a dock，” she said.
佳句翻译
1. 每隔几个月我就拿出单子来看看，决定下次该做什么事。
2. 列出单子，使我思绪清晰，主次分明了。
3. 我和朋友一样，怨天尤人时，也有了另一种选择。
短语应用
1. I’m also surprised to find some things on the list that need to be done soon.
be surprised to：对……感到惊讶
2. If I’m going to learn to roller-blade， for instance.
for instance：例如