A Tomb-sweeping Trip
掃墓行
昨天早上6點整，我一骨碌從床上爬起來，草草吃了早點，就和兒子一起往車站奔，好趕早班車。
At 6:00 sharp yesterday morning, I got out of bed without much ado and grabbed a quick bite before I and my son rushed to the bus stop for an early bus.
我們等了好久，就是不見公車停下來載客，車都擠得滿滿的。我們只好想其他辦法走，因為時間非常緊張。
We waited for quite long only to find that no bus would stop for more passengers as they were all packed to their full. We had to try other means possible to make it as we were really pressed for time.
快到10點時，我們才從擁擠的車上下來，來到小鎮，這里離我父母的墳山還要步行30分鐘。所以我們得趕緊，快步趕路。
It was almost 10:00 that we were quickly dumped out of the bus at a small town which was still a 30-minute walk to the tombs of my father and mother. So we had to walk as fast as our legs could carry us.
最后，我們終于到了。哇！兩座墳在這片墓地里一點也不起眼，而且上面爬滿了雜草和小樹。我們立馬干起活來：把雜草和小樹砍掉，這活可不輕，要好體力才行。
Finally we came to the very place. Wow! The two Tombs stood insignificant or remained in the background in the cemetery. They were totally sheltered by the wild grass and small trees. We could not wait but rushed to work: cutting off the grass and small trees, which would take us a lot of labor and energy.
砍著雜草和小樹，我不由自主陷入了深思：父親戎馬一生，抗日打鬼子，后來又參加解放戰爭，和國民黨軍拼殺，整個青春盛年都這樣度過了。解放后，他響應黨的號召，為建設好新農村再建新功，毅然決然來到農村安家立戶。在這窮鄉僻壤，他辛勤勞作，什么農活都干，慢慢度過了的余生。當然，母親一生也沒少吃苦，一群調皮的孩子，吃喝拉撒也夠她受的。
While cutting the grass and trees, I found myself lost in deep thought: my father spent his prime years as a soldier in fighting against the Japanese invaders and the KMT troops. After liberation he took his initiative to settle down in the rural area in response to the CPC Party’s call for making a new contribution for the benefit of the rural revival. So he toiled away his remaining years in the poverty-stricken place, doing all kinds of farm work. Sure, my mother also suffered a lot in her life, nursing and taming a small group of naughty and hungry kids.
這時，我感到心跳加快，因為我想起自己的生存狀況：自由職業者，成天干些要命的翻譯活，掙到手里的錢少得可憐，勉強糊口度日罷了。我敢說，我的生存狀況絕對不是父母所希望的。我要罵自己無能，都這把年歲了，還過著這般狼狽不堪的日子。一想起這些，我就不能自持，真要狠狠地抽自己幾個響亮的耳光，我感覺羞愧，辜負了父母。
Just at that moment I felt my heart throbbing faster as I thought of my own survival status: a freelancer doing all backbreaking work (translation) all day long to earn the chicken feed and live from hand to mouth, which, I dare say, was totally out of the expectation from both of them. I had to scold myself for being such an incompetent man, leading a dog’s life even in my advanced years. At the mere thought of all these, I could not contain myself and just wanted to slap my face hard as I felt greatly ashamed of myself.
突然間，我抬起頭一下子看到我兒子，他也在忙著干活。我立刻就恢復了常態。我不該想得太多。畢竟這些年來，我自己從來也都沒敢放松，更別說放縱享樂，盡管這些年來我都過得悶悶不樂、郁郁寡歡。
All of a sudden, I raised my head and caught sight of my own son who was also busy with what he should do. I immediately regained my normal sense and condition. I should not go that far and think more of that. Anyhow with the elapse of years, I never relax myself at work, to say nothing of abandoning myself to leisure and amusement even though I am blue or down in the dumps all along.
說實在的，兒子是我生活的動力，我應該擯棄煩惱，不畏困難，為祥和的晚年生活而堅持奮斗。
So my son is my life motivator and I should try hard to struggle against all anxieties and hardships towards a peaceful and smooth life in my later years.
清理完雜草和小樹，墳墓也清掃干凈了，看上去也利落了許多。然后，我們照例進行了祭祀儀式，擺放好食物和酒水，然后燒紙燒香。最后，我們跪下磕頭，向我們逝去的親人表示虔誠的敬意。
After we swept the two Tombs by clearing them of the grass and small trees, they stood there, looking as neat as uncluttered. Then we went through the routine sacrificial rites, serving the prepared food and liquor, burning paper money together with incense. At last we both fell on our knees and devoutly kowtowed to show deference to our late loved ones.
今年清明節將至，在這個特殊的時刻，我們應緬懷逝去的親人，給他們掃墓去，以表思念之情，回憶他們生前對我們所有的好和功德，所以我們要把對他們的記憶珍藏在心里。
On this special occasion, with this year’s Tomb-sweeping Day approaching just at hand, we should take our late loved ones to our hearts by paying respects to them at their tombs, recalling their kindness and good turns done us, so we cherish the memory of them and their past merits and virtues.
不過，僅僅思念是遠遠不夠的，我們應利用這個時機捫心自問：自己真的盡力做到最好并沒有辜負先輩的期望嗎？假如我們覺得自己做的不夠好，甚至辜負了他們的希望，我們就該做些調整，要去迎接新的人生挑戰，因為我們每個人在家族中都承擔著承前啟后的重任，既要向先輩又要向后輩有個交代。我們上要對得起先輩，下要成為后輩的榜樣，所以我們要義不容辭地去努力工作并快樂地生活著。
However, this is far from being desired as we should avail ourselves of this occasion to reflect upon our own efforts and try to prove ourselves worthy of the expectation of our predecessors. If we find ourselves failing to live up to what we know to be right or our promises, we’d better fine-tune ourselves and try to gear up for new challenges in life as each of us is actually placed in the middle of the family tree, or between our ancestors and our descendants. We are duty-bound to efficiently and happily work our way towards the great expectation of our seniors and juniors.
