奶奶送给我的那瓶种子，本文主要内容关键词为：奶奶论文,种子论文，此文献不代表本站观点，内容供学术参考，文章仅供参考阅读下载。
Being the youngest of four girls,Iusually saw to（注：负责，注意（去做），照料） GrandmaLous needs at family gatherings.Lucinda Mae Hamish-GrandmaLou for short-was a tall twig of a woman,with a long graybraid and sharp features.She was the undisputed MasterGardener in our family,for she had come of age（注：成年，到达法定年龄）in the Depression,where she learned to use every old thing twice.Andwhen it was worn out,she'd use it again-in her garden.
When Grandma Lou visited,she brought packets of her own seeds,folded in scraps of envelopes and labeled with instructions.Her handwriting was precise and square.She gave each of us aparticular plant:usually tomatoes and carrots and marigoldsfor my sisters-fool-proof（注：（程序、机械装置等）简单得连傻子都懂得，不会出差错的） sorts of seeds;for mysisters were impatient and neglectful gardeners.But for me,she saved the more fragile varieties.
At the time of my next oldest sister's wedding,Grandma Louwas eighty-four and living alone,still weeding her large bedsherself.And as she had for my older sisters' weddings,GrandmaLou gave Jenny a Mason jar（注：梅森食品瓶（一种有密封螺旋盖的家用大口玻璃瓶，用来腌制或保存食品，John Mason于1858年获得该瓶的专利）） layered with seeds from her garden.
Round and round the colorful spiral of seeds curled in thefat-mouthed jar.Heavy beans in rich,deep earth tones held thebottom steady.Next came corn kernels,polished in cheesecloth（注：干酪包布（一种薄纱织物，原作包干酪、黄油之用，现也用以制作衣服、窗帘等）） until they gleamed like gold.Flat seeds of cucumber,squash and watermelon filled the upper reaches,interspersed with the feathery dots of marigolds.At the very top,separated with cheesecloth,were the finer herb seeds of mint and basil.The jar was crowned with a gleaming brass lid and a cheerful ribbon.There was a lifetime supply of seeds pressed into the jar;a whole garden's worth of food for the new couple.
Two years later,Grandma Lou suffered a stroke,which forced herinto an assisted-living apartment.And though she was unable to attend my own wedding that year,l was delighted to see a Mason jar among the brigtly wrapped gifts at my reception.
But unlike its predecessors,my jar held no graceful pattern ofseeds.lnstead,it was a haphazard blend,as if all the seeds hadbeen dumped into a pillowcase and then poured into the jar.Eventhe lid seemed like an after-thought,for it was rusty and well used.But considering Grandma Lou's state of health,l felt blessed that she remembered the gentle tradition at all.
My groom,Mark found work in the city,and we moved into a smallapartment.A garden was all but impossible,so l consoled myself by placing the seed jar in our living room.There it stood as a promise to return to the garden.
Grandma Lou died the year our twins were born.By the time oursons were toddlers,l had moved the seed jar to the top of the refrigerator,where their curious little hands couldn't tip overmy treasure.
Eventually we moved to a house,but there still wasn't enoughsun in our yard to plant a proper garden.Struggling yet courageous fescue（注：羊茅（用作牧草及草坪草）） grass vied for what little space there was between the dandelions（注：蒲公英）,and it was all I could do to keep it mowed and occasionally watered.
The boys grew up overnight,much like the weeds I continuously pulled.Soon they were out on their own,and Mark was looking at retirement.We spent our,quiet evenings planning for a little place in the country,where Mark could fish and I could have a proper garden.
A year later,Mark was hit by a drunk driver,paralyzing him from the neck down.Our savings went to physical therapy,and Markgained some weak mobility in his arms and hands.But the simple day-to-day necessities still required a nurse.
Between the hospital visits and the financial worries,I was exhausted.Soon Mark would be released to my care,and at half his size,.I knew I wouldn't even be able to lift him into our bed.I didn't know what I would do.We couldn't afford a day nurse,let alone full-time help,and assisted-care apartments were way out of our range.
Left to myself,I was so tired I wouldn't even bother to eat.But Jenny,my sister who lived nearby,visited me daily,forcing me to take a few bites of this or that.One night she arrivedwith a pan of lasagna,and she chatted cheerfully as we set our places.When she asked about Mark,I broke down in tears,explaininghow he'd be-home soon'and how tight our money was running.She Offered her own modest savings-even offered to move in and helptake care of him- but I knew Mark's pride wouldn't allow it.
I stared down at my plate,my appetite all but gone.In the quiet that fell between us,despair settled down to dinner like an old friend.Finally I pulled myself together and asked her to help me with the dishes.Jenny nodded and rose to put the leftover lasagna away.As the refrigerator door flopped to a close,the seed jar on top rattled against the wall.Jenny turned at the sound."What's this?" she asked,and reached for the jar.
Looking up from the sink,I said,"Oh,that's just Grandma Lou's seed jar.We each got one for a wedding present,remember?" Jennylooked at me,then studied the jar.
"You mean you never opened it?" she asked.
"Never had a patch of soil good enough for a garden,"I guess.
Jenny tucked（注：把……塞到下面，夹着） the jar in one arm and grabbed my sudsy（注：〈美〉多肥皂泡沫的） hand in her other."Come on!" she said excitedly.
Half dragging me,she went back to the dinner table.It took three tries,but she finally got the lid loose and over -turned the jar upon the table.Seeds went bouncing everywhere!"What are you doing?!" I cried,scrambling（注：争着（做）） to catch them.A pile of faded brown and tan seeds slid out around an old,yellow envelope.Jenny plucked it from the pile and handed it to me.
"Open it," she said,with a smile.Inside I found five stock certificates,each for one hundred shares.Reading the company names,our eyes widened in recognition.
"Do you have any idea what these are worth by now?"she asked.
I gathered a handful of seeds to my lips and said a silent prayer of thanks to Grandma Lou.She had been tending a garden for me all these years and had pressed a lifetime supply of love into that old Mason jar.
由于我是家里四个女孩中年纪最小的一个，所以每次家庭聚会的时候，照料露奶奶的担子就落在了我的肩上。露奶奶的全名叫露辛达·梅·哈米什。她是一个又高又瘦的女人，脸型棱角分明，一头灰白的长发编成辫子。成年后的露奶奶经历了经济大萧条时期的艰难岁月，学会了如何再次利用废旧物品——每件破旧磨损的物品，她都会拿到自己的花园里再用——因此，她是我们家当之无愧的园艺大师。
露奶奶每次到访时，总会带几包她自己采集的种子，并把它们用破信封纸包好，再贴上播种说明。她的书写工整准确。而且，她给我们每个人的种子都不一样：通常，她给我的姐姐们的多是西红柿、胡萝卜和万寿菊的种子——非常好种又不需要特别照顾的傻瓜式种子，因为我的姐姐们对种植蔬菜一点耐性都没有，而且还疏于管理。但是，她给我的却是那些需要精心护理的种类。
我二姐结婚时，露姐姐已经八十四岁了，仍旧过着独居生活，亲自照料打理她那一大片菜园。和我其他姐姐结婚时一样，她送给二姐詹妮的结婚礼物也是用梅森食品瓶装好的、从她的菜园里采集来的一层层种子。
在这个广口瓶里，装满了各种各样、五颜六色的种子，而每一类种子装一层。最底层装的是深土色的圆润的大豆，由于它们比较重，放在瓶底可起稳固作用。大豆的上方是一层用干酪包布擦得像黄金一样闪闪发光的玉米种子。而在玉米种子的上方，则分别铺着一层层扁平的黄瓜、南瓜和西瓜的种子，中间点缀着羽毛般轻柔的万寿菊种子。在瓶子顶部，则是一层用干酪包布隔开的薄荷、罗勒等优质药草的种子。瓶子配上一个闪闪发光的黄铜盖子，还系着一条漂亮喜气的缎带。瓶里面盛满了一个人一生所需要的种子，以及整个菜园所能提供给一对新婚夫妇的所有食物。
两年后，露奶奶中风了，这使她不得不住进老年护理院。那年，虽然她不能来参加我的婚礼，但是，我却惊喜地在我收到的那些包装亮丽的贺礼中发现一个梅森食品瓶。
但是，露奶奶送给我的这瓶种子只是很随意地混合在一起，就好像是把各种各样的种子一股脑儿地全都装进枕头套里，再把它们倒进这个瓶子里似的，一点儿也不像给我三个姐姐的摆放得那么整齐优美。就连那个瓶盖也像是事后猛然想起来，随便找来一个盖上去似的。因为它早巳被用得锈迹斑斑，破旧不堪了，但是，想到露奶奶的身体状况，我便能感受到她对我的祝福，因为她居然还记得这个温臀的传统。
我的丈夫马克在城里找到了一份工作，所以，我们就搬进了城里的一处小公寓里。想要拥有一片菜园是绝对不可能的了，于是，我就把那瓶种子放在起居室里，借以安慰自己，这瓶种子就像是重返菜园的承诺一样，守护在那儿。
就在我生下了一对双胞胎的那年，露奶奶与世长辞了。到了我的儿子们开始学走路的时候，我把那瓶种子放到了电冰箱上，以免好奇的他们打翻我的宝物。
后来，我们终于搬进了一栋房子，但是院子里却没有足够的阳光来开垦一个正式的菜园。院子里到处长满了蒲公英，勇敢的羊茅顽强地拼搏着，争取蒲公英之间那狭小的生存空间。而我所能做的就只有割割草。或者偶尔给它们浇浇水。
孩子们一眨眼就长大了，快得就像我不停地要拔除的杂草一样。很快，他们就各自离家独立了。而马克也打算要退休了。在每一个静谧的夜晚，我和马克部计划着将来要到乡下找一块地方，让马克可以钓钓鱼，而我则可以拥有一片正式的菜园。
但是。一年之后，马克被一个醉酒驾驶的司机撞伤，致使他从颈部以下全身瘫痪。为了给他进行物理治疗，我们耗尽了所有的积蓄，马克的胳膊和手才勉强能够轻微活动，但是，他每天的饮食起居却还是需要一个护理人员。
我在医院探病和家庭经济困难之间疲于奔命。马克不久就要出院交由我照顾了。可是，我只有他一半的块头，根本连把他抱到床上的力气都没有。我束手无策，我们连雇用日间护理员的钱都没有，更不用说全职护理员了；而提供协助护理的公寓也大大超出我们的能力范围。
只剩下我一个人的时候，我会疲惫到甚至连饭都不想吃。但是，詹妮——我那住在附近的二姐，每天都来看我，并且强迫我吃些东西。一天晚上，她带来一大锅卤汁面条给我。然后，我们一边整理收拾要坐的地方，她就一边高高兴兴地跟我闲聊着。当她问起马克时，我便禁不住泪如雨下。我如实告诉她马克要出院由我照料以及我们手头拮据的事情，她主动提供自己那微薄的积蓄——甚至还提出要搬过来帮我照顾马克。但是，我知道马克的自尊心是绝对不会答应的。
我低头看着我那盘卤汁面条，却连一点胃口都没有。就在我们的静默当中，绝望就像是一位老朋友一样来到餐桌旁。最后，我强打精神，请求詹妮帮我收拾碗碟。她点点头，起身将吃剩的卤汁面条拿走。当冰箱门砰然关闭的时候，放在冰箱上的那瓶种子与墙壁碰撞得格格作响。詹妮连忙回头看着声源。“这是什么呀？”她边问边拿起那瓶种子。
我从洗涤槽里抬起头，看着那瓶种子，说：“噢，那是露奶奶送给我的那瓶种子。你还记得吗，我们结婚的时候，露奶奶不是每人都送了一瓶种子吗？”詹妮看了看我，然后开始仔细地研究起那瓶种子来。
“你是说你从来都没有打开过它？”她问。
“我想我至今还没有找到一块好得足以做菜园的土地。”
詹妮把那瓶种子夹在手臂下，另一只手抓起我那沾满肥皂泡沫的手，激动地对我说：“跟我来！”
她几乎是连拖带拽地把我拉到餐桌前。她连试了三次才把盖子拧松。然后，她把瓶子翻转放在桌子上，种子顷刻间蹦得到处都是。“你在干什么？！”我大声叫道，双手并用地要把它们抓回来。只见一堆褪了色的棕色和黄褐色种子沿着一个黄色的旧信封滑下来。詹妮把信封拿起来递给我。
“打开它，”她微笑地说。信封里面放着五张股票凭证，每张都是一百股。看着这些股票，我们认出了上面公司的名字，不禁睁大了眼睛。
“你知道这些股票现在值多少钱吗？”詹妮问道。
我捧起了一把种子放在唇边。默默地祈祷感谢露奶奶。这些年来，露奶奶一直为我经营着一片菜园，并且连同她对我凝聚着的一生的爱都一起挤进了这个用旧了的梅森食品瓶里。