2018-06-17
【Aiden in English】 When summertime comes around, everyone has one destination in mind: the beach. The beach becomes an annual trip during the summer of every year, in which my family takes three or four visits in a month. I enjoy the waters, the feeling of freedom, and the numbing sensation as my lower body loses circulation in the frigid ocean. This year, we are invited to a retreat in Atlantic City the day right after my 9th grade was over. It means that the entire family had to come in on Saturday. I wasn’t in the mood to swim, considering this summer has been the coolest one I’ve ever experienced by now. However, a few of my friends were going, so they could keep me entertained.
While the water is still unbearably cold, I did bring a football to toss around. At first, I thought this entire trip was going to be a waste of time. However, when I got there, I let the vacation side of me flow. That involved throwing sand in your friend’s eyes, eating funnel cake, and not telling your mom where you are, even when she calls. We met new people on the beach, including some all-state football players, which was super cool. That dude had a cannon for an arm. We made a sandcastle, which I killed into my friend’s face as soon as it was completed. Worth it. Eventually, we got dinner and played card games until midnight.
An unusual day at the beach, but it does take my mind off one large concern: I left Pennbrook Middle School for the last time this past Friday. Although students become increasingly detached from school as they grow older, Pennbrook really did make me feel special. I thought of it as the first time I could choose how much responsibility I could hold or needed to bear. Now, a strange sense of relief has crashed upon me, and I’m not sure how to handle it. For once, I can relax and not worry about work… except for summer reading and APUSH (AP U.S. History) homework. But I can procrastinate.
The following day, I awoke at five in the morning to see the sunrise, which was nice, but anti-climactic. I personally don’t think receiving five hours of sleep for three minutes when the sky turns red is worth it, but I was forced to sprint to the edge of the boardwalk to avoid the buildings blocking the sun.
There is something poetic in looking at the sunrise on a beach, having the wind at your back, and the waves lapping the sand. It was quite calming…until my friend slapped me on the back and yelled at me to get out of his picture. I think that moment, was when I finally accepted that summer was here, and I could take a breather. I’m not entirely sure how many more “breathers” I could have for the next three years of high school, but I know that things move quickly from now on.
As for right now, I’m going to take this time to relax and breathe. Enjoy life before high school starts. Because I know I probably won’t after.
【红霞译文】
当夏季来临的时候,大家心向往之的胜地无外乎沙滩,因此每年暑假前海沿便成为千家万户必去无疑的场所,我家一个月甚至要去三、四趟,我喜欢在水里摸打滚爬,享受自由自在的闲适情感,迷恋浸泡在冰冷海洋里下肢因血液循环不畅而引发的麻木快感。
高一放假头一天我们应约前往新州大西洋城避暑,也就是说周六这天全家老少定点集结于此,时下恰值本人平生所经历的最为寒冷的夏天,我原本没打算入水游泳,正好几位朋友也有赶海的念头,索性大家聚在一起凑个热闹。 既然海水凉到无法忍受的地步,不如带上橄榄球比划两下,起先蛮以为此举纯属消磨工夫,然而一旦来到现场我浑身上下洋溢出度假活力。其间,少不了往哥们眼里扬沙子,买份美式萨琪玛打打牙祭;故意不告诉老妈自己到哪儿逍遥,即便她打电话查岗也是瞎子点灯白费蜡;我们还在海边结识了新朋友,包括若干宾州高中橄榄球选拔队球员,简直令人喜出望外,有个家伙胳膊竟然力壮似火炮;伙伴们携手堆沙堡,待大功告成我一巴掌把它拍到朋友脸上,不作不快不干不休,最后再共聚晚餐,玩扑克牌游戏直至深夜。
沙滩上疯玩一整天,让我大脑暂时转移了注意力:这个星期五我刚迈出宾溪初中校门,尽管随着年龄增长学生越来越疏远学校,但宾溪初中却在我心目中占据着特殊位置,我破天荒首次意识到身上的责任或肩上的担子,现在一种莫名其妙的念头闪现在脑海中,我不知道如何应对,至少眼下要及时行乐,把学习束之高阁……除了暑假阅读和大学美国历史预修课作业之外,其它的事情还是能拖就拖。
次日星期天大清早因忙叨着要看日出,我五点钟便爬了起来,虽说精神可嘉,但确实一反本人起居常规,况且为了抓住三分钟天空变红短暂瞬间,我不但牺牲掉五个钟头懒觉,而且还得玩命狂奔至海滨浮桥栈道尽端以躲避楼房遮挡视线。
海滩上的日出极具诗意,海风吹拂后胸,海浪轻拍沙滩,四周呈现出一派宁静景色……直到朋友捶击我脊背一拳并疾声吼叫滚出镜头,我才终于意识到夏天来临,到了放飞自我的时候。尽管我无法拿捏未来三年高中生涯究竟能有几回随心所欲,但敢保证从即日起一切尽在神速变化之中。 就目前现状而言一定要趁机释放天性,在返校之前尽情享受生活,因为我心里明白 “好景不长在,好花不常开”,今后高中三年恐怕更加如此。 Today in History(历史上的今天): 2015: Rhodes—Island of the Knights, Greece(希腊罗得岛—骑士之岛) 2015: Rhodes—Grand Master of the Knights, GRC(希腊罗得岛大教长宫) 2015: Rhodes—Acropolis of Lindos, Greece(希腊罗得岛—林都斯卫城)
2012: 摘草莓(Shady Brook Farm)
Boardwalk, Atlantic City (大西洋城·浮桥栈道 06-16-2018)
Atlantic City (大西洋城 06-16-2018)
Sand Dunes (沙丘 06-16-2018)
Showboat Atlantic City (大西洋戏船酒店 06-17-2018)
Grown-up Together (一起长大的朋友 06-17-2018)
Chasing Sunrise (追逐日出 06-17-2018)
Massachusetts Ave (大山边街)
Ocean Resort Casino (海洋度假村赌场)
Ocean Resort Casino (海洋度假村赌场)
Showboat on Boardwalk (浮桥栈道上戏船酒店)
Showboat (戏船酒店 10-14-2000)
Boardwalk (浮桥栈道 04-05-1992)
Brigantine Bridge over Absecon Inlet (小溪湾上双桅帆船桥)
Pier AC (大西洋城码头)
Steel Pier Helicopters (钢铁码头直升机)
The Wheel @ Steel Pier (钢铁码头·飞天轮)
Lols & Mom (海鸥母子) American Oystercatcher (美洲蛎鹬)
Crosslinks(相关博文): A Day @ Princeton Univ, NJ(记普林斯顿大学一天) Ocean City, NJ(新泽西州海洋城)
新泽西州沙钩岬国家休闲区(Sandy Hook Natl Rec Area, NJ) 新泽西探险水族馆(Adventure Aquarium, NJ) 新泽西州大西洋边(Atlantic NJ) USA(出游美国) 9th Grade(高中一年级) |