When I was superintendent of schools ( 地方教育官员) in Palo Alto, California, Polly Tyner, the president of our board of trustees ( 理事会，大学董事会), wrote a letter that was printed in the Palo Alto Times. Polly's son, Jim, had great difficulty in school. He was classified as educationally handicapped and required a great deal of patience on the part of his parents and teachers. But Jim was a happy kid with a great smile that lit up the room. His parents acknowledged his academic difficulties, but always tried to help him see his strengths so that he could walk with pride. Shortly after Jim finished high school, he was killed in a motorcycle accident. After his death, his mother submitted this letter to the newspaper.
Today we buried our 20-year-old son. He was killed instantly in a motorcycle accident on Friday night. How I wish I had known when I talked to him last that it would be the last time. If I had only known I would have said, "Jim, I love you and I'm so very proud of you."
I would have taken the time to count the many blessings he brought to the lives of the many who loved him. I would have taken time to appreciate his beautiful smile, the sound of his laughter, his genuine love of people.
When you put all the good attributes on the scale and you try to balance all the irritating traits such as the radio which was always too loud, the haircut that wasn't to our liking, the dirty socks under the bed, etc., the irritations don't amount to much.
I won't get another chance to tell my son all I would have wanted him to hear, but, other parents, you do have a chance. Tell your young people what you would want them to hear if you knew it would be your last conversation. The last time I talked to Jim was the day he died. He called me to say, "Hi, Mom! I just called to say I love you. Got to go to work. Bye." He gave me something to treasure forever.
If there is any purpose at all to Jim's death, maybe it is to make others appreciate more of life and to have people, especially families, take the time to let each other know just how much we care.
You may never have another chance. Do it today!
辅助阅读：吉姆死了。他的死让人们明白了要更加感激生活，告诉人们（尤其是家人之间）应努力让彼此知道你是多么爱他／她、在乎他／她。今天就去做吧，因为可能以后你就不会再有这样的机会了。
相关单词：superintendent
superintendent解释：n.监督人，主管，总监；(英国)警务长
superintendent例句：
He was soon promoted to the post of superintendent of Foreign Trade.他很快就被擢升为对外贸易总监。
He decided to call the superintendent of the building.他决定给楼房管理员打电话。
相关单词：blessings
blessings解释：n.（上帝的）祝福( blessing的名词复数 )；好事；福分；因祸得福
blessings例句：
Afflictions are sometimes blessings in disguise. 塞翁失马，焉知非福。 来自《简明英汉词典》
We don't rely on blessings from Heaven. 我们不靠老天保佑。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
相关单词：liking
liking解释：n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢
liking例句：
The word palate also means taste or liking.Palate这个词也有“口味”或“嗜好”的意思。
I must admit I have no liking for exaggeration.我必须承认我不喜欢夸大其词。
相关单词：irritations
irritations解释：n.激怒( irritation的名词复数 )；恼怒；生气；令人恼火的事
irritations例句：
For a time I have forgotten the worries and irritations I was nurturing before. 我暂时忘掉了过去积聚的忧愁和烦躁。 来自辞典例句
Understanding God's big picture can turn irritations into inspirations. 明了神的蓝图，将使你的烦躁转为灵感。 来自互联网
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