爱情美食与祈祷 《美食祈祷和恋爱》Chapter 34 (74):美妙的感恩夜

《美食祈祷和恋爱》Chapter 34 (74):美妙的感恩夜  

Deborah starts by saying she is grateful that America will soon get a chance to pick a new president. Sofie says (first in Swedish
then in Italian
then in English) that she is grateful for the benevolent hearts of Italy and for these four months she's been allowed to experience such pleasure in this country. The tears begin when Mario—our host—weeps in open gratitude as he thanks God for the work in his life that has enabled him to have this beautiful home for his family and friends to enjoy. Paolo gets a laugh when he says that he
too
is grateful that America will soon have the chance to elect a new president. We fall into a silence of collective respect for little Sara
one of the elve-year-old ins
when she bravely shares that she is grateful to be here tonight with such nice people because she's been having a hard time at school lately—some of the other students are being mean to her—"so thank you for being sweet to me tonight and not mean to me
like they are." Luca's girlfriend says she is grateful for the years of loyalty Luca has shown to her
and for how warmly he has taken care of her family through difficult times. Simona—our hostess—cries even more openly than her husband had
as she expresses her gratitude that a new custom of celebration and thankfulness has been brought into her home by these strangers from America
who are not really strangers at all
but friends of Luca's and therefore friends of peace.
When it es my turn to speak
I begin "Sono grata . . ." but then find I cannot say my real thoughts. Namely
that I am so grateful to be free tonight from the depression that had been gnawing at me like a rat over the years
a depression that had chewed such perforations in my soul that I would not
at one time
have been able to enjoy even such a lovely night as this. I don't mention any of this because I don't want to alarm the children. Instead
I say a simpler truth—that I am grateful for old and new friends. That I am grateful
most especially tonight
for Luca Spaghetti. That I hope he has a happy thirty-third birthday
and I hope he lives a long life
in order to stand as an example to other men of how to be a generous
loyal and loving human being. And that I hope nobody minds that I'm crying as I say all this
though I don't think they do mind
since everyone else is crying
too.
Luca is so clutched by emotion that he cannot find words except to say to all of us: "Your tears are my prayers."
卢卡情绪激动得说不出话来，只对我们说：“你们的眼泪是我献上的祷告。”
The Sardinian wine keeps on ing. And while Paolo washes the dishes and Mario puts his tired daughters to bed and Luca plays the guitar and everyone sings drunken Neil Young songs in various accents
Deborah the American feminist psychologist says quietly to me
"Look around at these good Italian men. See how open they are to their feelings and how lovingly they participate in their families. See the regard and the respect they hold for the women and children in their lives. Don't believe what you read in the papers
Liz. This country is doing very well."
Our party doesn't end until almost dawn. We could have roasted that enty-pound turkey
after all
and eaten it for breakfast. Luca Spaghetti drives me and Deborah and Sofie all the way back home. We try to help him stay awake as the sun es up by singing Christmas carols. Silent night
sainted night
holy night
we sing over and over in every language we know
as we all head back into Rome
Pray
Love