Dear son,
The day that you see me old and I am already weak, have patience and try to understand me...
If I get dirty when eating... if I can not dress... have patience.
Remember the hours I spent teaching it to you.
If, when I speak to you, I repeat the same things thousand and one times... do not interrupt me... listen to me.
When you were small, I had to read to you thousand and one times the same story until you get to sleep...
When I do not want to have a shower, neither shame me nor scold me...
Remember when I had to chase you with thousand excuses I invented, in order that you wanted to bath...
When you see my ignorance on new technologies... give me the necessary time and not look at me with your mocking1 smile...
I taught you how to do so many things... to eat well, to dress well... to confront life...
When at some moment I lose the memory or the thread of our conversation... let me have the necessary time to remember... and if I cannot do it, do not become nervous... as the most important thing is not my conversation but surely to be with you and to have you listening to me...
If ever I do not want to eat, do not force me. I know well when I need to and when not.
When my tired legs do not allow me walk give me your hand... the same way I did when you gave your first steps.
And when someday I say to you that I do not want to live any more... that I want to die do not get angry... some day you will understand...
Try to understand that my age is not lived but survived.
Some day you will discover that, despite my mistakes, I always wanted the best thing for you and that I tried to prepare the way for you.
You must not feel sad, angry or impotent2 for seeing me near you. You must be next to me, try to understand me and to help me as I did it when you started living.
Help me to walk... help me to end my way with love and patience. I will pay you by a smile and by the immense love I have had always for you.
I love you son...
Your father
亲爱的孩子：
有天你看到我日渐衰老，身残体弱，请耐着性子努力理解我……
如果我吃得脏兮兮，如果我不能穿衣……请耐心一点。
记住我教你做这些事情的时光。
如果，当我和你说话时把一件事唠叨了一遍又一遍……不要打断我，听我说……
你小时候，我不得不把一个故事讲了一遍又一遍，直到你入睡……
如果我不想洗澡，不要羞辱我也不要责备我……
还记得你儿时，我曾不得不编出多少个理由，只为能哄你洗澡……
当你看到我对新科技的无知,给我一点时间，不要挂着嘲弄的微笑看着我……
我教会你太多事情……如何进餐得体，穿着体面，如何面对生活……
如果交谈中我忽然恍恍惚惚，不知所云，一 定留点时间让我回想……如果还是无能为力，请别紧张……因为，对我而言，最重要的不是谈话内容，而是我们在一起，你做我的听众……
如果我不想吃东西，不要勉强我。我很清楚何时该吃，何时不用。
当我的腿不听使唤的时候，扶我一把……如同我曾拉着你迈出你人生的第一步……
哪天我对你说我想死，不想再活下去……不要发火，总有一天你会明白我的心情……
试着了解我已是风烛残年，来日可数。
有天你会发现，即使我有错，我还是一直尽我所能，给你最好的，为你铺路。
看着我靠近你时，千万不要觉得感伤、不快或是无奈。你要伴我左右，试着理解我、帮助我，如同我当初帮你展开人生一样。
扶我一把……用爱与耐心助我走完人生旅途。我将用微笑和我对你始终不变的、无边无际的爱来回赠你。
我爱你，孩子……
你的父亲
1. mocking adj. 嘲笑的
2. impotent adj. 无奈的，无力的