I was nine when my father first sent me flowers. I had been taking tapdancing（踢踏舞） lessons for six months, and the school was giving its yearly recital. As an excited member of the beginners' chorus line, I was aware of my lowly status.
So it was a surprise to have my name called out at the end of the show along with the lead dancers and to find my arms full of long-stemmed red roses. I can still feel myself standing on that stage, blushing furiously and gazing over the footlights to see my father's grin as he applauded loudly.
Those roses were the first in a series of large bouquets（花束，宴会） that accompanied all the milestones in my life. They brought a sense of embarrassment. I enjoyed them, but was flustered by the extravagance.
Not my father. He did everything in a big way. If you sent him to the bakery for a cake, he came back with three. Once, when Mother told him I needed a new party dress, he brought home a dozen.
His behavior often left us without funds for other more
Sometimes I would be angry with him, but not for long. Inevitably he would buy me something to make up with me. The gift was so apparently an offering of love he could not verbalize that I would throw my arms around him and kiss him--an act that undoubtedly perpetuated（保持） his behavior.
Then came my 16th birthday. It was not a happy occasion. I was fat and had no boyfriend. And my well-meaning parents furthered my misery by giving me a party. As I entered the dining room, there on the table next to my cake was a huge bouquet of flowers, bigger than any before.
I wanted to hide. Now everyone would think my father had sent flowers because I had no boyfriend to do it. Sweet 16, and I felt like crying. I probably would have, but my best friend, Phyllis, whispered, "Boy, you're lucky to have a father like that.
As the years passed, other occasions--birthdays, recitals（朗诵）, awards, graduations--were marked with Dad's flowers. My emotions continued to seesaw between pleasure and embarrassment.
When I graduated from college, though, my days of ambivalence（矛盾情绪） were over. I was embarking on a new career and was engaged to be married. Dad's flowers symbolized his pride, and my triumph. They evoked only great pleasure.
Now there were bright-orange mums for Thanksgiving and a huge pink poinsettia at Christmas. White lilies at Easter, and velvety red roses for birthdays. Seasonal flowers in mixed bouquets celebrated the births of my children and the move to our first house.
As my fortunes grew, my father's waned, but his gifts of flowers continued until he died of a heart attack a few months before his 70th birthday. Without embarrassment, I covered his coffin with the largest, reddest roses I could find.
Often in the dozen years since, I felt an urge to go out and buy a big bouquet to fill the living room, but I never did. Often in the dozen years since, I felt an urge to go out and buy a big bouquet to fill the living room, but I never did. I knew it would not be the same.
Then one birthday, the doorbell rang. I was feeling blue because I was alone. My husband was playing golf, and my two daughters were away. My 13-year-old son, Matt, had run out earlier with a "see you later," never mentioning my birthday. So I was surprised to see his large
"Oh, Matt," I cried, hugging him hard. "I love flowers!"
相关单词：recital
recital解释：n.朗诵，独奏会，独唱会
recital例句：
She is going to give a piano recital.她即将举行钢琴独奏会。
I had their total attention during the thirty-five minutes that my recital took.在我叙述的35分钟内，他们完全被我吸引了。
相关单词：standing
standing解释：n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的
standing例句：
After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。
相关单词：bouquet
bouquet解释：n.花束，酒香
bouquet例句：
This wine has a rich bouquet.这种葡萄酒有浓郁的香气。
Her wedding bouquet consisted of roses and ivy.她的婚礼花篮包括玫瑰和长春藤。
相关单词：bouquets
bouquets解释：n.花束( bouquet的名词复数 )；（酒的）芳香
bouquets例句：
The welcoming crowd waved their bouquets. 欢迎的群众摇动着花束。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
As the hero stepped off the platform, he was surrounded by several children with bouquets. 当英雄走下讲台时，已被几名手持花束的儿童围住了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
相关单词：milestones
milestones解释：n.重要事件( milestone的名词复数 )；重要阶段；转折点；里程碑
milestones例句：
Several
Dale: I really envy your milestones over the last few years, Don. 我真的很羡慕你在过去几年中所建立的丰功伟绩。 来自互联网
相关单词：embarrassment
embarrassment解释：n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫
embarrassment例句：
She could have died away with embarrassment.她窘迫得要死。
Coughing at a concert can be a real embarrassment.在音乐会上咳嗽真会使人难堪。
相关单词：flustered
flustered解释：adj.慌张的；激动不安的v.使慌乱，使不安( fluster的过去式和过去分词)
flustered例句：
The honking of horns flustered the boy. 汽车喇叭的叫声使男孩感到慌乱。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
She was so flustered that she forgot her reply. 她太紧张了，都忘记了该如何作答。 来自辞典例句
相关单词：inevitably
inevitably解释：adv.不可避免地；必然发生地
inevitably例句：
In the way you go on,you are inevitably coming apart.照你们这样下去，毫无疑问是会散伙的。
Technological changes will inevitably lead to unemployment.技术变革必然会导致失业。
相关单词：apparently
apparently解释：adv.显然地；表面上，似乎
apparently例句：
An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。
相关单词：undoubtedly
undoubtedly解释：adv.确实地，无疑地
undoubtedly例句：
It is undoubtedly she who has said that.这话明明是她说的。
He is undoubtedly the pride of China.毫无疑问他是中国的骄傲。
相关单词：perpetuated
perpetuated解释：vt.使永存（perpetuate的过去式与过去分词形式）
perpetuated例句：
This system perpetuated itself for several centuries. 这一制度维持了几个世纪。
I never before saw smile caught like that, and perpetuated. 我从来没有看见过谁的笑容陷入这样的窘况，而且持续不变。 来自辞典例句
相关单词：misery
misery解释：n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦
misery例句：
Business depression usually causes misery among the working class.商业不景气常使工薪阶层受苦。
He has rescued me from the mire of misery.他把我从苦海里救了出来。
相关单词：recitals
recitals解释：n.独唱会( recital的名词复数 )；独奏会；小型音乐会、舞蹈表演会等；一系列事件等的详述
recitals例句：
His recitals have earned him recognition as a talented performer. 他的演奏会使他赢得了天才演奏家的赞誉。 来自《简明英汉词典》
Her teachers love her playing, and encourage her to recitals. 她的老师欣赏她的演奏，并鼓励她举办独奏会。 来自互联网
相关单词：seesaw
seesaw解释：n.跷跷板
seesaw例句：
Prices have gone up and down like a seesaw this year.今年的价格像跷跷板一样时涨时跌。
The children are playing at seesaw.孩子们在玩跷跷板。
相关单词：ambivalence
ambivalence解释：n.矛盾心理
ambivalence例句：
She viewed her daughter's education with ambivalence.她看待女儿的教育问题态度矛盾。
She felt a certain ambivalence towards him.她对他的态度有些矛盾。
相关单词：embarking
embarking解释：乘船( embark的现在分词 )； 装载； 从事
embarking例句：
He's embarking on a new career as a writer. 他即将开始新的职业生涯——当一名作家。
The campaign on which were embarking was backed up by such intricate and detailed maintenance arrangemets. 我们实施的战争，须要如此复杂及详细的维护准备。
相关单词：symbolized
symbolized解释：v.象征，作为…的象征( symbolize的过去式和过去分词 )
symbolized例句：
For Tigress, Joy symbolized the best a woman could expect from life. 在她看，小福子就足代表女人所应有的享受。 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子
A car symbolized distinction and achievement, and he was proud. 汽车象征着荣誉和成功，所以他很自豪。 来自辞典例句
相关单词：evoked
evoked解释：[医]诱发的
evoked例句：
The music evoked memories of her youth. 这乐曲勾起了她对青年时代的回忆。
Her face, though sad, still evoked a feeling of serenity. 她的脸色虽然悲伤，但仍使人感觉安详。
相关单词：velvety
velvety解释：adj. 像天鹅绒的, 轻软光滑的, 柔软的
velvety例句：
a velvety red wine 醇厚的红葡萄酒
Her skin was admired for its velvety softness. 她的皮肤如天鹅绒般柔软，令人赞叹。
相关单词：seasonal
seasonal解释：adj.季节的，季节性的
seasonal例句：
The town relies on the seasonal tourist industry for jobs.这个城镇依靠季节性旅游业提供就业机会。
The hors d'oeuvre is seasonal vegetables.餐前小吃是应时蔬菜。
相关单词：celebrated
celebrated解释：adj.有名的，声誉卓著的
celebrated例句：
He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。
相关单词：waned
waned解释：v.衰落( wane的过去式和过去分词 )；（月）亏；变小；变暗淡
waned例句：
However,my enthusiasm waned.The time I spent at exercises gradually diminished. 然而，我的热情减退了。我在做操上花的时间逐渐减少了。 来自《用法词典》
The bicycle craze has waned. 自行车热已冷下去了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
相关单词：coffin
coffin解释：n.棺材，灵柩
coffin例句：
When one's coffin is covered,all discussion
The coffin was placed in the grave.那口棺材已安放到坟墓里去了。
