One day in the fall of the sameyear， while standing in line at thesupermarket， I heard someone callingmy name. I turned around to see thealterations lady. She politely inquiredabout my wedding， and was shockedto discover it had been called off， butagreed it was probably for the best.
I thanked her again for adjustingmy wedding gown， and assured her itwas safely bagged and awaiting the dayI would wear it down the aisle on thearm of my real “Mister Right”. With asparkle in her eye， she began telling meabout her single son， Tim. Even thoughI wasnt interested in dating again， I lether talk me into meeting him.
I did have my summer weddingafter all， only a year later. And I didget to wear the dress of my dreams-standing beside Tim， the man I haveshared the last eighteen years of my lifewith， whom I would never have metwithout that special wedding gown.
只有时间才知道爱的珍贵
从前，有一座岛，所有的情感都住在那里：幸福、悲伤、知识，以及其他的情感，当然也包括爱。有一天，情感们得知，这座小岛将要沉没，他们都开始建造船只准备离开，除了爱。
爱是唯一一个选择留下的。它固执地想坚守到最后一刻。
当整座岛屿几乎覆灭时，爱决定请求帮助。
财富驶着一艘豪华游轮经过爱的身旁，爱恳求道：“财富啊，你能带上我么？”
财富回答说：“不，不行。我的船上装满了金银珠宝。没有空地留给你啦。”
这时，爱的身侧，虚荣驾着一艘靓丽的轮船缓缓驶来，爱决定向虚荣求助：“虚荣，求求你帮帮我吧！”
虚荣拒绝了：“我不能帮你，爱。你全身湿嗒嗒的，这会弄脏我心爱的船的。”
悲伤的船靠近了，爱问道，“悲伤，让我跟你走吧。”
“噢，爱，我实在是太伤心了，我需要一个人静一会儿。”
快乐也从爱的身边驶过，但是她太高兴了，以至于完全没有听到爱的呼唤。
突然，一个声音从耳畔传来，“快上来，爱，我来载你。”原来是名年迈的长者。爱太高兴了，甚至忘了问长者他们要去哪里。当他们到达陆地时，长者又踏上了自己的征程，独自前行。爱意识到自己亏欠长者甚多，她赶忙询问智慧老人，“帮助我的人是谁呀？”
智慧静静地答道：“那是时间。”
“时间？”爱问道，“但时间为什么要帮助我呢？”
智慧微微一笑，饱含深意，回答说：
“因为只有时间能理解爱的价值。”
Only Time Is Capable of Understanding How Valuable Love Is
Once upon a time， there was anisland where all the feelings lived：
Happiness， Sadness， Knowledge， and allof the others， including Love. One day itwas announced to the feelings that theisland would sink， so all constructedboats and left. Except for Love.
Love was the only one who stayed.
Love wanted to hold out until the lastpossible moment.
When the island had almost sunk，Love decided to ask for help.
Richness was passing by Love ina grand boat. Love said， “Richness， canyou take me with you？”
Richness answered， “No， I cant.
There is a lot of gold and silver in myboat. There is no place here for you.”
Love decided to ask Vanity whowas also passing by in a beautiful vessel.
“Vanity， please help me！”
“I cant help you， Love. You are allwet and might damage my boat，” Vanityanswered.
Sadness was close by so Loveasked， “Sadness， let me go with you.”
“Oh， Love， I am so sad that I needto be by myself！”
Happiness passed by Love， too， butshe was so happy that she did not even hearwhen Love called her.
Suddenly， there was a voice， “Come， Love，I will take you.” It was an elder. So blessedand overjoyed， Love even forgot to ask theelder where they were going. When theyarrived at dry land， the elder went her ownway. Realizing how much was owed the elder，Love asked Knowledge， another elder， “Whodid help me？”
“It was Time，” Knowledge answered.
“Time？” Asked Love. “But why did Timehelp me？”
Knowledge smiled with deep wisdomand answered， “Because only Time is capableof understanding how valuable Love is.”
知道我有多么爱你
我的祖父母结婚已经半个世纪了，然而多年以来，他们彼此间不倦地玩着一个特殊的游戏：在一个意想不到的地方写下“shmily”这个词，让对方来发现。他们轮换着在屋前房后留下“shmily”，一经对方发现，就开始新的一轮。
他们用手指在糖罐和面粉箱里写下“shmily”，等着准备下一餐饭的对方来发现；他们在结满霜花的玻璃上写下“shmily”；一次又一次的热水澡后，总可以看见雾气蒙罩的镜子上留下的“shmily”。
有时，祖母甚至会重卷一整卷卫生纸，只为了在最后一片纸上写下“shmily”。
没有“shmily”不可能出现的地方。仓促间涂写的“shmily”会出现在汽车坐垫上，或是一张贴在方向盘轴心的小纸条上。这一类的字条会被塞进鞋子里或是压在枕头下。“Shmily”会被书写在壁炉台面的薄尘上，或是勾画在知道我有多么爱你炉内的灰底上。这个神秘的词，像祖父母的家具一样成了他们房间的一部分。
过了很久，我才完全理解了祖父母这个游戏的意义。我不懂得爱——这种纯洁且历久弥坚的爱是因为我年轻。然而，我从未怀疑过祖父母之间的感情。
他们彼此深爱。他们的小游戏不仅仅是调情消遣，更是一种生活方式。他们之间的感情是基于这种不是每一个人都能体验到的深挚的爱和献身精神。
祖父和祖母一有机会就会手牵手；他们偷偷的亲吻，在互相撞见的小厨房；他们说完彼此的半截句子；他们一起玩拼字和字谜游戏。祖母常忘情地对我耳语祖父有多可爱迷人，即使老了还是多么英俊。她骄傲地宣称自己的确懂得“如何选择”。每次餐前他们低头祈祷时，感谢他们受到的诸多福佑：一个幸福的家庭、好运气和拥有彼此。
可是一片乌云遮蔽了祖父母的家：
祖母的乳癌恶化了。首次出现症状是在十年前。一如既往，祖父总是跟祖母肩并肩地走过人生艰难之旅的每一步。为了安慰祖母，祖父将室内粉刷成黄色，这样在祖母病重不能出屋时，亦能感到周围的阳光。