It was so thoughtful. My daughter gave me an address book for my birthday. She knows the one I have is worn. The gift is lovely; the cover is colourful; the pages are creamy white. But I don’t feel free to use this gift; I’m tied to my old book.
My address book tells stories, not only my own but also my friends’. My friends came and went. Some friends married each other and I combined them with lines. Children’s names were added one by one above their parents’. Some got their own addresses as they moved out. I turn the page and see the addresses of a dead friend. I never cross them out. I want their name there. I don’t want to forget.
This book has my family stories, especially the addresses of my loved ones who’ve died. I can picture their houses in detail－the feel of the crocheted doilies on grandma`s coffee table, the cupboard under Uncle Ed`s staircase(perfect for hiding from the other cousins), the clean smell of Aunt Lily`s living room.
Maybe it’s time for being smart and stylish. I can keep this old one in the attic, after all.
“Don’t you have all that on your phone?” my daughter asked me once when she saw me thumbing through my address book. And yes, I do have some of the contact information there, too. I admit, having it on a device is super handy. My daughter’s generation doesn’t use address books. But changing addresses on a phone is so permanent; the old address is wiped out without a trace. You don’t see the person any more? Press delete. It’s like they were never there.
The old address book sits on top of the new one, for now. But my new address book whispers a story of new possibilities, leaving space for friends who I don’t know yet. I’ll get to it. It’s just a matter of time.
【小题1】Why doesn’t the author feel free to use her birthday gift?| A．She thought it too precious. | B．She was too old to use it. |
| C．She lived an economical life. | D．She was attached to her old book. |
| A．The stories her address book tells. | B．The ups and downs of her life. |
| C．The changes she has experienced. | D．The coming and going of her friends. |
| A．It serves as a valuable antique. | B．It often gives her endless happiness. |
| C．It is a way of keeping memories. | D．It always reminds her of her family. |
| A．Thoughtful and thankful. | B．Conservative and cautious. |
| C．Smart and stylish. | D．Affectionate and emotional. |
