You’re only three years old, and at this point in your life you can’t read, much less understand what I’m going to try to tell you in this letter. But someday, when you’re ready, I hope you will find some wisdom and value in what I share with you.【小题1】

There’s not much you can do except learn to deal with them, and learn to choose friends who are kind to you and who make you feel good about yourself. When you find friends like this, treasure them, spend time with them and love them.

If there’s a single word you should live your life by, it should be this: love. 【小题4】

Love not only your loved ones, but your neighbors, your co-workers, strangers, your brothers and sisters in humanity.

【小题5】You are starting out on an unknown, tiring, scary, but eventually great journey, and always remember I will be there for you when I can.

Love,

Your Dad

The snow was falling and the roads had become dangerous. The schools were dismissed early, but much to my surprise, my appointment wasn’t canceled. So I went, feeling especially heroic. As far as I could see, I was risking my life to keep my word. Snow or no snow, I would be on time for my scheduled donation at the local blood center.

When I got there, I discovered I wasn’t alone. Four more “hero-types” were already lying back in donor chairs with lines attached to their veins, and machines quietly pumping away to collect their lifesaving gifts.

Seeing my fellow donors honoring their own commitments, I realized why I was there. I lay back in my donor chair, ready to make a difference in the life of someone I would never meet.

To be honest, I’d never really thought about why I donate. I just do it. But a few months ago, during one of my regular donations I learned that my blood was specifically for a cancer patient and for a newborn baby—both patients needed what I would give in order to live. I’ve viewed my visits to the blood center differently ever since.

My wife Karen is a donor, too. And more importantly, she has been on the bone marrow (骨髄) list for fifteen years, ever since she signed up to provide bone marrow to a kindergartner with leukemia (白血病). That little girl died before Karen’s bone marrow could help her, but Karen was called again recently. Her test results were still on file, and it turned out she was a potential match for someone else. The caller asked Karen if she would still be willing to become a bone marrow donor. “Yes,” she said and then immediately began answering questions on the pages of paperwork for further testing. It was a race against time.

I wish I could say that this race was won. It wasn’t. The caller later thanked Karen for her participation and asked a few more questions—including whether or not she’d remain on the donor list. “Of course!” Karen answered.

We still keep making appointments. I don’t know whose life my donation may affect. Most likely it will be a stranger, but someday the person needing a blood product could be you or me or maybe a loved one. It is worthwhile to take your time to donate. I like the sense of giving.