Unit2TheVirtuesofGrowingOlder课文翻译综合教程二.docx

Unit2TheVirtuesofGrowingOlder

Oursocietyworshipsyouth.AdvertisementsconvinceustobuyGrecianFormulaandOilofOlaysowecanhidethegrayinourhairandsmooththelinesonourface.Televisionshowsfeatureattractiveyoungstarswithfirmbodies,perfectcomplexions,andthickmanesofhair.Middle-agedfolksworkoutingymsandjogdownthestreet,tryingtodelaytheeffectsofage.

Wouldntanypersonoverthirtygladlysignwiththedeviljusttobeyoungagain?Isntaginganexperiencetobedreaded?PerhapsitisunAmericantosayso,butIbelievethe answer is No. Being young is often pleasant,but being older has distinctadvantages.

Whenyoung,youareapttobeobsessedwithyourappearance.WhenmybrotherDaveandIwereteens,weworkedfeverishlytoperfectthebodieswehad.Daveliftedweights,tookmegadosesofvitamins,anddrankahalf-dozenmilkshakesadayinordertoturnhiswiryadolescentframeintosomemuscularideal.Andasateenager,Idietedconstantly.NomatterwhatIweighed,though,IwasneversatisfiedwiththewayIlooked.Mylegsweretooheavy,myshoulderstoobroad,mywaisttoobig.WhenDaveandIwereyoung,webeggedandpleadedfortherightclothes.Ifourparentsdidntgetthemforus,wefeltourworldwouldfallapart.Howcouldwegotoschoolwearingloose-fittingblazerswheneveryoneelsewouldbewearingsmartlytailoredleatherjackets?Wecouldbeconsideredfreaks.Ioftenwonderhowmyparents,andparentsingeneral,managetotoleratetheirchildrenduringtheadolescentyears.Now,however,DaveandIarebeyondsuchadolescentagonies.Myroundedfigureseemsfine,anddontdenymyselfasliceofpecanpieifIfeelinthemood.Davestillworksout,buthehasactuallybecomefondof

histall,lankyframe.Thetwoofusenjoywearingfashionableclothes,butwearenolongerslavestostyle.Andwomen,Imembarrassedtoadmit,evenmorethanmen,havealwa