英语学习

Ode1 to the Freeway

献给高速公路的颂歌

By Tom Waltz ■菲萌译注

I live for2 freeway traffic.

I wake up every morning secure in the knowledge that the new day will soon be filled with blaring horns, overheated engines, lost tempers, suffocating3 tailgaters,4 and the like. I can't help but smile. After all, I'm a Californian—Southern Californian to be exact—and it is my duty as such to proudly be a dedicated member of the Golden State's most cherished tradition: Gridlock!5

Words cannot begin to describe the feeling one gets as they idly sit in an ever-growing line of cars on a freeway entrance ramp. Nor can mere words symbolize the intense emotions that build in each individual in line as they watch the signal light allow only one car at a time enter the freeway.

Suddenly, with complete strangers, a person is able to release the anxieties and pressures that are so often contained within the home. Through various four-letter words and hand gestures, drivers can share with one another the stress that would otherwise remain bottled up inside. It's almost as if they are there, in the jam-packed procession of automobiles, to counsel each other, to share a mutual understanding of the trials and tribulations6 this life has to offer. Why pay a psychiatrist's7 bill when all it takes is a near-empty tank of gas and a slow-moving elderly person in the passing lane to get to the root of one's emotional isolation? Instead, just pass Grandpa Snail,8 flip him off,9 and enjoy what the rest of the day has in store.

Tell me, is there any twelve-step program10 as simple as this?

I must depart now; the clock on the wall says it is nearly 5:00 P.M., and I don't want to be late for my rush hour support group. Perhaps you could join us? The more the merrier, we always say!

我为高速公路上的交通而活着。

我每天早晨醒来都有一种安全感，因为我知道新的一天将会很快充满刺耳的喇叭声、过热的引擎、乱发的脾气、使人窒息的尾随车辆，如此等等。我忍不住要笑。毕竟，我是一个加利福尼亚人——确切地说是南加利福尼亚人——成为交通大堵塞这一黄金州最珍视的传统的热诚分子，并且引以为骄傲，是我的义务。

无聊地坐在高速公路入口斜坡上一条不断增长的汽车长龙里, 这种感觉是无法用言语描述的。长队中的每个人看着指示灯每次只允许一辆车进入高速公路时所产生的强烈情绪也是语言本身无法表达的。

突然，一个人能够和完全陌生的人发泄那些在家中经常被压制的焦虑和压力。通过各种四个字母的单词［指脏话（编者注）］及手势，司机们能互相分担那些不然会深藏的紧张感。几乎就好像他们在挤得满满的车阵中互相安慰，分享对生活中的磨练和苦难的理解。一个将要见底的油箱和一位在人行横道上慢慢走着的老人就可以让我们找到情感孤独的根源，为什么还要花钱去找精神科医生呢？相反，超过那个蜗牛老人，向他做个手势，然后享受一天剩下的时光。

告诉我，还有像这样简单的12步方案吗？

我必须出发了；墙上的时针已快指向下午5点，我不想错过塞车高峰互助组的聚会。也许你会加入我们？越多越好，我们总这么说！

1. ode: 颂诗, 颂歌。
2. live for: 盼望，为……生活。
3. suffocate: 使窒息而死。
4. tailgate: <口> (使)紧随前面车辆行驶(尤指车距短得不能在必要时制动或转向)。
5. gridlock: (棋盘式街道的)交通全面大堵塞。
6. trials and tribulations: 艰难困苦。
7. psychiatrist/s2i#kaiatrist/: 精神病专家。
8. Grandpa Snail: 老蜗牛, 这里是戏谑的口气，指上文的“a slow-moving elderly person”。
9. flip sb. off: 对某人做一个粗鲁的手势——抬起中指, 其余手指朝下。
10. twelve step program: 一种用时间测量的方法，治疗多种强迫症。这种方法建立在一整套心理学理论上。

	Ode1 to the Freeway 献给高速公路的颂歌 By Tom Waltz ■菲萌译注
	I live for2 freeway traffic. I wake up every morning secure in the knowledge that the new day will soon be filled with blaring horns, overheated engines, lost tempers, suffocating3 tailgaters,4 and the like. I can't help but smile. After all, I'm a Californian—Southern Californian to be exact—and it is my duty as such to proudly be a dedicated member of the Golden State's most cherished tradition: Gridlock!5 Words cannot begin to describe the feeling one gets as they idly sit in an ever-growing line of cars on a freeway entrance ramp. Nor can mere words symbolize the intense emotions that build in each individual in line as they watch the signal light allow only one car at a time enter the freeway. Suddenly, with complete strangers, a person is able to release the anxieties and pressures that are so often contained within the home. Through various four-letter words and hand gestures, drivers can share with one another the stress that would otherwise remain bottled up inside. It's almost as if they are there, in the jam-packed procession of automobiles, to counsel each other, to share a mutual understanding of the trials and tribulations6 this life has to offer. Why pay a psychiatrist's7 bill when all it takes is a near-empty tank of gas and a slow-moving elderly person in the passing lane to get to the root of one's emotional isolation? Instead, just pass Grandpa Snail,8 flip him off,9 and enjoy what the rest of the day has in store. Tell me, is there any twelve-step program10 as simple as this? I must depart now; the clock on the wall says it is nearly 5:00 P.M., and I don't want to be late for my rush hour support group. Perhaps you could join us? The more the merrier, we always say!	我为高速公路上的交通而活着。我每天早晨醒来都有一种安全感，因为我知道新的一天将会很快充满刺耳的喇叭声、过热的引擎、乱发的脾气、使人窒息的尾随车辆，如此等等。我忍不住要笑。毕竟，我是一个加利福尼亚人——确切地说是南加利福尼亚人——成为交通大堵塞这一黄金州最珍视的传统的热诚分子，并且引以为骄傲，是我的义务。无聊地坐在高速公路入口斜坡上一条不断增长的汽车长龙里, 这种感觉是无法用言语描述的。长队中的每个人看着指示灯每次只允许一辆车进入高速公路时所产生的强烈情绪也是语言本身无法表达的。突然，一个人能够和完全陌生的人发泄那些在家中经常被压制的焦虑和压力。通过各种四个字母的单词［指脏话（编者注）］及手势，司机们能互相分担那些不然会深藏的紧张感。几乎就好像他们在挤得满满的车阵中互相安慰，分享对生活中的磨练和苦难的理解。一个将要见底的油箱和一位在人行横道上慢慢走着的老人就可以让我们找到情感孤独的根源，为什么还要花钱去找精神科医生呢？相反，超过那个蜗牛老人，向他做个手势，然后享受一天剩下的时光。告诉我，还有像这样简单的12步方案吗？我必须出发了；墙上的时针已快指向下午5点，我不想错过塞车高峰互助组的聚会。也许你会加入我们？越多越好，我们总这么说！
	1. ode: 颂诗, 颂歌。 2. live for: 盼望，为……生活。 3. suffocate: 使窒息而死。 4. tailgate: <口> (使)紧随前面车辆行驶(尤指车距短得不能在必要时制动或转向)。 5. gridlock: (棋盘式街道的)交通全面大堵塞。 6. trials and tribulations: 艰难困苦。 7. psychiatrist/s2i#kaiatrist/: 精神病专家。 8. Grandpa Snail: 老蜗牛, 这里是戏谑的口气，指上文的“a slow-moving elderly person”。 9. flip sb. off: 对某人做一个粗鲁的手势——抬起中指, 其余手指朝下。 10. twelve step program: 一种用时间测量的方法，治疗多种强迫症。这种方法建立在一整套心理学理论上。