漂洋過海在等你：50歲大媽遇到真愛

Twelve years ago I was broken. I had just ended a 29-year marriage, sent my only kid off to college, and was left broke and unemployed, left with the cats and the dog to feed. Not exactly my life plan. I was alone for the first time in my life and filled with fear.
12年前我離婚了，在將我唯一的孩子送入大學以後，我結束了長達29年的婚姻生活。剩下的只是破碎的家庭和沒有工作的我，以及需要餵養的貓咪和狗狗。這本不是我想要的生活，我第一次感到孤獨和恐懼。

I sold the big house on the hill and started a new life in the city in a cute little condo that was to be my healing place. I traded the country club membership for a job and sold my Mercedes-Benz and bought a used BMW. I penned my book, "Single Past 50 Now What?" and was thrilled when it was published. I moved on with my life as best I could.
我賣掉了山上的房子，在城裏找了個還算溫馨的小公寓療傷。並在鄉村俱樂部找了份工作，賣掉了我的大奔，換了輛二手的寶馬車。我將我的故事寫成了一本書《50歲單身又怎樣？》，當這本書出版後還引起了不錯的反響。我儘量忘記過去向前看，儘量將生活過得更好。

It took two years before I dated again. Broken hearts bring with them broken lives and battered self-esteem. It took time to mend, heal and get my head together.
我單身了兩年。破碎的心靈伴隨着破碎的生活和微薄的自尊。它需要時間去修復，癒合和清醒。

That's about the time I received an email from an old high school friend of mine, a wonderful young man named Steven. We had been hangout buddies 40 years ago. I responded to his email and the conversations began.
那是從我收到來自一位舊時的高中同學的來信開始，一位名叫史蒂芬的很棒的年輕人。40年前我們是經常一起玩耍的好朋友。我回信給他，然後交流就這樣開始了。

We talked and it was as comfortable as ever. Much to my surprise I discovered that he had a crush on me back in the day (who knew?!). As the conversation unfolded he disclosed that he never married. He later shared that he had been waiting for me ... all these years.
我們之間的交談是前所未有的舒適與輕鬆。令我吃驚的是我得知他曾對我傾心（誰知道？）。隨着談話一次次深入，我得知他至今未婚。後來他說是因爲他一直在等我，等我這麼多年。

Who does that? He did.
哪個傻瓜會這麼做？史蒂芬這樣做了。

We began long-distance phone dating (a lot more exciting than it sounds) for three months. The time came to meet in person. I flew back home to L.A. and reacquainted myself with the man who was one of my favorite people in years gone by.
我們開始了長達三個月的電話約會（比聽起來更興奮哈），然後我們開始見面。我飛回洛杉磯，重新將自己介紹給這位我最喜歡的人之一，即使歲月流逝。

The next year and a half was filled with twice-a-month visits from Steven. Southwest Airlines loved us, as he booked his fares from L.A. to Denver months in advance. Even in record breaking snow storms, the man never missed a weekend. At the end of those months together, it was time for a commitment.
一年半以後我和史蒂芬開始每月見兩次面。因爲他總是提前幾個月預訂洛杉磯到丹佛的航班，西南航空的人都愛上我們了。即使是暴風雪天氣，他也從來沒有錯過一個週末。經歷了那些難忘的日子過後，是時候做出承諾了。

It wasn't long before I followed this man across the country, with everything I owned in tow. I was about to take a second chance on love. If you knew me at all, you would know that I'm the LAST person to ever follow a man anywhere.
不久後，我帶着我僅有的私人物品，跟隨這個男人跨過這個國家和他在一起了。我開始在愛情上給自己第二次機會。如果你瞭解我，你就會知道我實際是絕不是那種輕易跟隨男人腳步的人（但這個我這樣做了）。

We've been together six years now. A lot of growth, love and learning. We are buying a house together and settling in for a little something called the rest of our lives.
現在我們在一起已經6年了。成長了許多，愛也增長了許多。我們正在計劃一起買一棟房子並在一起度過餘生。

I love this man. He is everything I deserve. He is my gift, my light and my comfort. It will be my honor to marry him, despite my previous conviction that I would never marry again.
我愛他。他就是我的全部，是上天賜予我的禮物和慰藉。即使我曾說過今生不會再嫁，但能嫁給他是我的幸運。

This is what I've learned and want to share with you: Happiness can always be found on the other side of fear.
這就是我從生活中學會的並想要和你們分享的東西：你總能在恐懼的另一邊找到快樂。