Yesterday we celebrated Father’s Day1. It wasn’t a big celebration2, but one that Don enjoyed. No one complained3 when he watched golf4 on TV, and all of the rest of us think it’s very boring5 to watch. We also fixed6 him a special meal with some of his favorite foods (fried chicken, green bean casserole7, cheesy hash brown potatoes8, and several salads). For dessert Kim helped Kathy Li make a cake, fruit and pudding combination9 that Kathy had seen a picture of and wanted to have. It was both rich10 and delicious.
I think that both Mother’s Day11 and Father’s Day are important because they emphasize12 the importance of family relationships. However one celebrates the day, recognizing13 that parents are important and loving them is always good. Kim gave her father a new book written by John Kerry14, THIS MOMENT ON EARTH. Since we both voted for Kerry when he ran for president, she thought we would both enjoy it. It, like the Al Gore15 book, emphasizes the importance of caring for our planet16, and it might well be one of the books that we read out loud to each other. We enjoy doing that. Kathy and I gave Don humorous cards17 as well as the chicken dinner. I don’t care for chicken so rarely fix it; thus a chicken dinner is a real treat for him. He obviously enjoyed it. Many times we grill18 outside on Father’s Day, but yesterday it was unusually hot for June in Iowa, in the 90’s19, so we all preferred staying inside with the air conditioning.
As I mentioned in my Mother’s Day blog, there is usually more fuss20 associated with Mother’s Day, more money spent etc. However, I’m convinced that Father’s Day is just as important and am both proud and pleased that Don has been and is a great father and grandfather.
Notes:
1. Father’s Day: a day set aside in honor of fathers, usually the third Sunday in June.
2. celebration: a party or festive occasion.
3. complained: made negative remarks about; criticized (抱怨).
4. golf（高尔夫）：a game played on a large, outside play area in which a small ball is struck with a club and ultimately directed into a hole; a very popular sport in the U.S. and elsewhere.
5. boring: tiresome, lacking interest (乏味的，没趣的).
6. fixed: prepared or cooked as in a meal (做、烧).
7. green bean casserole: 绿豆（跟其他食物做成的）砂锅
8. cheesy hash brown potatoes: potatoes that are cut into very small pieces, pressed together, and cooked in oil
9. a cake, fruit and pudding combination: a mixture of cake, fruit and pudding in this case.
10. rich: high in calories; sweet or fatty; with cream, etc. (油腻的).
11. Mother’s Day: a day in May set aside to honor mothers of a family.
12. emphasize: stress or give attention to; make prominent (强调、重视).
13. recognizing: being aware of something; giving attention (认识到).
14. John Kerry: U.S. Democratic candidate for presidency in 2004 (2004年美国民主党总统候选人).
15. Al Gore: U.S. Democratic candidate in 2000 (2000年美国民主党总统候选人).
16. planet: our Earth, the planet on which we live.
17. humorous cards: funny cards or cartoon cards which often cause one to laugh.
18. grill v. to cook on a charcoal fire out of doors.
19. 90’s: 华氏90多度
20. fuss: needless excitement or show of attention (小题大做).