In His Own Quiet Way 用他自己默默的方式
For nearly twenty years I have been patronizing a small video store on a country road near my home.Over the years I got to know the proprietor，an amiable otherwise-retired chap named Don.Don and I regularly schmoozed over the counter about movies，our families，our dogs，and philosophies of life.Don's beloved pooch had gone over the rainbow bridge a few years earlier，and when I introduced him to my dog Munchie，Don lit up like a five-year-old boy at Christmas.He abruptly shifted from checkouts，snuggled Munchie on the counter，and magically produced dried chicken strip treats from behind his back.It didn't take Munchie long to figure Don's M.O.，and he would start jumping in the car when we turned onto the video store's street.Once in the door，Munchie would make a wild dash behind the counter，where Don would love him up and produce the coveted poultry reward.（Later I learned that dogs in the hood regularly found their way to the store without their owners.）
Nearly everyone who worked in the store was Don's family.Even though they all lived far away，they would take turns coming to work for several-month stints.Over time I met Don's wife，sons，daughter-in-law，and granddaughter.The business was a family affair.
If you liked a particular actor，you were in luck.All the Brad Pitt films were on one shelf，Kevin Costner another，Julia Roberts another，and so on.No，Toto，I don't think we're at Blockbuster5 anymore.
Once，when I was preparing to present a weekend seminar on inspirational cinema，I took out about 20 films to show short clips to the participants.When I explained the project to Don at checkout，he refused to take my money.“It's for educational purposes，”he noted.“They're on the house.”He also never charged me for late returns.
Across from the counter on the side of a display rack was a tall，thin poster advertising an old Disney animated flick.On it the heights of customers'kids were recorded with horizontal lines accompanied by their names.I found it touching to watch Jonah's mark rising from year to year.Even though I never met the kid，it felt gratifying to know that somewhere out there a boy was becoming a young man.
A few months ago Don's son announced that the family was selling the store.Don，now at age 86，otherwise in remarkably good health，had had a few knee surgeries and it was getting harder for him to navigate the terrain of the shop.Don would be moving far away to be with his family，and closing the chapter of his life that interfaced him with the movies，kids，and dogs he loved，as well as the buttered popcorn smell that permeated from the in-store microwave，and the array of candy and red licorice at the checkout.
Although saddened to hear of the end of an era，I was happy that Don's family loved him enough to take him home and give him the support he needed.A large sign invited all the customers，“Come say aloha to Don next Friday night，6-8 pm.”Dee and I were disappointed that we would be away that night，but we made a note to visit Don at his home upon our return.
That meeting was eventful for me.Don answered the door spryly in his wheelchair and invited us to sit at a couch surrounded by cardboard moving boxes.As I sat in his home，I realized that I had a real relationship with this man.Our friendship crept up on me gradually，until Don had a place in my heart equal to other people I loved.Now I was going to miss him.
Don proudly pulled out the photo album that recorded his going away party.There were lots of people I knew：parents，kids，and dogs posing with their elder friend amid colorful balloons.Everyone contributed to a colorful scrapbook with notes of thanks，poems，and little kids'crayon drawings of Don and the store.In his own quiet way Don had touched many lives.It wasn't just the dogs who received treats when they entered.Everybody got a good feeling.
The time came for us to leave，and though we tried to hold back，we all shed a tear.Don was moving far，far away，and we would most likely not see each other again.Goodbyes don't come easily to me，especially maybe-not-again-in-this-life-goodbyes.Then Don told us in a chipper tone，“Well，I guess I'll see you in heaven.”
His candor-and vision-struck me.I sat silent for a moment and nodded.“Yes，I will look forward to seeing you again in heaven，”I replied.With that，Dee and I rose and exited.
I remained choked up for the entire ride home.I realized I had been privileged to know a very holy man.Not holy in the sense that he wore robes，talked to or about God，and did miracles.Holy in that that he has lived with extraordinary kindness，presence，and generosity.On second thought，I guess he did do miracles.In a world where fear，protectionism，and separateness seem to rule，Don reversed those conditions in his little shop on a country road.Maybe I don't need to wait till we get to heaven to see Don again，because he made the earth a little more like heaven.In his own quiet way.
近二十年来，我一直光顾着我家附近乡村道路上的一家小音像品租赁店。慢慢地，我也逐渐和店主熟识了，他是个和蔼的、早已到退休年龄的家伙，名叫唐。每隔一段时间，我和唐就会隔着柜台闲聊上一阵子，聊电影、我们的家庭、我们的狗，还有生活的心得。唐的爱犬几年前就去彩虹桥了，当我把我的狗穆琪介绍给他的时候，他高兴得就像一个五岁的男孩过圣诞似的。他嗖地就从结算台那儿窜出来，在柜台上偎依，爱抚穆琪，接着又像变魔法似的从背后拿出干鸡肉条的美食来款待穆琪。穆琪很快就能辨认出唐的碟片店了。当我们刚一转到碟片店所在的街上，穆琪就开始在车里蹦蹦跳跳。而刚一进店门，穆琪就疯了似的冲到柜台后面去，唐，喜欢逗它向上跳，然后做让它垂涎欲滴的食物奖励它。（后来我知道，这附近的狗经常自己就会跑到这家店里来。）
几乎所有在店里工作的都是唐的家人。尽管他们都住得很远，但是他们会轮流来店里工作几个月。我不时可以见到唐的妻子、儿子、儿媳妇、和孙女。全家人都很照顾店里的生意。
如果你喜欢某一个演员，你就走运了。所有布拉德？皮特的影片都搁在一个架子上，凯文？克斯特纳的在另一个架子上，还有一个架子上是朱丽娅？罗伯茨，等等。没有Toto，这儿可不是Blockbuster。
一次，我准备在周末研讨会上做关于感染人心的电影的主题，我拿了大约二十部电影，打算给参与者放映其中的片段。当我在结算处向唐解释这个活动时，他拒绝收我的钱。“这是有教育意义的，”他说，“钱算店里的。”我后来换影碟时，他也没有收费。
柜台对面，一个展示架旁边有一张老迪斯尼动画片的宣传海报，又瘦又高。上面用水平线记录着顾客们的孩子的身高，线旁还有孩子的名字。看到一个叫约拿的记号线一年一年的向上升，我有种莫名的感动。虽然，我从没有见过这个孩子，但是知道有那么一个男孩正在成长为一个年轻的小伙子，让人感到欣慰。
几个月前，唐的儿子宣布将卖掉碟片店。唐，八十六岁了，身体状况各方面都相当的好，只是膝盖部位经历了几次手术后，对于他，经营这方小天地也变得愈发困难了。他将搬到远处和他的家人住在一起，结束他在这里的生活，他和他爱的电影、孩子、狗、还有从店里的微波炉中弥漫出来的奶油爆米花的味道，以及结算台上摆着的糖果与红甘草。
我听到这个消息，感觉像是一个时代的结束，有些伤感，但还是愿意唐的家人能把唐带回家，给予他所需的爱和支持。店外挂着大牌子向所有顾客发出了邀请，“下周五晚六点至八点来跟唐说再见吧。”我和娣很遗憾那天晚上在别处没能赴约，但是我们答应唐，回来后去他家拜访他。
那次相聚对我来说很有意义。唐坐在轮椅中神采奕奕地打开了门，把我们请到周围放着纸制搬运箱的沙发上坐下。我坐在他家里，意识到我和这个人之间存在一份真诚的情意。不知不觉中，我们逐渐培养起了友谊，一直到他在我心里和我所热爱的其他人有了同样的位置。我会想念他的。
唐自豪地拿出记录着他告别晚会的相册。里面有很多我所知道的人：父母，孩子，和狗，在一片五彩缤纷的气球中间簇拥着他们的老朋友。这本丰富的剪贴簿里留下了每个人的笔迹，感谢的话，诗歌，还有小孩们用蜡笔画的唐和他的店。唐用他自己默默的方式触动了很多人。不仅小狗们进店会受到款待，每个人进到那里都会感到亲切和温暖。
分别的时刻到了，我们都尽力忍着，但还是掉下了眼泪。唐要搬到很远、很远的地方去，我们很可能再也见不到对方了。分别对我来说并不是轻而易举的事，特别是这种可能这辈子最后一次说再见的分别。唐用爽朗的口气对我们说，“那么，我想我们得天堂里见了。”
他的坦然――和先见――让我吃惊。我静静地坐了片刻后点头道，“是的，我将期待与你在天堂再次相遇。”说着，我和娣站起身来，有些激动。
驱车回家的整个途中，我一直有点哽咽。我知道我有幸认识了一位非常神圣的人。说他神圣并不是说他穿着袍子，和上帝对话或是谈论关于上帝的话题，并且施布奇迹。而是说他一直以极大的善良意志和慷慨活着。再一想，我觉得他确实做出了奇迹。在一个似乎由恐惧、保护主义和分隔自治统治的世界里，唐在他乡道路上的小店里反其道行之，颠覆着这种统治。也许，我不用等到我们都上天堂后再见到唐，因为他让这个世界更接近天堂了，尽管只有一点点，用他自己默默的方式。
译者感言
悠悠数十载，哪有那么多热闹事儿，激动人心的事儿，大多数人的人生其实很平凡。上班下班，照顾家人，吃饭，睡觉……生活一点一滴，甚至繁琐。年轻人都渴望激情，中年人，渴望辉煌也想逃避，老年人则渴望平淡。人的欲望天性带来，像潘多拉的盒子。中青年的时候，它如影随形，很难躲避，人往往由它所驱使，直到老年，去除浮华世界笼罩在心灵上的一层浮尘和迷雾，人才发现原来自己更在乎的已不是工作、金钱、名利，而是自己曾经为生活所累经常忽视妻子的感受，没有给孩子带来更好的父爱，或是曾跟一个朋友吵架却再没有进行修复。平静和温和才是人心灵最真，也最需要的状态。平和的人，厚德载物，雅量容人，分寸得体，身心自在，能够尽情享受生活的乐趣。唐就是这样的一个人。唐的小店和他的默默温情给人们带去的是精神的愉悦，心灵的感动，和一种人生积淀的折射。想象在一个布置温馨，弥漫着奶油香甜味儿的小店里，一位老人在晨曦和夕阳中，享受着孩子们和狗儿的亲昵，与大人们善意的微笑，这是世间最平凡但又是最动人的图画！其实，我想如果我们有心，我们并不是等到完全老去后才能做到像唐一样的。
