文字难度：★★☆
A year ago I went through one of the most difficult times in my life. I had lost my family and my business all within a month. The heartache was 1)numbing.
一年前，我经历了人生中一段最艰难的时期。一个月之内，我失去了我的家庭和工作。我痛彻心扉，整个人都麻木了。
I decided to go to Mexico and see if I could renew my perspective and outlook on life. To say I arrived in Mexico with a heavy heart is an 2)understatement. I booked a hotel on the 3)Baja choosing one of the less populated areas for tourists.
我决定去墨西哥走走，想看看自己能否重燃对生活的信心和憧憬。我怀着沉重的心情来到了墨西哥——这样描述我的心情算是有些轻描淡写。我在巴贾半岛的一家旅馆订了房间，选择到一个较少游客的地方去。
It was in late February which also happens to be when the grey whales swim down to have their babies. I decided that I 4)may as well do something other than sit in the sun and feel sorry for myself, so I booked a day trip to see the whales. I was not prepared for what happened.
当时是二月末，恰好也是灰鲸顺流而下去产子的时节。我打定主意，最好做些事情而不是坐在太阳底下自怨自艾，于是我参加了一个观鲸一日游。后来发生的事情出乎我的意料。
On arrival at the 5)marina, we were 6)chaperoned into little motor boats. I have seen pictures of people out whale watching and at least they had boats larger than the whales. Not here. Each boat seated 6 people and off we went in search of whales.
来到码头，我们被护送着上了几艘小汽艇。我曾经见过人们出海观鲸的照片。他们乘坐的船只起码比鲸要大。这里的情况不一样。每艘小汽艇上坐着6个人，我们开始出海寻鲸。
We soon saw a couple of 7)water spouts which our guide said were whales. The captain of our boat took off in that direction. Soon there were a number of grey whales swimming close enough to get a look and some pictures. Our guide alerted us to a huge spot moving closer to the boat. We were a little 8)apprehensive because these whales were at least twice as long as our boat.
不久，我们看到了几束喷柱，导游说那正是鲸在活动。我们的艇长马上将艇开向那个方向。很快，就有多头灰鲸在我们汽艇附近游动，供我们观赏和拍照。导游提醒我们注意有个巨大的斑点正在靠近我们的汽艇。我们不由得有些担心，因为这些鲸的身体长度至少是我们汽艇的两倍。
To my utter amazement, all of a sudden one surfaced right in front of my face. It had swum under the boat and came up on my side. I thought I was imagining that it took a very good look at me.
让我大吃一惊的是，突然有一头鲸就在我的眼前冒出水面。它之前在艇下游动，这时出现在我的身旁。我猜想，它早就在仔细地关注我了。
Well, let me tell you, that was some sight. Everyone was trying to take pictures of her under the water before she swam away. Within a few minutes she was back. Once again surfacing right beside me. Once again, she looked me right in the eye.
嗯，告诉你们吧，那情景的确挺壮观的。艇上的每个人都试图在她游走之前拍下她在水中的照片。几分钟过后，她回来了，就在我的旁边再一次浮出水面。而且她又一次径直注视着我。
The next time I was ready for her. She surfaced in front of my eyes and I reached out to touch her. She stayed on top of the water long enough for me to rub her beautiful 9)barnacle covered, scarred head and 10)snout. She did that twice. Incredible.
接下来的一次，我有心理准备了。她在我面前游出水面，我伸出手去触摸她。她在水面停留了较长时间，我得以伸手去抚摸她那美丽的头和口鼻，上面粘附着藤壶且带有伤痕。她停留了两次。令人难以置信！
Everyone was busy taking pictures while I got soaked. I didn’t care. It was a miraculous feeling. She swam away and the captain 11)steered the boat toward other whales we could see in the distance.
大家都在忙着拍照，而我已全身湿透。我不在意。这是一种不可思议的感觉。在她游走之后，艇长驾驶着汽艇朝其他的灰鲸驶去，我们远远就可以看见它们。
Then the guide yelled again that two were coming close to the boat. There was my newfound friend with her baby. It was unbelievable to see how she 12)nudged her baby toward our boat. She was bringing her baby to meet me! Before long, I was within 5 feet of the most beautiful baby whale you can imagine. The mother swam just on the other side of her and after I had long enough to 13)absorb what I was seeing, she guided her baby away from the boat and out into the waters.
接着，导游大叫道，又有两头灰鲸正在靠近我们的汽艇。那是我的新朋友和她的孩子。看着她轻推着她的孩子朝我们的汽艇游来，实在让人难以置信。她正带着她的孩子来看我！没多久，我和那头你能想象到的最漂亮的幼鲸距离不过5英尺（约1.5米）。她的母亲在她的另一侧游动，在我着迷于眼前的景象好一阵子之后，母鲸带着她的孩子远离了汽艇，钻入水中。
That was the last we saw of her. On the bus trip back everyone was cheerfully talking about the experience and my “14)bonding.” The guide told us that in 18 years of conducting tours to see whales, only once before had they witnessed a whale allowing someone to touch them.
那是我们最后一次看到她。在返程的大巴上，大家都高兴地谈论着刚才的经历以及我和那头母鲸的“亲密接触”。导游告诉我们说，在带团观鲸的18年里，鲸鱼让人触摸的场面，他们仅目击过一次。
Why did this happen? I have no explanation why she chose me for the privilege. Maybe the mother whale sensed my sadness. It was a humbling experience. She helped me to see the light even though I was in a very dark place. To describe it as a religious experience is the best I can do. It brings tears to my eyes when I remember the day I came back from the 15)pit of desperation and bonded with that whale.
为什么会发生这样的事情呢？我无法解释为何那头母鲸选择给予我“特殊待遇”。也许，她感觉到了我的悲伤。这是一次谦卑的经历。尽管当时我的世界漆黑一片，她却让我看到了希望之光。我只能把这一经历描述为一次神圣的体验。那天我走出了绝望的深渊，并和那头母鲸结下了友谊。想起这个，我不禁热泪盈眶。
I appreciated the obstacles that mother whale had to overcome on her long journey to the place she would have her baby. That magical encounter paved the way for me to put life back into perspective and I came home a much wiser person.
母鲸在前往产子地的长途旅程中必须克服种种困难，我很钦佩她们那不畏艰险的勇敢精神。那次不可思议的遭遇让我找回了人生的方向。回家的时候，我豁达多了。
That huge beautiful creature made me understand, that despite the obstacles life puts in your way, there is always an opportunity for a new beginning. You must never give up.
那美丽的巨鲸让我明白了，尽管生活充满诸多障碍，但总有机会迎来新的开始。你必须永不言弃！
编后语
曾经看过一个电视节目，说的是一个女孩与海豚之间的故事。最后，女孩在水中与海豚拥抱亲吻的画面一直让我记忆犹新——那一刻，人与动物之间的那份亲密和默契令人惊叹！我相信，动物都是有灵性的，这或许也是那么多人喜欢养宠物的原因。当你寂寞或悲伤时，一只小猫或小狗的陪伴会让你感到一份温存和抚慰，你会发现，其实你并不孤单！
有时候，逆风的方向更适合飞翔！我们应该学会逆着光感受爱存在的地方……（Maisie）