无论你身在何处，都要怀有一颗感恩的友善之心，哪怕只是再平常不过的一声道谢……
By Shirley Warren
王海强 译
We had just finished thirteen miles of hiking in the snowy mountains. We were tired and our muscles ached as we made our way back to New England1. The cramped car ride to the airport followed by our two hour flight left our legs in worse condition than they were when we first came off the mountain we had just climbed.
我们刚进行完13英里长的雪山远足，准备返回新英格兰时，已是浑身疲惫，肌肉酸痛。我们挤在小车里奔赴机场，随后还有两个小时的飞行，这使我们的双腿比刚下山时还要难受。
When I heard that two seats in first class on our next flight were available for a small upgrade fee, I jumped at the opportunity3. We agreed to blow our budgets and paid the fee to upgrade our tickets. Our spirits lifted immediately. At least we would end our adventure in comfort and style4.
当我听说只要付一点儿升级费就可以换到下一趟航班头等舱的两个座位时，马上接受了这个好机会。我们俩决定不管预算了，掏钱把机票升级。我们一下子就来了精神，至少，可以舒适而体面地结束这次探险了。
Our travel has always been arranged on a budget, so flying first class was a new experience for us. As we boarded the plane, we felt as if we were part of an elite group. We took our seats and were happy to join the other few passengers who could fly in such luxury. It was almost as if we had a sense of pride to be sitting with the group of people that surrounded us.
我们一向都是按预算来筹划旅行的，因此，对我们而言，坐头等舱是一次前所未有的经历。登上飞机的时候，我们感觉自己似乎也变成精英中的一员。落座后，我们为能和其他几名乘客一样享受如此豪华的飞行而欣喜。能跟周围这些人坐在一起，我们好像也产生了一种洋洋自得的感觉。
As we chatted away about hiking, waterfalls and bears, I could hear people around us talking about busy schedules and business meetings. It wasn’t long before I realized that these people were accustomed to flying in luxury. “They are important people,” I thought to myself.
就在我们大聊特聊远足、瀑布和狗熊时，我可以听到周围的人谈的是满当当的日程安排和商务会议。很快我就意识到，这些人对豪华飞行早就习以为常了。“他们都是大人物嘛，”我心想。
We noticed that the stewardess was working nonstop to ensure the comfort of the first class passengers. She could not walk by a seat without receiving an order. I thought about how much she must love her job as she smiled kindly at each person while attending to their needs.
我们注意到一位空姐在不停地忙碌着，以保证头等舱乘客们得到舒适的服务。无论她走过哪个座位，总会有人提出要求。她在满足乘客需求时脸上一直带着亲切的微笑，我觉得她肯定非常热爱自己的工作。
As the stewardess walked by our seats near the end of the flight, I looked at her and said, “Thank you and I hope you have a great night.” She stopped at our seats with a look of disbelief on her face, bent down, looked at me and said, “Excuse me?” I repeated my words and she smiled in a rather funny way, almost as if I had asked her a question that she did not know how to answer.
飞行快要结束之时，这位空姐从我们座位旁经过。我看着她说：“谢谢你，祝你度过一个愉快的晚上。”她停在我们座位的旁边，带着满脸疑惑的表情俯身看着我问：“对不起，您说什么？”我重复了一遍，她僵硬地笑了一下，好像我问了一个她不知该如何回答的问题一样。
After a few moments the stewardess walked back to our seats. She asked us what company we were traveling for. “I can tell you work with the public,” she said. “Why do you think so?” I asked. She answered very quietly: “Because you are the only passenger here to say thank you or say something nice to me tonight and I really appreciate your kindness.”
过了一会儿，这名空姐又走回我们的座位旁边，问我们是为哪家公司出差。“我能看出你们是从事公众事业的。”她说。“为什么你会这样认为呢？”我问。她悄声答道：“因为您是今晚在这里对我说谢谢和这类友善话语的唯一乘客，我真的很感激您的好意。”
The sense of belonging to an elite group of people in first class disappeared as we heard her words. Our seats in luxury offered us more than a comfortable ride. We were reminded that, without kindness, we would be flying in no class.
听了她的话，我们那种属于头等舱精英的感觉消失了。这次的豪华席位不仅让我们享受了一次舒适的飞行，还提醒我们：如果不能心怀善意，坐什么等级的舱位都没有意义。
1.make one’s way: 去，前往；New England: 新英格兰，美国东北部一地区，包括缅因、马萨诸塞、康涅狄格等6个州。
2.cramped: 狭促的，拥挤的；come off: 离开。
3.available: 可获得的；upgrade fee: 升舱费，即某人的飞机座位提级或升舱而需多交的费用；jump at: 欣然接受，急切地接受。
4.in comfort and style: 舒适而有风度地，体面堂皇地。