对待感激的新态度 A New Attitude to Gratitude（第1页）
对待感激的新态度AudetoGratitude
费斯·安德鲁·贝得福特FaithAndrewsBedford
&hehingsabouthavinggrowIobugthemabthank-youheywerelittle，allthreewoulddik-yousthatIwouldihdrawingsthey’dmadeoftheirpresents。BythetimeEleanor，SarahandDrewwereoldenoughtowriteownthank-younotes，however，theywoulddosoonlywithmug。
&tentothankGrandyforthebookyet?”I’dask。“WhatdidyousaytoAuntDorothyaboutthatsweater?”Invariably，I’dbemetwithmumblesandshrugs。
OhedaysfollowingChristmas，I’dgring。Thehadbeother-deaf。Frustrated，Ideclaredthatnoonewouldbeallowedtoplayearauntiltheappropriatethank-younoteshadbeeilltheyproatedandgrumbled。
&hingsnapped。“Everyohecar。”Isaid。
“Wherearewegoing?”Sarahasked，bewildered。
“TobuyaChristmaspresent。”
“Butit’safterChristmas。”sheprotested，putti。
“N，”Isaidimeahat。
Thekidspiledintothecar。“Ytoseejusthowmuchtimethosewhocareaboutyouspeheygiveyouapresent。”Itoldthem。
HandingDreerandapencil，Isaid，“Pleasemarkdowhome。”
Whehevillage，Drewnotedourarrivaltime。Thehelpedmeseletsformysistersatalocalshop。Theurnedaroundanddrovehome。
Burstiheesofthecar，theheadedfortheirsleds。“Notsofast，”Isaid。“We’vegottoresents。”Thekidsslouside。
“Drew，”Iasked，“didyouimewegothome?”Henodded。“Okay，pleasetimethegirlswhiletheyresents。”
Imadethecocoaastheyedthepresehey’dtiedthelastbow，theylookedupexpetly。“Howlongdidthisalltake?”IaskedDrew。
Glangathistookus28mitotownand15miobuythepresewas38mihome，becausewehadtobuygas。”
“Andhowlongdidittakeustotheboxes?”Eleanorasked。
“Eachofyoudidowominutes，”Dre>
“Andhowmataketomailthesepresents?”Iasked。
“Fifty-sixminutes，roundtrip，”Drewfigured。“Ifwedon’tneedgas。”“Butyotstandiime。”saidSarah。
“Okay，”Drewsaid。“Weoaddabout15minutesf。”
“So，what’sthetotaltimewe’dspendtogivesomeo?”
&hearithmetic。“Twohoursand34minutes。”
Ilaidapieceofstationery，anenvelopeandapenbesideeachchild’scoowpleasewriteathank-youomebyellwhatfunyou’llhaveusingit。”
Silehegatheredtheirthoughts;softpenscrathesfollowed。“Done。”saidEleanherenvelopeclosed。
&oo。”echoedSarah。
“Thattookusthreeminutes。”Drewsaid，sealier。
“Isthreemioomuchtoasktothahoughtfulgiftthatmayhavetakentwoandahalfhourstodsendtoyou?”Iasked。
Thelookeddowableandshooktheirheads。
“It’sagoodideatogetinow。Intimeyou’llwanttowritethank-younotesformanythings。”