戴安娜·梅丽蒂斯·弗格尔/Diane Meredith Vogel
My oldest daughter stopped by today on her way to a job interview. At twenty-one, Erin was ready to venture into the corporate world, and I was so proud of her. She wanted a critique on her appearance and for me to pray with her before she went to the interview.
“You look just great,”I told her,“Really nice. I'd hire you in a heartbeat.”
She smiled and did a runway model turn to show the full impact of her ensemble. If the Job were based on appearance alone, other candidates would have a hard time outshining her. Slim and tan, blond and beautiful, she looked healthy and confident in her interview outfit.
Her makeup, of course, was perfect. She'd invested a lot of time and patience in learning to apply her makeup just so. At first glance, you would think she was wearing no makeup at all. Being naturally blond, she had started by darkening her brows and applying mascara, to show off her long lashes. She used just a hint of shadow to bring out the color of her eyes. A light brush of peachy blush accentuated her cheekbones and gave her a healthy glow. Her lipstick color was a few shades darker than her lips but looked completely natural.
It doesn't surprise me that Erin is so masterful with makeup. After all, she'd been fascinated with it since she was a chubby, flaxen-haired toddler.
When Erin was three, I became pregnant with her sister, and to my dismay, she gave up her daily naps just about the time first trimester fatigue set in. Some days, I desperately needed a nap after lunch, but I also needed to keep an eye on my active little girl. I found a happy solution when I discovered that Erin loved to“make Mommy pretty”with makeup.
As I rested in the recliner, which put me at the perfect level for Erin to reach me, she'd brush and play with my hair and practice putting makeup on me. I almost felt guilty, it felt so good to be pampered like that. As long as she was right there, touching me, I could rest-but the instant she wandered off, my internal alarm woke me right up.
One day as I dozed in the chair while Erin applied her magic, I was startled awake by our dog's barking. I got up and, looking out the window, saw the UPS truck lumbering, into our driveway. Always happy to receive a delivery, I went to the door and met the brown-suited man carrying my package.
I greeted him and made small talk, as usual, while he presented the form for my signature. He kept giving me the strangest look. One minute, he seemed afraid of me, and the next, I was sure he was suppressing laughter. When he didn't participate in the normal,“Nice weather we're having,”conversation, I got a little offended. One would think the employer would make certain drivers were at least courteousand had decent people skills. This guy acted like he couldn't wait to get away.
Only after he was well on his way down the road did I happen to pass by a mirror. I screamed and then broke into hysterical laughter. Erin had outdone herself.
My shoulder-length hair was all brushed to one side and fastened with every barrette we owned carefully snapped into a wild row of rainbow-colored bows and posies down the side of my head. She had also gone all out with the makeup. I had one extremely full and dark eyebrow, which started above my nose, arched over one eye, and ended on the side of my cheek near my ear. She had used two colors of lipstick, orange on the top lip and pink on the bottom-and, well, at three, Erin hadn't quite gotten the hang of coloring inside the lines. A half moon of purple shadow swooped over one eye, and a wide stripe of green adorned the other. She'd been reasonably accurate with the blush, applying two heavy red circles just beyond the corners of my mouth. I looked like the victim of a Crayola explosion.
The next time the UPS man came, I wanted to explain, but he seemed to be in a hurry. Never mind, I thought, let him think what he wants. But it was some time before I allowed Erin to“make Mommy pretty”again.
Today, I looked at the lovely young woman before me and thought, well, it was practice for a day like this. Though it wasn't based solely on her appearance, of course, she got the job-and made her mom very proud.
今天，大女儿艾琳要去面试，她中途到我这里待了一会儿。艾琳21岁了，已经准备好到大公司去闯**了，我为她感到骄傲。在参加面试之前，她来到我这里，一是为了让我给她参谋一下着装，再就是与她一起祈祷。
我对她说：“你看上去棒极了，真的非常漂亮，要是我，肯定会不假思索地录用你。”
她笑了一笑，像T型台模特一样转过身去，向我展示那套服装的效果。艾琳是一个漂亮的姑娘，她拥有苗条的身材、棕褐色的肌肤和一头金发，穿上那身面试的套装，更显得健康和自信。如果应聘的工作仅仅取决于外表，其他候选人很难胜过她。
艾琳在化妆上投入了大量时间和精力，不用说，她的妆已经画得非常完美，乍一看，你会以为她没有化妆。艾琳天生拥有一头金发，她为了突出自己那长长的睫毛，就把眉毛描黑，并给睫毛涂上了睫毛膏。在眼睛周围，她还上了一些眼影来突出眼睛的颜色。她在脸颊上涂上的桃红色的腮红使美丽的颧骨显得更加突出，使整张面孔散发出健康的气息。虽然她用的唇膏的颜色比嘴唇本身的颜色稍微深了一些，但是看起来非常自然。
在刚刚开始学走步的时候，艾琳是一个胖嘟嘟的小女孩，那时她的头发还是亚麻色的，然而她从那时起就开始学习化妆了。所以，她现在对化妆如此精通，我一点儿也不感到奇怪。
在艾琳三岁的时候，我怀上了她的妹妹，艾琳居然在我前三个月孕期最感到疲劳的时候，放弃了午睡的习惯，这令我感到很沮丧。有一段日子，在每天午餐后，我非常需要睡个午觉，但是仍不得不看着这个好动的小女孩。当发现艾琳非常喜欢“为妈妈扮靓”时，我非常高兴找到了一个解决问题的好办法。
我躺在躺椅上，艾琳正好可以够到我，所以每当我躺在那里休息的时候，她就给我梳头发，拿在手里玩几下，然后用化妆品在我的脸上开始涂抹起来。这样的精心护理让我感觉好极了，我甚至感到有些愧疚。渐渐地，只要我一躺在那里受到这种照顾，我就能入睡，然而一旦她走开，我体内的警报就会把我惊醒。
一天，艾琳在我的脸上施展化妆魔法的时候，我又打起了瞌睡。忽然，家里狗叫的声音把我惊醒了、我起身朝窗外望去，看到联合包裹服务公司的卡车向我家的车道驶来，并发出了很大的声音。我走出去把门打开，看见一位穿着棕色制服的快递员正拿着快递给我的包裹，而对我来说，收到包裹总是一件令人愉快的事情。
当他把快递单拿给我签名的时候，我像往常一样向他问好，并聊了几句。然而，他却怪异地看着我，开始的一分钟，他看起来似乎有些害怕，接下来我确信他是忍不住笑了出来。我便客气地对他说：“今天的天气真不错。”然而，他仍然不作回应。这令我有些生气，并想雇主至少应该雇用那些讲礼貌，并且具备一些得体的人际技巧的人。然而，这个家伙看起来似乎想马上逃离这里似的。
当不经意间从镜子中看到自己时，我大叫了一声，然后歇斯底里地大笑起来，这时那个司机已经开车沿着公路驶出了很远。
只见我齐肩长的头发被歪着梳在了一侧，并仔细地用扭成蝴蝶结和小花朵式样的五彩缤纷的发卡固定住，家中几乎所有的卡子都被用上了。脸上的妆她也是竭尽所能，一条眉毛从鼻子上边画起，从眼睛上弯过去，眉梢一直画到了接近耳朵的脸颊上，整条眉毛画得又粗又浓。不过，艾琳才三岁，不懂得色彩的使用和搭配。她把嘴唇涂上了两种颜色的口红，上嘴唇涂成了橘红色，下嘴唇涂成了粉红色。眼睛也是，一只眼睛上涂着半月形的紫色眼影，另一只眼睛上画着宽宽的绿色线条。她把腮红也画得一板一眼，两个嘴角上用腮红涂了两个颜色很浓的圆。我看上去就像一个千色乐大爆炸的受害者。
那次之后，联合包裹服务公司的人再送包裹时，我本来想向他解释上次发生的事情，可是他似乎很匆忙。我想，不要紧，他愿意怎么想就怎么想吧。不过，自从那次之后的很长时间，我才再次允许艾琳“为妈妈扮靓”。
今天，看着眼前这个可爱的姑娘，我想，曾经那些练习就是为了今天这样的日子。最后，女儿被录用了，那当然不仅仅是因为她的外表。作为母亲，我感到非常自豪。
词汇笔记
critique[kri'ti:k]n.批评；批评法；评论
So, the radicalized critique of knowledge only as a social theory is possible.
所以，彻底地认识批判只有作为社会理论才是可能的。
ensemble[?：n'sɑ：mbl]n.全体；合唱曲；女人的全套服装
The principal part in a duet or ensemble composition.
第一声部合（重）奏或合（重）唱中最主要的部分。
mascara[m?s'k?r?]n.染眉毛（或睫毛）油
This new mascara is designed for Asian women.
这种新型睫毛膏是为亚洲女人设计的。
outdone[aut'd?n]v.优于；胜过；超出；高过；打败
Not to be outdone, Luke began to chime in with his own rendition.
为了不落下风，卢克开始了他自己相应的表演。
小试身手
今天，大女儿艾琳要去面试，她中途到我这里待了一会儿。
译____________________________
一天，艾琳在我的脸上施展化妆魔法的时候，我又打起了瞌睡。
译____________________________
我想，不要紧，他愿意怎么想就怎么想吧。
译____________________________
短语家族
At first glance, you would think she was wearing no makeup at all.
no……at all：毕竟；终究；究竟；终于
造____________________________
As long as she was right there, touching me.
as long as：既然；由于；只要；如果；达……之外；长达
造____________________________