Fifty years ago this spring we planted kohlrabi together in a garden in Charles City, Iowa.

　　I didn’t know then that I would remember that day for the rest of my life. This week, we’ll plant kohlrabi together again, perhaps for the last time but I hope not. I don’t understand why planting kohlrabi with you is so important to me but it is. And the funny thing about it is, well, I don’t know quite how to tell you this, Dad...I don’t even like kohlrabi...but I like planting it with you.

　　I guess what I’m trying to say, Dad, is what every son and daughter wants to say to their Dad today. Honoring a Father on Father’s Day is about more than a Dad who brings home a paycheck, shares a dinner table, and attends school functions, graduations, and weddings. It isn’t even so much about kohlrabi, ’54 Chevrolets, and fly-fishing. It’s more about unconditionally loving children who are snotty and stubborn, who know everything and won’t listen to anyone. It’s about respect and sharing and acceptance and tolerance and giving and taking. It’s about loving someone more than words can say，and it’s wishing that it never had to end.

　　I love you, Dad.

　　五十年前的一個春天，我們在依阿華州查理斯市的一個花園一起栽下苤藍(lán)菜。

　　當(dāng)時我也不知道我以后會懷念那一天。這一周，我們還要在一起栽苤藍(lán)菜，這是第二次。也許，這是最后一次，可我并不希望那樣。我不明白為什么我和您一起栽苤藍(lán)菜我會感到很有意義，可事實上就有意義。而且，關(guān)于這個，有個有意思的事情，可我不知道該怎么和您說這事，爸爸…… 我不喜歡苤藍(lán)菜……但是，我卻喜歡和您一起栽苤藍(lán)菜。

　　爸爸，我想我想要說的話是每個作兒女的今天想和他們爸爸要說的話。過“父親節(jié)”，給父親這么一個大的榮譽，決不是因為爸爸給家里掙多少錢，和家人一起共進(jìn)晚餐，參加學(xué)校活動，參加畢業(yè)典禮和婚禮的原因，也不止是一起栽苤藍(lán)菜，開雪拂蘭’54車和飛蠅釣魚的事，也不止是您毫無理由地愛那些流鼻涕又很淘氣，而且什么都懂，就是不聽話的小孩。這就是尊重對方，分享快樂，認(rèn)同和忍受他人，給予和接受吧，您對別人的愛也是不能用言語來表達(dá)的，希望這些永不終止。

　　爸爸，我愛您……