you know, dad, there was a time when we were not only separated by the generation gap but completely polarized by it. you stood on one side of the great divide and i on the other, father and daughter split apart by age and experience, opinions, hairstyles, cosmetics, clothing, curfews, music, and boys.

　　the father-daughter duel of ’54 shifted into high gear when you taught me to drive the old dodge and i decided i would drive the ‘54 chevy whether you liked it or not. the police officer who escorted me home after you reported the chevy stolen late one evening was too young to understand father-daughter politics and too old to have much tolerance for a snotty 16 year old. you were so decent about it, dad, and i think that was probably what made it the worst night of my life.

　　our relationship improved immensely when i married a man you liked, and things really turned around when we begin making babies right and left. we didn’t have a television set, you know, and we had to entertain ourselves somehow. i didn’t know what to expect of you and mom as grandparents but i didn’t have to wait long to find out. those babies adored you then just as they adore you now. when i see you with all your grandchildren, i know you’ve given them the finest gift a grandparent can give. you’ve given them yourself.

　　爸爸，您也知道，我们父女俩曾有一段时间因为代沟不在一起过，比如年龄、个人阅历、观点、发型、化妆、服装、音乐、作息时间以及男朋友，因为这些，我们的观点也非常对立。您站在“大分离”的一端，我站在“大分离”的另一端。

　　那时，您教我学开那部道奇旧车，可我却不管您喜欢不喜欢执意