高中圣诞节英语作文（实用20篇）

Today was Sunday, I was so happy because our family had a big meeting, we went to the park to have the barbecue. We called our relatives to join us, it was such a great party. As the family members haven’t got together for a long time, so my father decided to get everybody united. In the park, I played with my cousins, we were taking a visit of the park while the parents were doing the barbecue.

When my counsins and I played so tiredly, we went to join the grow-ups’ activities.

The fathers were talking about the business stuff, while the mothers were talking about the children and their daily life. Our family was so harmonious, we shared the things together and helped each other. I like this activity so much, I wish my families can have more time to be together.

今天是星期天，我很开心，因为我们的家庭有一个大聚会，我们去公园烧烤。我们叫上了亲戚来加入，这是多么盛大的派对啊。由于家庭成员间很久没有在一起了，因此父亲决定把大家团聚在一起。在公园里，我和表亲们在玩，我们在参观公园，而家长们则在烧烤。在表亲们和我玩累了，我们就加入大人们的活动。父亲们在谈论生意上的事情，然而母亲们在谈论孩子和日常生活。我们的家庭是那么的和谐，一起分享东西和彼此帮助。我很喜欢这样的活动，我希望我的家人们能有的时间相聚。

[高中英语作文：家庭烧烤

Christmas Day is very popular around the world, which originates in western

country, but now it is celebrated by the world. When this big day comes, there

will be a lot of products that sold in very low prices, and the Santa Clauss

image will be seen all the street. Shops will play Christmas songs. I always

spend this festival with my friends, because my parents dont take this day

seriously. We hang out the street and join the big crowd in the square, singing

with people and then wait for the time to count down. It is such a great moment

for me. I can feel the lively atmosphere, like the New Year. On the way home, we

share our wishes and talk about the happy incidents. Christmas activity brings

me unforgettable memories.

Smoking and Health-吸烟与健康

About Internet-关于因特网

The Problem of Food-食品问题

Add Feet-添足

Accompany Us Studying-陪读

Early Rising-早起

My Dream-我的梦想

Going Abroad-出国

Correct Directions-辨明方向

真正的美-True Beauty

读书的价值-The Value of Reading Books

空余时间的利用-Use of Free Time

环境与发展-Development and the Environment

过度词

1)递进：furthermore,moreover,besides,inaddition

2)转折：however,but,nevertheless,after all

3)总结：finally,at last,in brief,to conclude

4)强调：really,indeed,certainly,surely,above all

5)对比：in the same way, just as, on the other hand

中间段落句

1. 相反，有一些人赞成……，他们相信……，而且，他们认为……。

On the contrary，there are some people in favor of ___.At the same time，they say____.

2. 但是，我认为这不是解决……的好方法，比如……。最糟糕的是……。

But I don"t think it is a very good way to solve ____.For example，____.Worst of all，___.

3. ……对我们国家的发展和建设是必不可少的，(也是)非常重要的。首先，……。而且……，最重要的是……

______is necessary and important to our country"s development and construction. First，______.What"s more, _____.Most important of all,______.

4. 有几个可供我们采纳的方法。首先，我们可以……。

There are several measures for us to adopt. First, we can______

5. 面临……，我们应该采取一系列行之有效的方法来……。一方面……，另一方面，

Confronted with______，we should take a series of effective measures to______. For one thing，______For another，______

6. 早就应该拿出行动了。比如说……，另外……。所有这些方法肯定会……。

It is high time that something was done about it. For example. _____.In addition. _____.All these measures will certainly______.

7. 为什么……?第一个原因是……;第二个原因是……;第三个原因是……。总的来说，……的主要原因是由于……

Why______? The first reason is that ______.The second reason is ______.The third is ______.For all this, the main cause of ______due to ______.

8. 然而，正如任何事物都有好坏两个方面一样，……也有它的不利的一面，象……。

However, just like everything has both its good and bad sides, ______also has its own disadvantages, such as ______.

9. 尽管如此，我相信……更有利。

Nonetheless, I believe that ______is more advantageous.

10. 完全同意……这种观点(陈述)，主要理由如下：

I fully agree with the statement that ______ because______.

(三)结尾句

1. 至于我，在某种程度上我同意后面的观点，我认为……

As far as I am concerned, I agree with the latter opinion to some extent. I think that ____.

2. 总而言之，整个社会应该密切关注……这个问题。只有这样，我们才能在将来……。

In a word, the whole society should pay close attention to the problem of ______.Only in this way can ______in the future.

3. 但是，……和……都有它们各自的优势(好处)。例如，……，而……。然而，把这两者相比较，我更倾向于(喜欢)……

But ______and ______have their own advantages. For example, _____, while_____. Comparing this with that, however, I prefer to______.

4. 就我个人而言，我相信……，因此，我坚信美好的未来正等着我们。因为……

Personally, I believe that_____. Consequently, I’m confident that a bright future is awaiting us because______.

5. 随着社会的发展，……。因此，迫切需要……。如果每个人都愿为社会贡献自已的一份力量，这个社会将要变得越来越好。

With the development of society, ______.So it"s urgent and necessary to ____.If every member is willing to contribute himself to the society, it will be better and better.

6. 至于我(对我来说，就我而言)，我认为……更合理。只有这样，我们才能……

For my part, I think it reasonable to_____. Only in this way can you _____.

7. 对我来说，我认为有必要……。原因如下：第一，……; 第二，……;最后……但同样重要的是……

In my opinion, I think it necessary to____. The reasons are as follows. First _____.Second ______. Last but not least,______.

8. 在总体上很难说……是好还是坏，因为它在很大程度上取决于……的形势。然而，就我个人而言，我发现……。

It is difficult to say whether _____is good or not in general as it depends very much on the situation of______. However, from a personal point of view find______.

9. 综上所述，我们可以清楚地得出结论……

From what has been discussed above, we may reasonably arrive at the conclusion that____.

10. 如果我们不采取有效的方法，就可能控制不了这种趋势，就会出现一些意想不到的不良后果，所以，我们应该做的是……

If we can not take useful means, we may not control this trend, and some undesirable result may come out unexpectedly, so what we should do is_____.

俗话说：爆竹声中一岁除，春风送暖入屠苏。千门万户瞳瞳日，总把新桃换旧符。

一年只有一次，最热闹的也就是那个晚上，我盼望着那个晚上的到来，迎之后那个迷人的夜晚。

直到那个晚上的到来，给我带来了许多的快乐和乐趣。为了今年的“年夜大餐”，母亲和奶奶在除夕的前两天就开始“动工”了。因为母亲眼中的年夜饭是团圆饭，预示着新一年的开始，一切都要十全十美，不能有半点马虎。每到这时候，我便会言语谨慎，生怕不经意间说出什么不中听的或是不吉利的话，招来母亲的责骂。对我家而言，这一年一度的年夜饭已经不只是一顿简单的晚餐，更是全家都要参与的仪式。所以在物质生活极大丰富的这天，我们仍然保留了在家中吃年夜饭的习惯。

我家的年夜饭讲究分工合作，各司其责。母亲是总设计师，负责人员调度。父亲帮母亲打小工，负责买配菜，买调料，拿油盐酱醋、锅碗瓢盆；奶奶是总设计师的得力助手；爷爷则是烹饪几个他的拿手菜；我嘛，就负责“偷吃”，在有菜做好了后，我总以尝尝菜的咸淡，来偷吃做好的菜。

晚上七点整，我们的午夜大餐正式开始，一盘盘色香味俱全、香喷喷的饭菜端上桌来，我看得眼花缭乱。开饭喽！我狼吞虎咽的把这美味佳肴往嘴里塞。妈妈把果汁和红酒拿出来，倒在高脚杯里。我端起酒杯祝愿爸爸和妈妈———身体健康，笑口常开，工作顺利；祝愿爷爷奶奶——福如东海，寿比南山。

我家不仅仅年夜大餐丰盛，家庭也那么幸，我既为有一个会做美食的的妈妈感到骄傲，也为有一个美满的家庭。

That was the first time that I celebated Christmas Day. My friend aksed me to take part in Christmas party. At the party we danced and celebrated with carols. I knew some new friends. We exchanged gifts and said best wishes to each other. I had a pleasant time.

那是我第一次过圣诞节，朋友带我去参加圣诞舞会，在舞会上我们跳舞、唱圣诞歌，我也认识了一些其他朋友，我们相互交换礼物并互道祝福，我过得很愉快。

This morning i went to the english corner which is in the park near my home. it is three years since it was founded.

Many middle school students as well as college students and foreigners take part in the activity. people there practice speaking english by talking about something interesting. people also exchange the experience in english learning. i think it is a good chance for me to use what i have learnt in my english class. i felt very cool after i got back home.

I’ll try my best to learn english better, for it is so widely used in the world.

Dear Tim,

With Spring Festival drawing near, I’d like to invite you to my home to experience the festival.

When you come, we can enjoy traditional Chinese food together, and then put up Spring Festival couplets. As a traditional custom, the couplets are always posted on the door of a house. Written on red paper, a couplet is composed of two lines of poetry, which rhyme with each other. Not only do the couplets add some joyous atmosphere to the festival, but also they express people’s wishes for a better life.

I would appreciate it if you could accept my invitation. Looking forward to your coming.

Yours,

Li Hua

"In the sound of firecrackers, the spring breeze warms Tu su." In the sound

of firecrackers again and again, we have successfully entered 2020, but in this

year, something unexpected happened - the discovery of a new type of coronavirus

in China. Now, more than 10000 people have been infected with the virus, which

has eclipsed Asian lions

But the virus didnt make us shrink back: when we learned that the epidemic

in Wuhan was extremely bad, many angels in white immediately gave up their

holidays and asked for their orders to go to Wuhan and choose to be a rebel.

Zhong Nanshan was one of them. In 2003, he was ordered to fight against SARS, 17

years later. In 2020, he came to the front again to fight against the new type

of pneumonia. He is 84 years old. He should have enjoyed life at home happily,

but he still sticks to the front line of anti epidemic. Like him, other doctors

and nurses give up the time of reunion with their relatives, fight against the

disease, eat the simplest instant noodles, and fall asleep when they are tired

at any place. They are all the most beautiful reversers. As the saying goes, no

matter what time is quiet, only someone is carrying a load.

Besides them, of course, volunteers have also made great contributions.

Many capable people donate money to Wuhan, such as masks and protective

clothing. A large number of rescue teams went to Wuhan to fight against the new

pneumonia. It is said that if one side is in trouble, all sides should support

it. On January 24, a non-woven fabric enterprise in a town had bright lights,

and the enterprise was putting full power into the production of masks. In order

to meet the needs of the epidemic, the workers who should have taken the leave

gave up the Spring Festival holiday and resolutely returned to work. The factory

director said the workers returned to work three times their wages, ensuring

240000 masks a day and providing materials for medical staff.

Thereare four seasons in the year. They’re spring, summer, autumn and winter.

一年有四个季节.它们是春天，夏天，秋天和冬天。

Springis warm and sunny. In spring days, everything in our nature is green, so we cango out to release ourselves and breathe the fresh air. I think its a good wayto enjoy our beautiful nature.

春天是温暖又阳光灿烂的。在春天，自然界中的一切都是绿色的，所以我们可以释放自己，呼吸新鲜空气。我认为这是享受美丽的大自然的一种很好的方式。

Summeris hot and rainy, but summer is the best season for entertainment, because wecan go swimming in the sea and enjoy the beautiful sunshine on the beach. Itmust be very interesting.

夏季炎热多雨，但夏季是休闲娱乐的最佳季节，因为我们可以在海里游泳，在沙滩上享受美丽的阳光。那肯定很有趣。

Autumnis very cool and comfortable, and it is also the best season for harvest. Inautumn days, the farmers are busy in their fields. If we had a chance, we couldgo to the countryside and pick up some fresh fruits and vegetables.

秋天很凉爽舒适，也是收获的最好季节。秋天的时候，农民们在他们的田野里忙碌。如果我们有机会，我们可以去乡下摘一些新鲜的水果和蔬菜。

Winteris very cold and freezing. In winter, our world is covered with white snow, sowe can either make snowmen or fight with snow. And we can also enjoy thebeautiful ice lanterns in Harbin. But I prefer to go to Sanya during that time.As its on Hainan Island, the weather is always so temperate. Even in December,I can still enjoy the green palm trees, the beautiful sea, the sunny beach andthe blue sky. Maybe I can find endless pleasure there.

冬天很冷，很冰。冬天，我们整个世界都被雪覆盖了，所以我们可以堆雪人或者打雪仗。我们还可以欣赏哈尔滨的美丽的冰灯。但我更喜欢在那段时间去三亚。因为它是在海南岛，天气总是很温和。即使是在十二月，我仍然可以享受绿色的棕榈树，美丽的大海，阳光明媚的沙滩和蔚蓝的天空。也许我可以在那里找到无穷的乐趣。

[高中英语作文：一年四季

I miss you very much, Mum.

I have left you for four days. Maybe it is really a short time. But I feel it is too long. I found that I couldn’t do a lot of things without you. For example, I couldn’t wash my clothes clean. It is too hard for me. I felt it is too troublesome and toilsome, but I’m sixteen years old now. I must be independent. So, Mum, I don’t know what’s what and I’m very stubborn. Sometimes, I disobeied your desire, which made you very angry. Now, I regret it. When I see some white hair in your head, I felt very sad. You are not young nay more. Sometimes you look very haggard. I know that’s because you give too much. You always concerned with my school record, healthy and a lot of other things. My school record always made you very sad. That’s my falt. I’m sorry.

Mum, you are too labbrious. You must have a good rest. I come of my ago now. I will correct my mistakes. You can rest assured!

Mum, I wish you good health and happy. I love you! Mum!(www.kuaidu.com.cn)

Since I went to college, I feel so excited about the new chapter of my

life. I have imagined the campus life for so many years. Now I finally come to

this stage. I have much time after class, so I need to learn to deal with it.

After two years’ struggling, I find the right way to spend my time.

The first thing for every college student is to learn major knowledge. In

China, so many students think college time is used to play instead of study, so

they skip class. This is a big mistake. College is the stage for students to

master practical skills, which decides what kind of job they will work on. So I

study very hard from Monday to Friday. I don’t want to miss the important

knowledge.

The second thing for college students is to join the after-class

activities. Joining the activities can not only learn more skills, such as dance

and sports, but also can make friends. Campus is like a small society. Students

need to learn to make connections with other students, so that they can win more

chances. I learn a lot from my new friends and know how to communicate.

My college life is wonderful, I learn both knowledge and social skills.

“今天是圣诞节!”

我猛地睁开眼，看了看四周的环境：窗帘还未拉开，一束光线调皮地从窗帘缝隙里钻进来，使房间变得亮堂起来。再看看旁边的妈妈——她仍在熟睡着。

从现在的情况看来，应该是六点半的样子——太激动了!醒得比平时每天都早。这时的我实在太高兴了，因为今天是圣诞，更因为我醒得比妈妈早，太有成就感啦!这一激动，让我忍不住伸了个懒腰，险些惊醒了妈妈。我立刻收回手，小心翼翼地盖好被子角，只露出两只鬼鬼祟祟的眼睛在外面。

我不由自主地望向挂在床头的圣诞袜。“啊!”我在心里尖叫。只见那只袜子孤零零地贴在墙上，肚子瘪瘪的，好似一个没吃饭的大熊，饿得咕咕叫着，向我求助。“该不是妈妈又忘了放礼物进去了吧?”要知道，我妈的记性可不太好，就在昨天，她还忘了她自己藏的礼物放哪儿了呢!我的心情一下从高峰跌到了低谷。

我感到床在微微地振动——妈妈起床了。她轻手轻脚地穿上衣服，轻手轻脚地出去了。而我呢，只得躺在床上装睡，等啊等啊，等待着“奇迹”发生。盼着盼着，妈妈终于又走进了房间。这时的我，心里好像有一只兔子，在不停地窜来窜去乱蹦乱跳。只见妈妈小心地拉开被子，说：“小子，起床啦!”我也按捺不住了，掀开被子，冲着她笑：“圣诞快乐!礼物呢?”没想到妈妈一拍脑门，“啊呀，”妈妈懊糟地说：“我忘了放了!”听了这话，我一下就没心情了，开始生闷气：把被子往头上一盖，还时不时发出狗狗生气时“咕噜咕噜”的声音。

妈妈瞄了我一眼，然后“哈哈哈”大笑。我抬起头，疑惑地看着她。“哈哈!你还真信了，我怎么会忘记!”妈妈说完，便取下圣诞袜，让我摸一摸。这一摸不要紧，我陆续摸出了两个可爱的取暖小蛋蛋，一个小巧精致的“狗狗”保温杯，三本新书，以及一只超级呆萌的装死兔。

这会儿，一切都水落石出了：之所以圣诞袜看起来扁扁的，是因为它实在太大啦!这下我可高兴坏了。我知道，爸爸会送我卡通保温杯和课外书籍，也知道，我会拥有发泄小玩具——妈妈向我透露的，但没想到它会是一只超级可爱的兔子，一只粉粉的绒绒的“装死兔”!我在床上蹦来跳去，妈妈说我像只小松鼠，当然啦!我太开心了!

许多人说圣诞节是洋节，需要抵制。我可不管这些，我把它过成欢乐的一天。

这个圣诞节的早晨，真是让我意犹未尽呀!

The Christmas story also draws attention to all those people who are on the edge of society - people who feel cut off and disadvantaged; people who, for one reason or another, are not able to enjoy the full benefits of living in a civilised and law-abiding community. For these people the modern world can seem a distant and hostile place.

It is all too easy to turn a blind eye, to pass by on the other side, and leave it to experts and professionals. All the great religious teachings of the world press home the message that everyone has a responsibility to care for the vulnerable. Fortunately, there are many groups and individuals, often unsung and unrewarded, who are dedicated to ensuring that the outsiders are given a chance to be recognised and respected. However, each one of us can also help by offering a little time, a talent or a possession, and taking a share in the responsibility for the well-being of those who feel excluded.

And also today I want to draw attention to another group of people who deserve our thoughts this Christmas. We have all been conscious of those who have given their lives, or who have been severely wounded, while serving with the Armed Forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. The dedication of the National Armed Forces Memorial was also an occasion to remember those who have suffered while serving in these and every other place of unrest since the end of the Second World War.

For their families, Christmas will bring back sad memories, and I pray that all of you, who are missing those who are dear to you, will find strength and comfort in your families and friends.

A familiar introduction to an annual Christmas Carol Service contains the words: Because this would most rejoice his heart, let us remember, in his name, the poor and the helpless, the cold, the hungry, and the oppressed; the sick and those who mourn, the lonely and the unloved.

Wherever these words find you, and in whatever circumstances, I want to wish you all a blessed Christmas.add text here.

更多热门文章：

The happiest memory in my childhood was making snowman with my friends. As

I was a little boy, I always went out with my friends to make snowmen and play

with snow when it snowed heavily. We divided ourselves into several groups, two

or three people in each group. Then, we began to make our own snowman. We used

buttons to be snowmans eyes and carrots for its nose. After making our snowman,

we compared ours with others’ to decide whose snowman is the best. Sometimes, we

wrapped our scarfs around snowmen or put our caps on their head, so as to make

our snowman more beautiful. The last time I making a snowman was when I was in

university. But it snowed rarely these years. Thus, making snowman has become

the long-lost fun for me. How I hope it would be snowy this winter!

Christmas Day

圣诞节

Christmas Day is the biggest festival in the western countries.It is on December 25, the birthday of Jesus Christ.Before the festival, every family will buy a Christmas tree, and put it in the middle of the living-room. And their houses look more soft and beautiful.

圣诞节是西方国家最盛大的节日。节日在12月25日，是耶稣基督的生日。节日前，每个家庭都要买一颗圣诞树，放在起居室的中央，这样他们家看起来又温馨又漂亮。

On Christmas Eve, children always hang up their Christmas stockings and hope Father Christmas will come to put presents in them. In fact, their parents put the presents in their stockings.

在平安夜，孩子们总是把圣诞袜挂起来，希望圣诞老人会把礼物放到里面，实际上把礼物放到袜里面的是他们的父母。

How interesting it is! On Christmas Day, people say "Merry Christmas" to each other.

你说有趣不有趣! 在圣诞节那天，人们互相祝贺“圣诞快乐”。

What is your favorite kind of music? Do you like jazz, popular music,

classical music, folk songs, blues, and so on? In high school I took one course

called music appreciation which I greatly enjoyed. This was not to learn how to

play a specific instrument but to learn how to read and listen to music as an

art form. We read the stories about the lives of many composers and the history

of the musical instruments themselves. Sometimes we listened to tapes at the

language laboratory, or concerts. Music is sometimes called a universal

language. A composer who cannot speak a single word of our language can make us

feel joy and pride, exaltation and despair, peace and mystery through his

music.

We havebeen told when we were a little child that we help others as they are in need. Weoften do as what we were told in the childhood, but when we grow up nowadays weare not dare to help others.

Because the society becomes more and complicated. Thereare some people will make traps for the kind people.

For example, you see anold lady falling on the ground and you would like to help her. However, you maybe charged for pushing her down and ask you to give money for seeing a doctor. Yeah,this things often happen.

But helping others is the traditional for ourChinese, we should carry it out on any condition. Helping others will not onlyhelp other people but also help yourself.

You will feel happy and satisfy whenassisting others. So please give a hand to the people in need carefully.

我们在很小的时候就被告知要帮助那些需要帮助的人。

我们小的时候经常就像被告知的那样做，但当我们长大了，我们却不敢去帮助别人了。

因为社会变得更复杂了。有一些人会对善良的人设陷阱。例如，你看到一个老太太倒在地上，你想帮她。

但是，她可能会说是你把她推到的并让你赔偿医药费。是的，这种事情经常发生。但帮助他人是我们中国的传统，不管在任何情况下我们都要发扬光大。帮助别人不仅可以帮助别人也是帮助自己。在帮助他人时你会感到快乐和满足。所以请小心的帮助需要帮助的人。

[高中英语作文：帮助别人

Last week, my English teacher gave us a task, she asked us to form a small

group, each group was made up of five students, the groups need to do a

research, it is about how much people know about foreign country. In my group,

there are three girls and two boys, at first, we did not know what to do, then I

suggested our group take the cooperated work. As I and the girl are good at

writing paper, so the two of us decided to design the questions, and the other

three students are so active, so they like to ask people the questions. The

research went go so well, we finished it in two days, thanks to the teamwork, we

did well on the task. The teacher praised my group, I have learned the

importance of cooperation, since then, I will considerate other people’s

feelings.

As we all know, pollution is harmful to living beings. There are many different types of pollutions in this world. For instance, water pollution, air pollution, noise pollution and so on. Water pollution cause many kinds of disease that have negative effects on human beings, sometimes the diseases will take people’s life away. Dirty air will increase the rate of getting lung cancer. While the noise pollution will cause insomnia. People’s health condition will be damaged.

In my humble opinion, people should take measures to control the pollution. Recently, not only the government, but also individual has taken part in the action of protecting the environment. This is a good sign. Rivers are being cleaned, air is purified, and the people come to realize that the importance of protecting the environment.

However, this is not enough, the problems are still exist. Not all of them have been solved. Some factories are still pouring dirty water into the rivers or give off the toxic gas into the sky. We should know that protecting the environment needs everybody’s effort.

Today is Christmas Day. It’s a western holiday, but it’s popular in our country, too. Today, our English teacher buys chocolates to us. They are very sweet. And then, she teaches us a song, Jingle Bell. It’s a lovely song and easy to sing. We learn it quickly. At night, my mother cooks some delicious western food. I love this Christmas Day。

导语：每个人都有自己的妈妈，你喜欢你的妈妈吗?下面是yuwenmi小编为大家整理的优秀英语作文，欢迎阅读与借鉴，谢谢!

My mother has no idea that her ninetieth birthday is coming up. She has no notion of the time of day, the day of the week. the season of the year, the year of the century. No notion of the approaching millennium. And no idea any longer, who I am. Her forgetting of me happened just a few months ago, after I had been traveling for more than a month and hadnt been to see her. When I came back, she asked me if I were her niece, l said no, I was her daughter. "Does that mean I had you?" she asked. 1 said yes. "Where was I when l had you?" she asked me. I told her she was in a hospital in Far Rockaway. New York. "So much has happened to me in my life." she said "You cant expect me to remember everything."

My mother was once a beautiful woman, but all her teeth are gone now. Toothless. No woman can be considered beautiful. Whenever I visit her in the nursing home, she is sitting at the table in the common dining room, her head in her hands, rocking. Medication has eased her anxiety, but nothing moves her from her stupor except occasional moments of fear, too deep for medication. This is a room that has no windows, that lets in no light, in which an overlarge TV is constantly blaring, sending images that no one looks at where the floors are beige tiles, the walls cream colored at the bottom, papered halfway up with a pattern of nearly invisible grayish leaves. Many of the residents sit staring, slack-jawed, open mouthed. I find it impossible to imagine what they might be looking at.

When I walk into the dining room on the day of my mothers birthday, I see that she has already been served lunch. The staff has forgotten to hold it back. Though I told them a week ago that I would be providing lunch. She hasn’t touched anything on her tray except a piece of carrot cake, which she holds in her hands. The icing is smeared on her hands and face. I dont want my friends to see her smeared with icing, so I wet a paper towel and wipe her. This fills me with a terrible tenderness, recalling, as it does. a gesture I have performed for my children. As I wipe my mothers face, I see that her skin is still beautiful I hold her chin in my hand and kiss her forehead. I tell her its her birthday, that shes ninety years old. "How did that happen?" she asks. "I cant understand how that could happen."

l have brought her a bouquet of crimson, yellow, and salmon-pink snapdragons. She likes the flowers very much. She likes the name. "Snapdragons. It seems like an animal thats going to bite inc. But its not an animal, its a plant. Thats a funny thing,"

I have bought food that I hope will please my mother, and that will be easy for her to eat: orzo salad with little pieces of crayfish cut into it, potato salad, small chunks of marinated tomatoes. I have bought paper plates with a rust-colored background, upon which are painted yellow and gold flowers and blue leaves.

My friends Nola and Gary come for my mothers birthday. When we are about to leave, I tell my mother that Im going on vacation, mat I wont see her for three weeks, that 1 am going to the sea. "How will I stand that, how will I stand thats she says, but I know that a minute after I’m gone shell forget I was there.