Years of storms had taken their toll on the old windmill. Its wheel, rusted and fallen, lay silent in the lush bluegrass. Its once animatedsilhouette was now a tall motionlesssteeple in the twilight sun.



I hadn't walked across our old farm in fifteen years. Yet the sensations came flooding back. I could smell the freshness of new mown alfalfa. I could feel the ping of the ice cold summer rain, and the sun's sudden warmth on my wet shoulders when it reappeared after a brisk July thunderstorm.



Rain or shine, I used to walk this path each day to see Greta. She always made me smile, even after Sis and I had just had a big squabble. I would help Greta with her chores. Then we would visit over a generous helping of her delicious homemade chocolate cookies and ice cream. Being confined to a wheel chair didn't stop Greta from being a fabulous cook.



Greta gave me two of the greatest gifts I've ever received. First, she taught me how to read. She also taught me that when I forgave Sis for our squabbles, it meant I wouldn't keep feeling like a victim. Instead, I would feel sunny.



Mr. Dinking, the local banker, tried to foreclose on Greta's house and land after her husband passed away. Thanks to Pa and Uncle Johan, Greta got to keep everything. Pa said that it was the least he could do for someone talented enough to teach me to read!



Soon folks were coming from miles around to buy Greta's homemade cakes, pies, breads, cookies, cider, and ice cream. Hank, the grocery store man, came each week to stock his shelves and bring Greta supplies.



Greta even had me take a big apple pie to Mr. Dinking who became one of her best customers and friends. That's just how Greta was. She could turn anyone into a friend!



Greta always said, "Dear, keep walking in sunshine!" No matter how terrible my day started, I always felt sunny walking home from Greta's house-even beneath the winter starlight.



I arrived at Greta's house today just after sunset. An ambulance had stopped a few feet from her door, it's red lights flashing. When I ran into the old house, Greta recognized me right away.



She smiled at me with her unforgettable twinkling blue eyes. She was almost out of breath when she reached out and softly touched my arm. Her last words to me were "Dear, keep walking in sunshine!"



I'm sure that Greta is walking in the brightest sunshine she's ever seen. And, I'm sure that she heard every word I read at her memorial service.



I chose a beautiful verse by Leo Buscaglia. It's one that Greta taught me to read many years ago...



"Love can never grow old. Locks may lose their brown and gold. Cheeks may fade and hollow grow. But the hearts that love will know, never winter's frost and chill, summer's warmth is in them still."



多年的风雨毁坏了古老的风车。车轮已经锈了，倒了，静静地躺卧在茂盛的六月禾丛中。在落日的衬托下，曾经散发着生气的风车如今如耸立的尖塔般冰冷、生硬。



我已经有十五年没有走过我们的农场了。然而，那些感觉又汹涌而至。我仿佛闻到了新割的苜蓿的清新气息，感觉到了冰冷夏雨敲打在身上，还有七月的雨后阳光照射在湿漉漉的身上骤然传来的暖意。



无论雨天或晴天，我曾经天天沿着这条小径去探望葛丽塔。即使我刚和姐姐大吵了一场，她也总能使我舒怀微笑。我会帮葛丽塔做些家务。然后，我们会大快朵颐，品尝她亲手做的巧克力曲奇饼和冰淇淋。以轮椅代步并不妨碍她成为一名出色的厨师。



葛丽塔送给我两件最了不起的礼物。首先，她教会了我认字。而且，在她身上我还学会一样东西，让我不再记恨于与我争吵的姐姐，让我不再觉得委屈，心情因此也就开朗起来。



在葛丽塔的丈夫去世后，当地的银行家丁肯先生曾经要收取她抵押给了银行的房子。幸亏有爸爸和约翰叔叔的帮忙，葛丽塔才保住了一切。爸爸说，对一位聪明得能教会我认字的人，这只是他力所能及的一件小事！



很快，方圆数英里的人们都来买葛丽塔做的蛋糕、馅饼、面包、曲奇饼、苹果酒和冰淇淋。每周，杂货店老板汉克都会给她送来材料，并从她那里进货。、



葛丽塔甚至让我给丁肯先生送去一个大苹果馅饼。他也成为了她的顾客和朋友。这就是葛丽塔。她可以把任何人都变成朋友！



葛丽塔常说："亲爱的，记得要走在阳光里！" 每天，不管一开始怎么糟糕，从葛丽塔的小屋走回家时，即使是披着冬夜的星光，我都会感觉心情舒畅。



这天，太阳刚下山我就来到葛丽塔家了。她门前几尺外已然停着一辆救护车。车上的红灯闪烁不停。当我冲入那所旧房子时，葛丽塔立刻认出了我。



她冲我微微一笑，令人难忘的那双蓝眼睛闪着光芒。当她伸手轻抚我的手臂时，她已经奄奄一息了。她最后对我说的话是："亲爱的，记得要走在阳光里！"



我肯定葛丽塔此时正漫步在她所见过的最明媚的阳光里。我也肯定她听见了我在她的追悼仪式上所念的每一个字。



我选了利奥·巴斯卡格里亚的一首优美的诗，正是那首葛丽塔多年前教我念的诗。



"爱能历久常新。华发或会失去原有的光彩。双颊或会日显消瘦黯淡。然而，有爱的心中，从无寒冬霜冰，只有夏之温热。"
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