介绍： But none of our family could join us because travel was difficult and they were still reckoning with the sheer terror the disaster had brought.

但是我们家的人都没能来参加，因为交通困难，而且灾难带来的恐惧使他们依然心有余悸。

I called on my faithful friends to help make it a merry and festive occasion, ignor...

介绍： But none of our family could join us because travel was difficult and they were still reckoning with the sheer terror the disaster had brought.

但是我们家的人都没能来参加，因为交通困难，而且灾难带来的恐惧使他们依然心有余悸。

I called on my faithful friends to help make it a merry and festive occasion, ignoring the fact that most of them were emotionally drained and exhausted.

我邀请了我的好友，请他们来帮忙把宴会弄得热闹些，增加点欢快气氛，没去理会他们多数人在情感上都有些疲惫这一事实。

Instead of the customary " No gifts, please" , I shouted, " Gifts! Please! "

于是我一反常态，没说"请不要带礼物"，而是向他们喊"请带礼物来"。

My friends - people Jimmy had come to know over the years - brought the ideal presents: country music CDs, a sweatshirt, one leather belt with " J-I-M-M-Y" on it, a knitted wool hat and a cowboy costume.

我的朋友──吉米认识他们多年了──带来了中意的礼物：乡村音乐CD、一件长袖运动衫、一条有"吉米"字样的皮带、一顶编织的羊毛帽，还有一套牛仔服。

The evening led up to the gifts and then the chocolate cake from his favorite bakery, and of course the ceremony wasn't complete without the singing.

那天晚上，我们先是送礼物，然后是切从他喜欢的面包店里买来的巧克力蛋糕，当然还唱了"生日歌"，否则宴会就不算完整了。