我們的心,因牽掛而變得堅強

They were the best cookies I’d ever baked, the ingredients more expensive than a state dinner’s, a mix of my son’s favorite recipes.

這是我烘焙過地最好的曲奇，比國宴上使用的食材更加昂貴，綜合了我兒子最喜歡的食譜。

I wrapped each cookie in plastic, sealed the box, affixed the customs declaration form, and presented the parcel to the postal clerk.

我把每一塊曲奇都裝入塑料袋，封了盒子，加蓋了海關申報單，拿着包裹來到寄送櫃檯處。

Destination: Afghanistan. She pointed to an uncompleted section of the form. “If non-deliverable: Abandon; Return; Redirect.” If non-deliverable—an incomprehensible phrase. I stood stone-faced.

目的地：阿富汗。她指了下申報單上沒有填完的部分。“如果無法送達：丟棄，寄回，轉寄”。無法送達，讓人費解的短語。我面無表情。

“My son’s in the military,” she said quietly. “you.can check Redirect, then write Chaplain to redistribute at his discretion.” Our mother eyes met. I nodded. Thank you.

“我的兒子在軍隊”她平靜的說道。“你可以在轉寄名那一欄填牧師，轉寄的地點由牧師決定”。都是做母親的人，我們目光對視，她心領神會，我點點頭，謝謝你。