Until late in the 20th century, most Americans spent time with people of generations. Now mid-aged Americans may not keep in touch with old people until they are old themselves. That’s because we group people by age. We put our three-year-olds together in day-care center, our 13-year-olds in school and sports activities, and our 80-year-olds in senior-citizen homes. Why?
We live away from the old for many reasons: young people sometimes avoid the old to get rid of fears for aging and dying. It is much harder to watch someone we love disappear before our eyes. Sometimes it’s so hard that we stay away from the people who need us most.
Fortunately, some of us have found our way to the old. And we have discovered that they often save the young.
A reporter moved her family onto a block filled with old people. At first her children were disappointed. But the reporter baked banana bread for the neighbors and had her children deliver it and visit them. Soon the children had many new friends, with whom they shared food, stories and projects. “My children have never been less lonely,” the reporter said.
The young, in turn, save the old. Once I was in a rest home when a visitor showed up with a baby. She was immediately surrounded. People who hadn’t gotten out of bed in a week suddenly were ringing for a wheelchair. Even those who had seemed asleep wake up to watch the child. Babies have an astonishing power to comfort and cure.
Grandparents are a special case. They give grandchildren a feeling of security and continuity. As my husband put it, “my grandparents gave me a deep sense that things would turn out right in the end.”
Grandchildren speak of attention they don’t get from worried parents. “My parents were always telling me to hurry up, and my grandparents told me to slow down,” one friend said. A teacher told me she can tell which pupils have relationships with grandparents: they are quieter, calmer, more trusting.

Until late in the 20th century, most Americans spent time with people of generations. Now mid-aged Americans may not keep in touch with old people until they are old themselves. That’s because we group people by age. We put our three-year-olds together in day-care center, our 13-year-olds in school and sports activities, and our 80-year-olds in senior-citizen homes. Why?
到19世纪末，许多美国人花费时间几代同处，现在中年人则不愿意和老人共处，除非中年人自己也变老。这是因为现在我们根据年龄来把人分组。我们把3岁的孩子放到日托中心，13岁的孩子送到学校来读书和参加活动，80岁以上的老人则送到养老院，这是为啥？
We live away from the old for many reasons: young people sometimes avoid the old to get rid of fears for aging and dying. It is much harder to watch someone we love disappear before our eyes. Sometimes it’s so hard that we stay away from the people who need us most.
我们把老人分出去，是有许多原因，年轻人不向看见老人，因为年轻人担心自己变老以及死亡。目睹我们心爱的人离开我们远去是一个很困难的事情。甚至为此我们宁愿不再去看那些更需要我们关心的老人。
Fortunately, some of us have found our way to the old. And we have discovered that they often save the young.
幸运的是，我们之中发现了一些对待老人的解决之道。
A reporter moved her family onto a block filled with old people. At first her children were disappointed. But the reporter baked banana bread for the neighbors and had her children deliver it and visit them. Soon the children had many new friends, with whom they shared food, stories and projects. “My children have never been less lonely,” the reporter said.
一个记者把家搬到一个有许多老人的街区。起初她的孩子很失望，但是当记者在为她邻居作香蕉面包，孩子把面包送到邻居那里，很快孩子就有了许多新朋友，孩子们和新朋友分享食物，故事以及行动计划。记者说：我的孩子们一点都不感觉到孤独。
The young, in turn, save the old. Once I was in a rest home when a visitor showed up with a baby. She was immediately surrounded. People who hadn’t gotten out of bed in a week suddenly were ringing for a wheelchair. Even those who had seemed asleep wake up to watch the child. Babies have an astonishing power to comfort and cure.
对应的，年轻人也给老人一种解脱感。一次，我在一家老人院，一个来访者给我看他的孩子，一下子这个孩子就被包围了，那些一个星期没有下床过的人按铃要求坐轮椅。甚至那些已经入睡的老人也醒来要看孩子。婴儿给了这个养老院安抚和治疗的魔法。
Grandparents are a special case. They give grandchildren a feeling of security and continuity. As my husband put it, “my grandparents gave me a deep sense that things would turn out right in the end.”
祖父母则是另外的情况，祖父母给祖孙辈一种安全以及传宗接代的感觉，如同我丈夫说的：我的祖父母给我深刻的印象就是事情发展到最后，总是会是好事。
Grandchildren speak of attention they don’t get from worried parents. “My parents were always telling me to hurry up, and my grandparents told me to slow down,” one friend said. A teacher told me she can tell which pupils have relationships with grandparents: they are quieter, calmer, more trusting.
祖孙们总是说那些为他们担心的父母的反面的话：我父母总是要求我抓紧，可是我爷爷奶奶就要我慢一点，我的一个朋友这样说。一个老师告诉我，她可以看出，哪一个学生和他的祖父母相处好，那些相处好的学生往往比较安静，冷静，而且可以信任