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The Blessed Dress
幸运的礼服
I got an engagement ring for Christmas. My boyfriend and I had been dating for almost a year and both felt the time was right to join our lives together in holy matrimony.
圣诞节的时候我戴上了订婚戒指。我和男友交往已快一年，我们都感到是携手步入神圣的婚姻殿堂的时候了。
The month of January was spent planning our perfect Alabama June wedding. My mother，two sisters and I went to Huntsville，the closest town with a selection of bridal shops，to buy the gown that would play the leading role on my special occasion.
整个一月份我都忙于计划我们将于六月份在阿拉巴马州举行的美丽婚礼。我和母亲，连同两个姐姐前往最近的城市汉斯维尔的一些新娘服装店去挑选结婚礼服－这可是婚礼中至关重要的一个环节。
We had a wonderful time just being together and sharing silly jokes， but the day soon turned serious by afternoon： still no sign of the dress of my dreams. Both sisters were ready to give up and try another day in another town， but I coerced them into one more boutique.
我们母女四个高高兴兴，互相开着玩笑。但是等到了下午气氛就变得严肃起来：仍然没有我梦想中的结婚礼服的丝毫影子。我的两个姐姐都已经准备就此打道回府，改天再到其它的城镇去买，但是我迫使她们陪我再多看一家小店。
I had a good feeling as we entered the quaint little shop filled with the scent of fresh flowers.
当我们进入这家满是新鲜花香的精致小店时，我有一种很好的预感。
The elderly clerk showed us several beautiful gowns in my size and price range， but none were right.
上年纪的店员让我们看了几件 适合我穿的美丽的礼服，价格也都在我的预算之内，但是都不是我想要的。
As I opened the door to leave， the desperate shop owner announced she had one more dress in the back that was expensive and not even my size， but perhaps I might want to look at it anyway. When she brought it out， I squealed in delight.
正当我打开店门准备离开之即，孤注一掷的老板娘喊道，在后面库里还有一件礼服，这件礼服很贵，甚至没有我穿的号码，但是也 许我还是想看一眼。当她拿出来时，我欣喜的叫出声来。
This was it！
就是这一件了！
I rushed to the dressing room and slipped it on. Even though it was at least two sizes too large and more costly than I had anticipated， I talked Mom into buying it. The shop was so small it didn't offer alterations， but my excitement assured me I would be able to get it resized in my hometown.
我冲进试衣间把身体滑进去。尽管它至少要大上两码，价格也比我预想的要高很多，我仍说服了母亲买下了它。这家店很小，连改衣服的服务都不提供，但是在激动之余，我确信能在家乡把它改好。
Excitement wasn't enough. On Monday morning， my world crumbled when the local sewing shop informed me the dress simply could not be altered because of numerous hand-sewn pearls and sequins on the bodice. I called the boutique for suggestions but only got their answering machine.
然而盲目的激动是无济于事的。礼拜一早上，当我们那儿的裁缝店告诉我礼服上手缝的珠子和饰片太多因而没法改动时我傻眼了。我打电话给那家服装店寻求建议，听到的却只是机器的自动应答。
A friend gave me the number of a lady across town who worked at home doing alterations. I was desperate and willing to try anything， so I decided to give her a call.
一个朋友给我镇上一个裁缝的电话，这个裁缝在家里做活。在绝望之余，我愿意进行任何尝试。于是我决定给她打个电话。
