我爸爸已经在过去的十八个月里不停地盖他和我妈妈退休以后的房子了。他从2011年的春天就开始盖，希望在2013年的夏天完工。这房子主要是由他一个人盖的。当我父亲年轻的时候是学做木匠的，而且他也特别喜欢制作一些东西。在他成年以后，他在教会里当牧师，但是他始终没有忘记他所学的手艺 – 木匠。这次盖的房子是他为妈妈和他两人盖的第二栋房子。

这个退休以后的房子是一栋比较简单的房子。 这是美国南方乡村里的一栋典型的房子。在房子的前沿，有一条门廊，而且在房子的西北边上，也都有一条门廊。这是让来访者和家人可以在天气好的时候，在这些地方享受户外风光。

这房子的设计挺简单，有三个睡房和中间一个大间。这个大房间既可以用来作餐厅，也是会客厅，而且还是全家一起看电视的地方。在这个大房间里，还装有有一个特大的壁炉。这个壁炉不仅可以使整个房子都感到暖和，而且我爸爸在这上面装了一个特殊的铁架子，因此我们还可以用这个壁炉来烧烤美食。

去年，我和我的儿子去看我的爸爸，也帮他盖这栋房子。在上面右边的那张照片里，左边是我的爸爸，右边是我的儿子。我不能爬高，一站上梯子我就头晕。（我患有“惧高症”，一到高处就眩晕。）我和我的儿子在我爸爸那里三天，帮他盖房子。我们没有办法经常帮助他，因为我们住的地方离开他有三百英里（这就是483公里的距离。）我爸爸所盖的房子是在路易斯安那州，而我是住在德克萨斯州。而且我爸爸的房子是盖在农村（偏僻的地区），最近的小镇也离他有10英里的距离（也就是16公里）。平时买菜，他们也要开差不多15英里（就是24公里）的路，才嫩到最近的一个菜市场。事实上，他房子门口的路只是泥巴路和碎石子路。根本不是很好地铺设的路，啃啃哇哇的。在这种路上开车是很颠簸的。但是他们宁可要这宁静的环境和安乐的树林，对这样的艰难路况一点都不在乎。

我期待着今年夏天这栋房子的落成。我们已经有三年的时间没有与我的父母在他们的家里，一起里庆祝感恩节和圣诞节了。我盼望今年我们可以在这新的房子里一起欢度感恩节和庆祝圣诞节。今年六月，我和我的儿子将会再去看我的父母，并一起帮他盖这栋房子。

讨论问题：

1.  我爸爸的房子是盖在哪一国州？

2.  那个孩子住的离开父亲有多远？

3.   你是否住的与父母很近？

4.   你多久去看你父母一次？

5.   你和你家人是否曾经一起建造过什么东西？

6.    你觉得你是喜欢住在城市里呢还是住在偏远的农村？

Over the last eighteen months my father has been building a house for his, and my mom’s, retirement years. He began work in the spring of 2011 and will try to finish this summer, in 2013. He has built the house mostly by himself. My father was trained as a carpenter when he was a young man and has always enjoyed building things. He spent most of his adult life as a church pastor, but he never forgot his training as a carpenter. This is the second home he has built for himself and my mother.

This retirement house is a simple house. It is typical for houses in rural areas of the southern part of America. On the front of the house he has built a porch, plus there is a porch on the northwest end of the house. These areas are made for visiting with family and friends during nice weather.

The home has a simple layout with three (3) bedrooms and a large room in the middle for eating, visiting, and watching television. Also, in the grand room is a large fireplace. This will not only be for heating the house in the winter, but my father has installed an iron arm and hook which will allow him to cook over the fire.

Last year my son and I went to visit and help work on the house. In the far-right picture above is my father, on the left side, and my son, on the right side. I do not do well on ladders because I become dizzy. (I have what is called vertigo or dizziness from heights.) My son and I spent three days helping with the house. We are not able to help very often because we live nearly 300 miles away. (This is about 483 kilometers.) My father is building his house in the state of Louisiana and I live in the state of Texas. The house is in the country (rural area) about ten miles (16 km) from the nearest town. To buy groceries or shop they must drive about fifteen miles (24 km) to the nearest city. In fact, the road in front of their house is dirt and gravel. It is not paved and is very bumpy to drive on. But they enjoy the quiet and restful woods in which they live and do not mind having such a bad road.

I am looking forward to seeing the house finished this summer. We have not been able to celebrate Thanksgiving or Christmas together at my parent’s home for three years now. It is my wish that we will be able to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas in their new home this year. My son and I will try to visit them again this June and help in the finishing of their house.

Comprehension Questions:

1. In what state is the retired father building his house?

2.  How far does the son live from his father?

3.  Do you live near your parents?

4.  How often do you see them?

5.  Have you or your family ever built something together?

6.  Do you think you would like to live in the rural area or in the city?