9月13日是阿老师的生日，来看看邮件吧。
After completing a painting, I like to take it out from time to time to admire the work.
People say that the purpose of a painting is to capture the beauty of a moment for eternity. But even the highest quality paints will crack with time, and that moment's beauty will long have begun to fade.
However, I don't mind this change at all.
When I find that the paint has begun to dry and flake, I will often brush over the fissures with new strokes, and the new piece thus created is one I can continue to cherish.
Just as people enjoy regular gatherings, seeing the wrinkles left by long years of hardships, worries, and lament on one another's faces thickens the bonds between friends.
Or perhaps for a painting, time itself is a kind of pigment.
Should you have time to come for one such gathering, we will be able to add a few more brushstrokes to the painting called "You and I."
精读如下：
After completing a painting, I like to take it out from time to time to admire the work.
完成一幅画作之后，每隔一段时间我就会将它取出，再次欣赏一番。
People say that the purpose of a painting is to capture the beauty of a moment for eternity. But even the highest quality paints will crack with time, and that moment's beauty will long have begun to fade.
人们说，作画的目标就是将一刹那的美景化作永恒。然而质量再好的颜料也会干裂，那一刹那的美景早已老去。
However, I don't mind this change at all.
不过，我并不反感这种变化。
When I find that the paint has begun to dry and flake, I will often brush over the fissures with new strokes, and the new piece thus created is one I can continue to cherish.
发现旧作的颜料干裂时，我偶尔会循着裂纹补上几笔，如此竟能得到一幅新的得意之作。
Just as people enjoy regular gatherings, seeing the wrinkles left by long years of hardships, worries, and lament on one another's faces thickens the bonds between friends.
就像人们喜欢的定期小聚，确认了岁月在彼此脸上留下的风霜后，心生慨叹，却也让彼此的情谊更加醇厚。
Or perhaps for a painting, time itself is a kind of pigment.
或许对于画作来说，时间本身也是颜料的一种。
Should you have time to come for one such gathering, we will be able to add a few more brushstrokes to the painting called "You and I."
如果你有时间前来一聚，这副名为「你我」的画作，也可以新添几笔了。
词汇：
eternity 永恒
crack 干裂
flake（成小薄片）脱落，剥落
fissure 裂纹
stroke 一笔；（比较常用的意思是 中风）
piece （艺术、音乐、戏剧、文学的）一部作品
wrinkle 皱纹
pigment 颜料；色素
brushstroke 一笔