It was found outside of Chicago and...let me read it to you first, and then I’ll tell you a little bit more about it afterwards. Umm, but it’s just a kid writing to his mom. So he says –
　　
　　Dear Mom,
　　I miss you. I really wish you were here. There’s
　　been a lot of bad stuff in my life, but I’m sure you
　　already know that. But there’s also been some really good things like Justin, he’s my best friend, and so is Bethany. Hey Mom, guess what’s the best part of all, there’s a girl, her name is Jenna. I’ve been dating her for about a month and a half. She makes me so happy, I know if you were here, you would like her a lot. She makes me so happy there is nobody I’ve ever been happier with. She’s changed my life in so many ways, she’s there for me, she’s someone who actually cares about me. I pray to God every day that I would get her and I did! It’s unbelievable. Remember when I was suicidal[有自杀倾向的]. Well, not anymore. I wouldn’t even think about it. I just love her so much for being with me, you know. This girl is wonderful, Mom. She helps me through a lot. I love her more than she can imagine. I’ve never felt this way about anyone. I would die for this girl, Mom. I love her so much, and she’s scared that we are not gonna see each other when I move, but I promised her we would see each other just like normal. Well, I got my license this summer, so I can be out here every day. So, yah, I’ve got to go. I love you so much, Mom. I’ll write you again. Bye.
　　Your son,
　　Colin
　　P.S. Trevor misses you, too.
　　
　　And so the woman that had found this, she told me the story of where she found it. And she said that…
　　you know, she was at a cemetery[公墓]. And in the
　　middle of the place was a…this big, old oak tree, and she saw like dangling[摇摆] from the highest branches, she saw this balloon with a ribbon coming down and tied to the ribbon was a piece of paper. So she scaled[攀爬] all the way up the tree to pull the note down, you know, and of course it was this note right here. So, you can just picture this kid like, going to visit his mom at the
　　cemetery, you know, and writing her this note, and sending it up to her in a balloon. And for me, it’s just one, like this one that…that move[s] and affect[s] me so much…that make me want to pick up every piece of paper I see flowing down the street, you know, or blowing down a[n] alley way, or…you know, and was…you know, hanging from a balloon in a tree.
　　
　　这封信是在芝加哥郊外发现的……让我先将它念给你们听,随后再为大家讲讲关于它的事情。唔,这只是一封儿子写给妈妈的信。信上是这么写的——
　　
　　亲爱的妈妈:
　　我想您。真希望您现在能在这儿。最近我的生活有诸多不如意的事情,不过我相信您已经知道了。不过生活也有许多美好的东西,比如贾斯丁,他是我最好的朋友,贝瑟妮也是。嘿,妈妈,您知道其中最棒的是什么吗?我遇到了一个女孩,她叫珍娜,我和她交往一个半月了。她让我感到非常快乐,我知道如果您在这里,您也会喜欢上她的。她让我感到如此幸福,简直无人能比。她使我的生活在很多方面发生了改变,她一直支持我,真的很关心我。我每天都向上帝祈祷,希望能赢得她的芳心,而我真的得到了!真是难以置信。还记得我曾经有自杀倾向吗?现在没事了。我甚至连想都不会去想了。她一直陪伴我,这让我对她无比着迷。您知道,这个女孩很不错,妈妈。她助我渡过重重难关。她一定想不到我有多爱她。我从来没有这样爱过一个人。我愿意为她献出生命,妈妈。我太爱她了,她担心我搬走之后我们就再也无法相见了,但是我答应她我们会像往常一样见面的。这个夏天,我考到了驾照,所以我可以每天都开车来这儿。那么,好吧,我要走了。我真的很爱您,妈妈。我会再给您写信的。再见。
　　您的儿子,
　　科林
　　还有,特雷弗也很想念您。
　　
　　发现这封信的女士告诉我她是在哪儿发现它的。她说……她当时正在一片墓园里。墓园的中心有一棵高大的老橡树,她看见一个气球在最高的树枝间摇摇曳曳,气球的丝带垂了下来,还绑着一张纸。于是她沿着树干爬上去,将字条一把拉了下来,你知道,当然就是我手中的这张字条了。因此,你能想象出这样一个情景:这个孩子到墓园看望他的母亲,你知道,给她写下这张字条,用气球寄给她。就我个人来说,这封信深深地感动着我,并影响着我……使我想捡起我看见的每一片纸张,你知道,无论是在大街上随风飘荡,还是被风吹到某条小街小巷里,或者……你知道……吊在一个在树上挂着的气球上。