I learned to do wood work when I was very young.

    I remember I made my first project—a small table when I was 9 years old. I was so 1 of it that I looked upon it as if I had created a(an) 2. It was absolutely beautiful and it had taken me six weeks to3 it. I could hardly wait to give it to Mother Winters as a(an)4. She was the head mistress of our orphanage（孤儿院）, who was always kind but 5 with us.

    As the tables were not dry from the clear coating(清漆), our woodworking teacher told us to wait a few days before taking them to our dormitories. But I was just so 6and happy that I couldn't wait I dashed out like a 7, carrying my table, smiling from ear to ear.

    When I reached the dormitory I placed the little table beside my bed. I was 8 it when Mother Winters entered. She walked over to the table. Running her hand 9 it, she noticed that it was still wet.

    “Were you 10 to bring this home?” she asked.

    “No, ma'am,” I 11 with my head down.

    She ordered me to throw the table out and so I did. After she left, I immediately opened the door to get it back. There was 12 stuck all over. I brushed and cried, but the dirt would not come off.

    I hid the table in my closet and never 13 it. However, a year later during a cleaning-up, it was discovered. Painfully, I had to give the table to Mother Henderson, my houseparent, thinking that she would 14 it away.

    Thirty years later at a reunion, I 15 that Mother Henderson was living nearby, so I drove up to see her. We talked cheerfully for long. As I was about to leave, she asked me to come down to her 16 to get something important. I followed her 17 into a dark corner. She picked something up. 18 she turned around, I could see that she was holding a little table.

    Mother Henderson kept the little table that I had given up for lost so long ago.

    Today, I look at that table with bittersweet memories but full of 19 to Mother Henderson, who kept the table for a young orphan who 20 it so much.

Big City Bus Driver

    When I was 20, I went to stay with a friend for two weeks in Vancouver. My friend worked during the day, so I decided to go 1 on my own. I knew where I was and where I wanted to go, the Vancouver Aquarium (温哥华水族馆). It sounded 2.

    But soon I was completed 3 I boarded a bus, figuring it must do a circle, right? I rode a good half hour before becoming impatient and then got 4 I walked quite a while, up and down various blocks, but had no idea where I was.

    I've lived in a tiny town all my life, rarely leaving it. Being a “small town girl”, I admit I'm fairly 5about city life. People at home always told me city people were cold and unconcerned about others, so I was afraid to 6to anyone.

    I got on another bus, and then another again. Finally, after hours, I decided to get on ONE bus, and stay on 7 I recognized something. I rode over half an hour. Nothing ever seemed 8 When I became the only passenger on the bus, I began to get 9 I had no cellphone, and didn't even10 my friend's office telephone number.

    As I was about to give up and leave the bus, the driver asked11 I wanted to go. I told him the aquarium, and he laughed, saying his bus wouldn't go anywhere near. I12 back in my seat, really afraid and upset. He asked where I was from, and I told him what had happened and now I just wanted to go back to my friend's place.

    13, the driver pulled the bus over and called me to the front. He gave me detailed 14 as to which buses to take, and how to understand the bus system. He 15 printed the bus tickets I needed from his machine.

    I was shocked. He spent a good twenty minutes 16 me, telling me everything I needed to know, before giving me the tickets. I thanked him repeatedly, and asked him how much I 17 for the tickets. “Nothing. Just get yourself to your friend's home.”

    Thanks to his 18 I was able to make my way back to my friend's house. I don't know what I would have done if that driver had not taken the 19 to help me. What people had told me was not true. City people 20 just like the driver. I never did learn his name, but I'll always remember him.

    Growing up, I always hid my thumbs in my fists because of their unusual shape. 1 they do look more like a big toe（脚趾）2 a thumb. And from an early age, my thumbs 3 another name “toe thumbs” .

    In high school, I served as a cashier in a grocery store. One day, I was 4 a sweet little old lady and as I 5 her change back to her, she suddenly took my hands and said in a thick Polish 6, “You are Polish! Look at those 7 Polish thumbs! They match mine!” She raised her hands and 8 her thumbs to me that 9 weathered and wrinkled, looked exactly like mine! She 10 my hands again and said, “Be11of those thumbs!”

    I'll never forget that 30-second 12 with a stranger that forever 13 my view of a part of me I once was 14 by and now accept. As I was eating dinner with my Samuel tonight, he looked down at my hand 15 on the table next to his and said, “Mommy! Our thumbs 16!” I smiled and answered, “Yes, they do, buddy! Those are strong Polish 17 you have! Take pride in them! Maybe someday you'll have a little boy or girl who will have the same thumbs!” I 18 my son never hides his thumbs like I did. I hope he'll be proud of their “unusualness” and the 19 behind them. He carries on a(n) 20 part of me and that for me will always be beautiful!

    It was my first night in my college dorm room. A couple of months ago, I was prepared for finals, 1, and the day I would keep my promise 2 out as soon as I had the chance. I 3used threat when I was angry or couldn't get my way. 4my parents just grinned.

    Now I 5 watching TV programs with my parents. I missed the time my parents spent with me. I missed the home videos I 6with my brother and sister. Now, those moments are only memories.

    Sitting at my desk with my laptop open, I7an e-mail to a radio station my mom listens to every morning before work. I 8a special song called Don't Forget to Remember.

    The next morning, my mom got out of bed and 9the radio as usual. She was amazed by the speakers10. You know how 11I was weeks ago because I sent my little girl to school for the first time? A college student 12 us and said that she misses her parents and13they have done for her. She also chose a special song in14of them. So we want to thank Cindy for that e-mail, 15it really eased my worry about my little girl growing up and 16about things parents do for them.

    The song began to play while my mom ran over to my dad and 17him up. "Honey! Did you hear that? Was that our Cindy? Our daughter who couldn't wait to 18home?" My dad, just barely opening his eyes, replied with, "If it is, that is very 19of her.”

    I got a call from my mom that night. I was so excited to tell her that I20my first day of college and we talked for about an hour. Just when we were about to say our goodbyes, I added one last plea: "Mom, don't forget to remember me.”

    My first-grade teacher, Mr. Gunderson, once told my class a story. A father is killed in a car accident and the son is 1 hurt. But when the boy arrives at the 2, the doctor on duty says, "I can't 3 surgery on this patient. This is my son!" Mr. Gunderson asked, "Who is the doctor?" Hands went up and my classmates shouted out 4, but they didn't arrive at the correct answer. Mr. Gunderson didn't let me 5 because he knew it would be very easy for me to understand that the surgeon was the boy's 6. I suppose that Mr. Gunderson's 7 would be a lot easier for today's first-graders.

    Being a doctor at that time, my mother was considered very 8 because female doctors were rare then. 9, to my sister and me, she was and is just Mom. When we were kids, we came home from school to a 10, who watched us until our parents came home. Mom took Friday off so she could spend more time with us, and we could tell that she felt 11 about not being home more often.

    My younger sister and I 12 at a fairly young age that this was Mom's weak spot, and we 13 it mercilessly whenever we wanted a new toy or snacks. I wish I had 14 doing that the first time Mom told me about one of her 15 who had died, but I'm sure I didn't. I can't imagine what it's like to spend all day taking care of other people's 16 children, some of whom are not going to 17 it, and then come home to find that your own kids are acting like that. We were just like 18 brats (顽童) then. I suppose she could have found our guilty weak spots to make us 19, but she never did. I think I'd better 20 her for that.

    I was late for the school bus and rushing to get ready. My dog, Tippy, got to the front door and lay down in front of it – his way of asking to be petted. I1his begging for affection (喜爱), hurdled(跨) over him and ran for the waiting bus.

    2, that afternoon, when I came home, Mom said to me3, "Honey, I have some4news that I need to tell you. This morning, while you were at school, Tippy was hit by a car and5 I'm so sorry."

    "No! It's not true!" I was6 I couldn't believe her. "Tippy, come here! Come on, boy!" I called and called for him. I waited. He didn't come. Feeling7, I wandered into the living room. I didn't cry that night. I still couldn't believe that he was8.

    When I got off the bus the next day, there was dead silence at home.9 my sobs (哭泣) bubbled up and erupted (喷发) like lava (熔岩) from a volcano. I couldn't stop10. I hadn't even petted him when I left.11could I have known that was my last chance? I cried until I felt empty inside.

    Time passed, and against my will, I started to12some things. I realized what little control any of us have over what happens 13 a dog. We can do everything right, but14things can still happen. But good things can happen too. That's15. The best way to 16 the hard times is to figure out what you need to do to get through them when they come, and to remember that hard times always17.

    I now deeply understand the "circle of life". Everyone is born, everyone18, and that's the way it is. If dogs never died, there would be no19for others like Belle – my new dog.

    Best of all, I realized that Tippy20all of my good memories of him. And they come to me every time I call!