In 2012, I had just recovered from a serious illness when I received an invitation to a writer's conference in Orlando, Florida. My family persuaded me that a(n)1might be just what the doctor ordered, so off I2.

    Arriving in the Sunshine State was rather tiring, but I3to catch a taxi to my4and settle in. The next morning, I took another5to the shopping centre to buy a few souvenirs.6I went to a cafe to have lunch, but all the tables were7. Then I heard a friendly voice saying, "You can8my table."

    I gratefully sat down with the9lady and we had a happy lunch together. As the10drew to a close she asked how long I would be in Orlando. I had already told her that I hadn't11a car, and  hadn't  realized  how12taking taxis would he. After a while she said, "My dear, don't use any more taxis. I'm retired and it would be my pleasure to13you wherever you wish." I told her that I couldn't put her to that14,but she brushed aside my protests(反对). She asked me where I was15and the next morning she was waiting at my apartment at the16time to take me to Disney World. She spent some time with me before leaving me to17alone. At the end of the day, she18to take me back to my accommodation. I19her money but she refused to take any.

    I'll never forget that wonderful lady who, through her20, filled my brief holiday in Florida with wonderful memories.

    Maureen stood by the lake. Suddenly the children came running through the trees with sharp cries of 1 They rushed up to the 2leaning over the clear water, watching the crowds of tiny fish. Some children demanded loudly to go to the boats, but 3those who had been left behind at the ice-cream stall(小摊) came running up to make some announcement or other, and they all4the water and dashed back the 5 they had come. With growing excitement, Maureen6them.

    When she7what had been running for, she stopped running. They were 8things again. The toy stall was9and they were crowded around it. Behind the 10 a calm middle-aged woman was selling a great variety of small rubbish. She took 11from the forest of small hands in exchanging for little boats, plastic dolls, yellow pencils, anything. Maureen leaned against a 12 looking on. The idea of13 washed against her face like a strong current(流), trying to draw her in.

    Nona Parker pushed out to the edge of the group and14what she had bought on the ground so that she could see what money she had left in her white purse. Under Maureen's 15 lay a boat, a mouth organ(口琴) and a brown load of bread. Maureen was so full of the16for the things like that she couldn't bear to look at it. She turned her17sharply. Her face was against the tree. She shut her eyes and 18 eagerly for some money, for the price of a set of toy plates. In a moment, she opened her eyes,19she didn't turn back to the stall. It was too 20to see the others buying whatever they wanted. She rubbed almost round the tree, her eyes on the ground.

    I was never very neat, while my roommate Kate was rather organized. Each of her objects had its 1, but mine always hid somewhere. She even labeled (贴标签 ) everything. I always looked for everything. 2time, Kate got neater and I got 3. She would push my dirty clothing over, and I would lay my books on her tidy desk. We both got 4 of each other.

    One evening war 5. Kate came into the room. Soon, I heard her shouting, "Take your 6 away! Why under my bed!" Deafened, I saw my shoes flying at me. I7 to my feet and started shouting. She shouted back louder.

    The room was filled with 8. We could not have stayed together for a single9 but for a phone call. Kate answered it. From her end of the conversation, I could 10right away her grandma was seriously ill. When she 11, she quickly hid under her covers, sobbing(呜咽). 12, that was something she should not go through alone. All of a sudden ,a 13 feeling of sympathy(同情) rose up in my heart,

    Slowly, I collected the pencils, took back the books, 14 my bed, cleaned the socks and swept the floor, 15 on her side. I was so buried in my work 16 I even didn't notice Kate had sat up.

    She was watching, her tears dried and her 17one of disbelief. Then, to my surprise, she 18 out her hands to catch mine. I looked up into her eyes. She smiled at me. "Thanks."

    Kate and I stayed 19for the rest of the year. We didn't always agree, but we learned the key to 20together: giving in, cleaning up and holding on.

    Life is colorful. Sometimes it's just like potato salad; when it's shared, it became a picnic.

    With three young children to bring up, my husband John and I were very 1. "Can we go on a picnic, Mom?" my six-year-old daughter, Becky 2. "Please." I had said no so many times in 3 months, and I decided the usual Saturday morning chores could 4. To her 5, I agreed.

    I prepared a few sandwiches and 6 a cooler with ice and drinks and called John 7.

    My eleven-year-old twin sons loaded the cooler and the picnic basket in the trunk and off we went to spend some 8 time together as a family.

    About the time I got the lunch 9 out on the table, John arrived on the 10. That was one of the happiest meals we ever shared together. The meal was full of 11. We felt a closeness that had been hidden by work and school responsibilities for so many months. John and the boys 12 rocks into the lake, Becky fed the ducks and I sat quietly at the picnic table, 13 God for blessing me with such a wonderful family.

    That night as our children went to bed, I kissed their cheeks. It 14 me what a wonderful life I had. As I walked out of the room it dawned on me that even the busiest 15 could become a picnic when it's shared with the ones you 16. Even though kids have now grown up and 17 from home, I can still remember how I felt that day while sitting at the picnic table.

    Maybe today would be a good time to 18 potato salad, call all of my 19 kids, feed some hungry ducks and skipped a few rocks into the lake. Since life is like potato salad, let's make it a 20.

    A wise man was passing through a city. While he was walking, he 1 a coin on the road. He picked it up. Despite his 2 life, he was satisfied and he had no use of that coin. So, he planned to 3 it. 4, throughout the day he didn't find such a person. Finally, he reached the 5 area and spent a night there.

    Next morning, he 6 up and was told that a king was going for his invasion of another state with his army. When the king saw the wise man, he 7 his army to stop. He came to the wise man and said, "I am going to beat another 8. Thus, my state can be 9. So 10 me to be victorious".

    After 11, the wise man gave the coin to the king! The king was confused with this because he is already one of the 12 kings! He 13 asked, "What's the meaning?"

    The wise man explained, "I found this coin yesterday in your 14. But I had no 15. So I had 16 that I would donate it. I walked around till the evening, but found no one such. "

    "Everyone was living a 17 life. It seemed that they were satisfied with what they had. But today, the king of this state, still has the desire to 18 more and is not satisfied with what he already has. I feel you are 19 this coin."

    The king realized his 20 and gave up the planned war.

    I didn't grow up in a very loving family. In fact, there are few,1, happy memories I have of my childhood2my family members. My3moments were those spent with the few friends I was4to have. My family eventually alienated (排斥) all the neighbors.5, I didn't even have kids to play with and became quite serious just to hide my pain.

    There was another family in town that seemed6to mine. They had a lot of children too. I always wondered what it would be like7my family were more like them. They never knew it, but I watched them and8them. They were kind, genuine and close.

    9later I found myself back in the very same place, in that same small town I had10. This time I was in that town for my mother's funeral. My family gave each other the cold11, as always. I felt upset that neither time nor circumstances could make them act with12toward each other. As I approached the church for the funeral, memories came13back to me. I remembered the warm, kind smiles of that family.

    After the funeral service a meal was provided. When looking for seats with my husband. I heard a14voice I hadn't heard in decades call my name. I15and the father of that family I had admired was there. He was a church volunteer for my mother's funeral lunch. We chatted for a bit. I16my happy child a few meters away to him and it was at that point that I realized I was raising my boy in a way I had seen him bring17his own children so long ago. He wasn't18of it, but my son's life has been greatly19by him.

    So, live your life with love and kindness. You never know who's watching, who you will20and whose life you'll change.