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.

    One day I visited an art museum while waiting for my husband to finish a business meeting. I was expecting a quiet1of the splendid artwork.

    A young2viewing the paintings ahead of me3nonstop between themselves. I watched them a moment and decided the lady was doing all the talking. I admired the man's4for putting up with her5stream of words. Disturbed by their noise, I moved6.

    I met them several times as I moved7the various rooms of art. Each time I heard her continuous flow of words, I moved away8.

    I was standing at the counter of the museum gift shop making a purchase9the couple approached the10. Before they left, the man11into his pocket and pulled out a white object. He12it into a long stick and then13his way into the coatroom to get his wife's jacket.

    "He's a14man." The clerk at the counter said. "Most of us would give up if we were blinded at such a young age. During his recovery, he made a promise his life wouldn't change. So, as before, he and his wife come in15there is a new art show."

    "But what does he get out of the art". I asked "He can't see."

    "Can't see You're16He sees a lot, more than you and I do," the clerk said, "His wife17each painting so he can see it in his head."

    I learned something about patience,18and love that day. I saw the patience of a young wife describing paintings to a person without19and the courage of a husband who would not20blindness to change his life. And I saw the love shared by two people as I watched this couple walk away, their arms intertwined.

    Jane's mother worked on the farm from dawn till dark and she just could make ends meet. To make Jane live a1life, she was very careful about spending money.2, Jane didn't understand her. Every day she was busy with her 433while Jane was studying at school, so they had little time to enjoy themselves.

    One day, she realized Jane was unhappy and even 44to her, so she decided to go 45with Jane to make Jane happy.

    On Sunday morning they went happily to the snowfield. Since they were 6in white clothes, the manager advised them to buy ski clothes. He said 47there was an accident, they might be easily 48in their ski clothes. They couldn't 49them, so she refused.

    Then they went skiing in their white clothes. They were skiing happily on the 10when suddenly the snowfield began to11. It was a snow slide(雪崩). They ran a long way and

    12the snow slide finally, but they couldn't find their way. Later, a helicopter was flying above,13people on it couldn't see or hear them. Jane was14because she had hurt her head seriously and15dropped on the snow. Just then an idea struck her mother. She pierced (刺破) her own wrist16and let bright red blood drop on the snow. A red SOS was written. At last Jane17, but her mother died.

    Every time I18the blood dropping on the snow, I feel19. I believe anyone who hears the tragedy will20Jane's mother for her selfless love to her daughter.

    It was a terrible day. Snow had been falling all day long making the trip 1. I would rather have been in my warm home than drive along on such a cold day, but I didn't have a 2. I had to have my paper work handed in and then 3 my son.

    The snow continued to fall as we drove along for the 15-mile trip back home. I slowed the car and 4 at my son in his heavy coat as he looked 5 out of the window with a blank expression. In the 6 of the world he was looked upon as a mentally disabled child. 7, over the years what I saw was a beautiful, kind and 8 soul. He had shown me more about love than I could have ever 9 on my own.

    I slowed the car even more as we 10 a sharp curve (弯). As we rounded it I saw a shivering (颤抖的), young woman in a 11 jacket walking in the snow storm . I pulled over and let her in. She was heading for her Mom's house to visit her 12 whom she hadn't seen for months. She had experienced a lot of disappointments and 13. Yet, she still held out hope for a new job and tried to 14 a new life for her son and herself.

    I took her as 15 as I was able to and dropped her off. She thanked me for the 16 and I told her I wished I could have done more to help. Then as we were about to leave, my sweet son took off his coat, 17 down the window and gave it to her. She put it on, smiled and 18 to us as we pulled out on the road.

    In this world we will 19 many problems and challenges. Sometimes it seems that our entire lives are a trip down a curvy and dangerous road. Yet the power of 20 takes us straight back to a broad smooth highway.

    John's parents acquired the washer when he was a small boy. It happened during World War Ⅱ. His family never 1 a washing machine and, since gasoline was expensive, they could not 2 trips to the laundry several miles away. Keeping clothes 3 became a problem for young John's household.

    A family friend joined the army, and his wife 4 to go with him. John's family 5 to store their furniture while they were away. To the family's 6, the friend suggested they use their Bendix. So this is how they 7 the washer.

    Young John helped with the washing, and across the years he 8 a love for the old, green Bendix. But 9 the war ended. When the friends came to take it back, John grew terribly 10. His mother 11 him and said. "You must remember, that machine 12 belonged to us in the first place. That we ever got to use it at all was a gift. So, instead of being mad at it being taken 13, let's use this 14 to be grateful that we had it at all."

    The lesson turned out 15. Years later, John watched his eight-year-old daughter die a slow and painful death of leukemia (白血病). Though he 16 for months with her death, John could not begin getting over from the 17 until he remembered the old Bendix.

    His daughter was a 18. When he realized the simple fact, everything changed. He could now begin recovering from the death of his daughter. He started to see her as a marvelous gift that he was fortunate enough to 19 for a time. He felt 20. He found strength and recovery. He knew he could get through the valley of loss.

    I'm not a person who loves collecting, but the TV room of my house is full of things. In it are things that there's no other place to put, and things I can't decide1to throw away, such as a lot of old bottles and boxes, some books and out-of-date magazines and a wood stove (炉子) I2use. The TV itself could actually work, but I only turn it3every four years to watch the presidential election.

    The other night, scratching (抓) sounds from the TV room4me up. Quietly, I entered the room,5the stove and opened its front door. There it was, a trembling squirrel,6me desperately.

    I decided to give it a(n)7escape way. Therefore, I opened the outside door, stepped back and8. The squirrel jumped out of the9, but didn't head outside.10, it run through my magazine pile and then struggled among the bottles.

    "Why didn't it11?" I wondered for a while until I12 that I probably put13into that small squirrel's heart. So I quickly14myself in the kitchen and watched the uninvited guest through the window. In my15, the squirrel became16enough to look around and assess the situation. Suddenly, it17merrily.

    The animal actually did a great18: I couldn't stand my19TV room for so long, so after the unexpected guest's leaving I spent half a day cleaning and throwing. I eventually got a tidy TV room and some20space.