Being on the road at 3:15 a. m. to drive 450 kms wasn't in my plans for the weekend. I had been looking forward to a couple of  1days to prepare myself for the following busy2. My son, Simon, and his good friends were heading for the 3. Due to the last-minute issue(问题) with transportation, I 4 my car to make sure that everyone could get to the 5 point so that they could get together and enjoy their week's 6 by snowboarding and skiing.

    The only thing that 7 to me on my journey was that no sooner had I 8 and said goodbye than I would make the trip 9 ， in total, a round trip of 900 kms in just 10 hours. Such a long drive in one day was frightening,10 as I was looking forward to relaxation Simon and I 11, on our way, about his break and a whole lot of his school subjects. It was great to have this time with him as we 12 spent five continuous hours together, other than when we played Saturday cricket (板球).

    On my return trip, I 13 a strange sense of loneliness in some heavy morning 14. Within an hour it15. I spent the next four hours listening to some CDs and enjoying the scenery. Surprisingly, after my long trip home I was 16 refreshed and energized even though I was physically exhausted. And I knew that I would have a(n)  17 sleep that evening.

    A change 18 your environment, no matter how great, can provide you with the opportunity to19 something from different angles（角度）, as well as to be refreshed and energized.

    Now I'm looking forward to my next20 event and many more opportunities to spend quality time with those who are important to me and make my life more rewarding.

    Powell was walking home one dark night. As he1the city bridge, he noticed something 2--a person was sitting on the rail, legs hanging over a3 about 100 feet below, at this time.

    “At first I thought he was just4 But as I got closer, I heard him whispering.5I clearly heard ‘I'm just going to jump,'” said Powell.

    “Hey, buddy, what are you doing?” Powell asked. He kept his6, standing about six feet away not to 7the guy.

    “I'm going to jump,” the guy said.

    “His8had pain in it, but I could9he didn't really want to do this. He10felt there wasn't any other way.” said Powell.

    Powell sought to11him. “You have any kids?”

    Without turning to look at Powell, the stranger only showed a12of his daughter on his cell phone. She looked to be two years old. “Think about how13her dad at a young age will affect her.” Powell14 Over the next ten minutes they talked, the stranger gradually opened his heart.

    “I'm having a15time.” the stranger said. “I can't make any money and I'm hungry.”

    Thankfully, Powell's calm, sincere persuasion caused the stranger to16turn and look at him. Powell, now about two feet from the stranger, held out his hand and17it there. “I felt I could catch him18if he jumped, but I also wanted him to know that I was there for him.” he said. To his19 the stranger took his hand and climbed down.

    Powell is great! It's always good to offer help and show your care if you find someone in your life20with disappointment.

Crayon Crisis

    The telephone rang. It was my sister, who was working in an elementary school. She told me she used my crayon 1 again.

    Over 40 years ago, I sat in my first-grade classroom2 the teacher asked me to go to the principal's office. I was shy. And I hated to be  3 For me, being called to the principal's office was my worst dream.

    When I pushed open the door, it was worse than I thought. Seated in front of the principal's desk were my 4 My father walked straight over to me. Holding my drawings, he asked, “Why do you only use a black crayon when you draw?" I couldn't speak.

    “5 me your desk,” said my father.

In my classroom, my father pulled out my crayon box from my desk. A single nub of a crayon rested in his palm—it was black.6, my father asked, “Where are the rest of your crayons? ”

    I quietly explained that I'd given all the other crayons to friends. I'd been   7 like my parents had taught me. My father let out a deep 8“You were sharing?”

    I nodded my head.

Back to the office, I looked at my father, then at the principal—both their faces were 9The principal whispered that I could go. I waved goodbye to my parents. My mother waved back, but I couldn't get my father's 10 he was glaring at the principal.

    I learned years later that my father's face was red due to 11 and the principal's was red due to embarrassment. The principal,12 seeing all my artwork done in black crayon, assumed (猜想) that I had deep emotional problems. He had called my parents in to discuss “my 13” and to suggest some psychological counseling (心理咨询).

    I was too afraid to say that I only had one crayon left. I was too shy to ask for my “shared” crayons back. Because I didn't 14 up for myself, others assumed the worst.

    Today my sister tells her students, “Don't be 15 to speak up. If you don't, I just might make the wrong assumption. Let me tell a story about my sister, when she was around your age...”

    Last year, I was assigned to work at an office near my mother's house.1, I stayed with her for a month. During that time, I helped her out with the housework and contributed to the2.

    After a week, I started3the groceries were running out pretty quickly.4, I began observing my mother's daily routine for two weeks. To my5, I found she would pack a paper bag full of canned goods and6every morning at about nine. She took the food to the slums(贫民窟)and distributed it to street7.

    I asked around and8my mum was popular in the area. The kids looked up to her as if she were their own mother. Then it hit me－why didn't she want to tell me about what she'd been doing? Was she9that I would stop buying the groceries if I knew the truth?

    When she got home, I told her about my discovery and10she could react, I gave her a big hug and told her she didn't need to keep it a11from me. She told me that12of the children lived with an old lady in a makeshift home while others13on the streets. For years, my mum had been helping out by14whatever food she could15.I was so moved by how16she was. She used what was17for her to help others in need. And I was so18of her.

    I19to buy groceries for my mum. But now, I always add a(n)20bag for her other children.

    I feel that l was blessed by an Angel not long ago.1 was out in town with my husband. We live in a 1town. Because of the cold, my2shrunk, causing my anniversary ring to 3. I didn't notice this until we got home. I became 4ill ached all over. I thought my husband was going to have a heart attack.

    Although it is a material item, it is yet very5 He went out and retraced our6to where we came back. I called the stores we were in and no one7it in. I thought it was8 for sure.

    Well, at around midnight last night, our dogs went mad. We have a sunroom9to our home. The door to that is usually10. But that night, we Left it unlocked. My all-terrain motor scooter(小型摩托车)was 11 out there. In its basket was a ring box-- holding my ring! Along with the ring was a diamond circle.

    There was also a 12 that told the story of this stranger13 the ring and recognizing the work, as it is a piece made particularly. The person then went to the jeweler and14 about finding the ring. The jeweler is a friend of mine so she gave her my 15 and the town is so small, we are 16 to find. The stranger who found the ring 17the ribbon(丝线)in the store in order to keep the ring around the finger when it is 18 out. And then also left a gift card for us to take our family out to the movies as a Christmas gift. The note was 19 "Santa's Elf(小精灵)". My friend is keeping her lips 20 about whom it was.