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.

    When Mom pulled in the driveway, Grandpa Joe was weeding his garden. He stood up and 1 us with wide-open arms. In his muddy gloves and jeans, he looked2 like the well-dressed grandfather I remembered. The super professional bank president who loved numbers had retired(退休) and let his hair run3. I wasn't4 him to look so different.

    After the hugs and kisses, Grandpa couldn't5 to show off his garden, pointing out his almost-ripe tomatoes and 6 about the rabbits eating his lettuce. The man who had been 7 for ages with interest rates(利率) now cared only about gardening.

    Once Mom was gone for business, Grandpa8 me and said, "Now, Anthony, if I remember 9, you like pasta(意大利面) with pesto sauce." I eagerly nodded. "That's perfect!" Grandpa said. "We'll make some."

    We10 some vegetables from the garden, and then drove 15 miles to the nearest grocery, where Grandpa bought cheese and nuts. On the drive home Grandpa asked, "What's the11 of having a grandpa if he never makes you a big home-cooked meal?"

    Then Grandpa showed me how to 12 eggs with flour to make pasta and then how to prepare the sauce. When everything was ready, he proudly 13 me a large plate of pasta. I 14 a forkful into my mouth and it was just15.

    "So," Grandpa said, his eyes16, "what do you think?"

Before answering, I thought about our 17. The garden, the shopping, the 18 "I… I… love it, Grandpa!" I said.

    Then his face broke19 a smile so warm that I was sure I hadn't told him a20.

    My whole life began to make more sense after I was diagnosed with Turner syndrome (特纳综合征) at 12. Before that, I 1 understood why when the rest of my classmates were growing like weeds, I 2 a seed stuck in the ground. I had always struggled being the 3 girl in my class and was known as "Shorty". Though this 4 me deeply, I refused to let my classmates 5 my enthusiasm for school and learning. I 6 lots of after-school activities, though they sometimes presented problems. Because girls with Turner syndrome tend to have 7 coordination (协调), I hardly had any athletic ability. I loved to sing, but it proved 8to share a microphone with a group of girls seven inches taller. Despite this, I 9 to drive myself to prove that heart and brains could make up for lack of 10. Once diagnosed, I was given a 11plan that involved daily growth hormone (激素) injections. I am the type of person who 12 a doctor's appointment for weeks in advance, 13 getting used to injections every day —and even worse, giving them to myself —was a true test of my character. 14 , I got over this difficulty and after five years, I have grown 11 inches. This was a(n) 15 response and I consider it my own little miracle. I am not 16 that I have Turner syndrome. It has built up my character and 17 me into the person I am today. I have learned that you need to try your best to 18 the difficulties in your life. Someone once told me, "No one can make you feel inferior (自卑) without your permission." This statement has always 19 me and so I will journey on to the next stage of my life with 20 and self-confidence.

    There came a time in my life when my learning curve (曲线) became very steep. I learned so much in such a 1 time that I was reading two grades ahead of my 2 class. At school I was continuously 3 with lectures, because I had already done 4.

    And 5 my knowledge increased, so did my arrogance (傲慢). I started getting into 6 debates with my teachers. I knew more than them, and I was eager to show it at every 7 I got. That was until Mrs T 8. She was new to our school, and a perfect 9 for me. I tried one of my tricks on her in front of the whole class. She didn't scold me. She just 10.

    At the end of the class, she 11 me aside and said the following words:

    "I know that there is an unspoken 12 that a teacher is supposed to be more 13 than the student. We both know that is 14. I know for a fact that you know much more than me. And I won't insult you by pretending otherwise. But remember this. Knowledge is supposed to give you 15, not pride. Today you are the smartest person in the room; tomorrow you won't be. There will always be someone much 16, much more diligent than you. And when that happens, all the pride in the world wouldn't be enough to 17 you from downfall. Everything that you have learnt will be for nothing if you don't learn the 18 of humility."

    Today, I 19 remember her words. I 20 myself of them daily.

    I work with Volunteers for Wildlife, a rescue and education organization at Bailey Arboretum in Locust Valley. Trying to help 1, displaced or sick creatures can be heartbreaking; 2 is never certain. However, when it works, it is 3 beautiful.

    I got a rescue call from a woman in Muttontown. She had found a young owl(猫头 鹰)on the ground. When I arrived, I saw a 2-to-3-week-old owl. It had already been placed in a carrier for 4.

    I 5 the chick(雏鸟)and it seemed tine. If I could 6 the nest, I might have been able to put it 7, but no luck. My next work was to construct a nest and 8 it in a tree.

    The homeowner was very 9. A wire basket was found. I put some pine 10into the basket to make this nest safe and comfortable. I placed the chick in the nest, and it quickly 11 down.

    Now all that was needed were the 12 but they were absent. I gave the homeowner a recording of the 13 screams of owl chicks. These 14 the presence of chicks to adults; they might also encourage our chick to start calling 15I gave the owner as much information as possible and headed home to see what news the night might bring.

    A 16 night to be sure, but sometimes the spirits of nature 17 on us all! The homeowner called to say that the parents had 18 to the recordings. I drove over and saw the chick in the nest looking healthy and active. And it was 19 by the greatest sight of all — LUNCH! The parents had done their 20 and would probably continue to do so.

Growing roots

When I was growing up. I had an old neighbor named Dr. Gibbs. He didn't look like any doctor I'd 1 known. When Dr. Gibbs wasn't 2 lives, he was planting trees.

The good doctor had some 3 theories on planting trees. He believed in "No pains, no gains". He never 4 his new trees, which was 5 many people. He thought that watering plants spoiled (宠坏) them, and that if you want strong trees, you have to make things 6 for them. He, talked about how watering trees 7 shallow roots, and how trees that weren't watered had to grow deep roots in 8 of water. I came to understand that he meant deep roots were to be 9. The lack of water seemed to 10 the trees in ways comfort and ease never could.

I used to 11 for my sons that their lives will be easy. But 12 I've been thinking that it's time to13 my prayer. I know my children are going to meet14and I'm praying they will be strong. The prayer for comfort is seldom met. What we need to do is to pray for deep roots, so when the winds blow, they won't be 15 away.