On our first anniversary, Jack bought a bottle of Casaque, an expensive cologne（古龙香水）for me. "We agreed to save the money for your postgraduate education", I said somewhat half-heartedly as I took it out from a beautifully-wrapped packet. "I am unable not to give something 1 to the world's most beautiful bride, honey!" I held it to my2, and smelled the most pleasant flavor I could ever3. Looking down at my4blue jeans and ugly, ragged tennis shoes, I wondered if I could ever be worthy of it. But I would 5. I used only a little of it every time 6Jack graduated and our life was financially easier. It's a 7the foolish love of a young husband.

       Then one day three-year-old Jim was sitting on the floor8the empty cologne bottle. His lips wet, he was making a(n) 9face. He drank my10cologne! "Jack, come quick," I cried, "can cologne11my baby? Jim drank the rest of it!" "It's mostly just alcohol, honey," Jack12me. Little Jim was fine, and my concern for my child was13. I now felt 14to see the empty cologne bottle.

      A few weeks later, Jack bought another bottle of my beloved cologne. I 15it as much as I had done to the earlier one. 16, it became three-quarters empty. I thought it best to buy another 17. But the shop assistant told me that there wasn't even a maker of that brand any more.

    Now I only use my special cologne on very important occasions, because there will be18to replace it when these last few precious19are gone. But from the bottom of my heart it's not three-quarters empty but still one-quarter full. Perhaps if I'm very careful, I can 20using it for the rest of my life.

    Mildred Webinga Freeman was an English teacher at the new middle school I attended in the ninth grade.She wasn't my1;she was the adviser to the safety patrol（巡逻）on which I2.I loved being around her and3her sense of humor and kind personality.She was4a good listener.

    At the end of the year,she5that she was moving to Florida,and I was very sad.We exchanged6and became pen pals.I could tell her7,and she treated me8respect even though I was a teenager.

    In Florida,Mrs.Freeman became a Realtor（房地产经纪人）,9she managed to find time to write letters.She wrote10stories and always took my concerns11.She had given me a(n)12invitation to visit,and I missed her so much.When I13to take her up on the14,she answered,"Get your shoes on and your bags15!You are welcome anytime!"

    I spent three weeks with her in Miami.Her16of poetry,music,and creative writing17me to follow these endeavors（努力）.One day18hanging sheets on the clothesline,she19and said,"You know,the sky is fuel for the soul."I had never looked at the20before hearing those words.Later that year,I received a call that Mrs.Freeman had died.

    My dad is my hero because he is brave, skilled，and respectful. I know many people say their dads are their heroes, but my dad 1 me about becoming a man, which is 2 important for a young boy.

    Respect goes a long way with my dad, as does patience. As a(n) 3 ，my dad must  4 people every day, some of whom are nice and some are not. Either way, he 5  his well-mannered attitude.

    Dad is not afraid of many things, or if he is, he doesn't tell me 6  he wants to seem tough. He may not be a big guy but since he works with his 7 all day, he is very strong. Dad works outdoors in all kinds of 8 but the worst thing he has to do is 9up and work in an attic (顶楼) in the middle of the summer. Trust me. That is the 10 place you will experience as an electrician and when you come back11, what is in your lungs will make you12for hours.

    My dad and I have a very good 13. We talk about almost everything. We go hunting, fishing, and everything a dad and son would do. My dad and I enjoy hiking 14 because it gives us time outdoors together and there is nothing like that. He has15 and taught me everything I need to know about16.

    I am17  to be the son of Mike C., and would not have it any other way. People come up to me all the time to18me I have a good dad. It makes me feel 19 that a lot of people think so 20 of him. He is a good teacher of my life and would do anything for me. This is why my father is my hero.

    If life were a book and you were the author, how would you like the story to go? That is the question that1my life forever.

    One day I went home from the training of snowboarding with what I thought was the flu, and less than 24 hours later, I was in a2on life support with less than twenty percent3of living. It wasn't until days later that the doctors diagnosed me with a4blood infection. Over the5of 2.5 months, I lost the hearing in my left ear and both my legs below the knees. When my parents6me out of the hospital, I7that I had been put together like a patchwork （拼接物）doll and I had to live with8legs. I was absolutely physically and emotionally broken,9streaming down.

    But I knew in order to move forward, I had to let go of the Old Amy and10the New Amy. It was at this moment that I asked myself that significant11. And that is when it12me that I didn't have to be five-foot-five anymore,13I could be as tall as I wanted. And14of all, I can make my feet the size of all the shoes. So there were15here.

    Four months later, I was back upon a16. And this February, I won two Board World Cup gold medals,17me the highest ranked snowboarder in the world.

    So, instead of looking at our18and limitations as something19or bad, we can begin looking at them as a wonderful20that can be used to help us to further than we ever know we could go.

    “Come on, Cindy!" Darcy sounded so impatient, “We'll be late for class."

    “Darcy, I can't find my1." I dropped my book bag to dig through my coat pockets. “My money was in it."

    “Someone took it." Darcy said. As usual, she was quick to point away from the2side of things. “Oh. I'm sure I just misplaced it." I hoped. Even though we were best friends, Darcy and I were just so3.

   We rushed into class. Darcy4the news about the theft. By last period in gym class, I was5of having to say over and over again, “I'm sure I just left it at home."

   After gym, we went into the locker room. I was changing6I heard a gasp from Darcy. I looked at her and found her face was white with7. There, at her feet, was my wallet.

    “It fell out of her locker!" Darcy pointed at Juanita, a “new girl" in our class. “She8it."

    Everyone began to9Juanita at once.

    “Darcy caught her red-handed."

    “Report her!"

   I looked over at Juanita. She picked up the wallet and held it out to me. Her hands were10. “I found it in the parking lot. I was going to give it to you."

    Darcy spit the words “I'm so sure!" at her.

    “Really, it's true." Juanita's eyes began to fill with tears.

    I11for my wallet. I didn't know what to think,12when I looked over at Darcy, her attitude made me sick inside. I looked at Juanita. She was scared but looked13. I knew I held her14in my hands.

    “I am so glad you found it," I smiled. “Thanks, Juanita."

    The15around us broke.

    “Good thing she found it," everyone but Darcy16.

    “If there is any money left in your wallet."

    “Not now. Darcy!"

    “You are so naive!"

    It wasn't until others left there that I opened my wallet.

    “It's all here." I couldn't help but feel17. A folded piece of paper fluttered from my wallet. I opened it to see what it was.

    “She just didn't have time to18it yet."

    “Darcy, maybe you spend too much time19people."

    Darcy grabbed the note, read it and threw it back at me. “Whatever!" she said and stomped off. I knew that something had20between us.

    I read the note again.

Cindy,

    I found your wallet in the parking lot. Hope nothing is missing.

Juanita

    P.S. My phone number is 55-3218. Maybe you could call me sometime.

    And I did.

    I often go to France to visit my grandmother who is very dear to me. She's now 76 years old, 1 every time I go to visit, the two of us are very 2 that it might be the last time we see each other for she has cancer.

    Last time I visited her in December of 2012. I did a series of short video interviews about her 3. I asked her about her greatest 4 and life learning so far, her favorite books, food and stories. I learned a large quantity of amazing 5 things about her I never knew before.

    This year, I did not really have questions, only a strong 6 for her to know how much she is loved. I cooked for her and 7 her stories.

    8 leaving, I was looking for a way to leave something special behind 9 the memory of our time together. So I wrote her five different love and gratitude 10 to let her know how much she means to me, and hid them in 11 places where I knew she would finally 12 them. One under her pillow. Another one hanging from the lamp cover by which she reads in the evening. Another one by her toothbrush. One in her mailbox which she eagerly 13 every day. And the last one on her car's steering wheel (方向盘).

    I left joyfully 14 that these cards would surely cheer her up after I left She 15 me as I was departing for Paris to catch my plane back to the US and said, "I found your three cards! By the time I discovered the third card, I was 16 out loud! Obviously, they did me so much 17. Thank you so much!" I smiled to myself, knowing she still has two more to 18! It was Sunday, so my guess was that she had not checked her 19 and had not yet 20 her car!