The Grand Ole Opry, in Nashville, Tennessee, has always been American's most important concert hall for country music. Every Saturday night the place is filled with country music1

    One 2 in January 1967, it was a very 3night at the Opry and for the first time a4 man was an attraction (吸引力).5 music has always been thought of as “white music”. For many, it was a strange 6 to see Charley Pride step 7 the Opry stage. Some people felt 8 about whether a black man could sing country songs.9 Charley's smooth voice quickly 10 over the Opry 11 Charley was so good that before long, he was country music's biggest12.

    Like many country singers, Charley was13on a farm. He spent his youth milking cows and picking cotton. But he knew he wasn't going to make 14his career (事业). Later, he became a baseball player.

    Charley made it to a major league team. But he didn't stay on for more than one season.

    In the winter, after the baseball season, Charley 15 at a local nightclub. One evening, Red Sovine, a great country music star,16 Charley sing and told Charley to forget about 17 and go for a singing career.

    Charley took the 18and became a true hit-maker. His 19 were always near the top on the list. Some were number one all over the country.

    Today Charley Pride is 20one of the biggest stars in country music. But he says his real wish is to own a baseball team.

    At the funeral, I tried to say good-bye to Grandpa, but all I could do was feel bad. Most of the adults were busy 1to one another. They didn't talk about Grandpa. Afterward, I kept my grandpa 2in my mind by talking about him3. I was afraid if I might 4him. I told everyone he died. One day when I was with my mother in a 5, I told the check-out lady. When we got outside, my mother hugged me close and told me not to tell 6 about Grandpa's death. Then I realized that there were other ways I could remember him.

    I planted a tree in our backyard, in7of Grandpa. The stars made me feel 8. I'd choose a star in the sky and 9it was Grandpa 10. In school, my teacher suggested that I write stories and draw pictures. The more I wrote and the more I drew, the more I 11about Grandpa and me.

I gave my favorite12to the library in memory of my Grandpa. The librarian wrote his name on a special label and put it 13. I used to 14the book. It wasn't 15the shelf, I was happy 16was reading "my grandpa's book."

    17, I was working hard in school and having fun with my friends again. I can't remember everything about my grandpa,18every once in a while, someone or something 19me of him. The memories feel warm and good. Now I know, and I want you to know, the best 20are like love. They last forever.

    My holiday was about two months long and the first thing I wanted to do was to get my driving license, so I called the driving school to make sure of my 1 time, after that, I booked a room to make sure my friend and I have a place to stay when we 2 there.

    So everything went on well 3the test-day finally arrive! I'm both excited and 4. I took the school bus and when I got there I went to the 5 first. Something happened when I came out of the restroom. I 6 over and broke my right foot.

    OMG! I didn't know what to do so I called my mom and she 7 me up and we went to the hospital at once. 8 the doctor said, “It is fine. You didn't hurt the9, but it will take almost two months to recover.” That was disappointing, and I was totally 10.

    Through those painful days I had nothing to do but 11 the Internet and read books about some disabled persons who are not 12 by their physical problems. These books would help me 13 sooner. It was so amazing! After reading the books my 14 seemed to become better and better, day after day! And I began to feel better 15 myself and about my foot I started to use the 16 “thank you” more often than before and most importantly, I started to think 17.

    Things do change when your18 changes. I soon recovered and could walk again. After coming back from my trip, I went to 19 my driving test, and it went very well. I 20 it without any difficulties. I'm a driver now!

    When my wife, Jane, and I were 16, we were in the same class. About a week before Thanksgiving Day, we found out that our teacher Edward was having some1challenges. We wanted to do something to help, so as a class we2to gather food, clothing and gifts to3his family had a good Thanksgiving Day.

    When Jane told her family about our plan, her mother was4. Together they searched their house for things they could5. Her mother went to the kitchen,6a big turkey and saying, "Thanksgiving Day won't be7without a turkey dinner." To this day, Jane remembers how moved she was by her mother's8.

    Before making our9, we said a prayer of appreciation for the wonderful10to help others. I will never forget the surprised11of our teacher and his wife when they12the door; their four children gathered around them as we handed out the gifts. It was a cold night; we all felt warm inside,13.

    Last month while I was in a meeting, my secretary informed me, "Your high school teacher Mr. Edward is wondering if you could14him a few minutes. He's sitting in your office right now!"

    I left my meeting and went to my office15. My teacher and I hugged and began to16 the last years. He told me he17remembered that cold winter night when we brought the18of Thanksgiving Day to his family. The food and gifts were certainly19, but what warmed his heart that night was to see a group of teenagers who understood the20of Thanksgiving Day.

    One day when I was 15 years old, I had some friends over to hang out. While we were making food in the 1, my brother came in. He 2 his beef next to my thick one and said, "Courtney, your beef is bigger than mine. You don't need to eat; you're already fat enough." Then he walked out, laughing.

    3 comments on my physical appearance were nothing new. Something inside me 4 to his idea that my legs were unacceptable, and that became the last day that I ever willingly wore 5 until I was 30 years old. For the next 15 years, I spent summer after summer roasting in long pants.

    But then I 6 Ragen Chastain, and she changed everything. I couldn't believe that this woman who, like myself, almost 7 300 pounds was so 8 and happy in her own skin. I listened 9 she shared her own journey to recovery and self-love. She talked about how amazing our bodies are, just by 10 of the things they do every day-like 11, pumping blood to every ceil, blinking and walking..

    Walking! I was suddenly aware of how foolish I'd been for so long. There're people who are born 12 legs, or who lack properly working legs, or who 13 their legs, and I'd been 14 my perfectly strong, healthy, beautiful legs in 15 because I had allowed someone to 16 me that they weren't good enough. The next day, I bought three pairs of shorts and a sundress and spent the entire summer letting my legs see the sun and feel the 17.

    The next time anyone comments on your body in a 18 way, look them straight in the eye, smile and say, "If what you see 19 you so much, feel free to practice the ancient art of looking somewhere else." That's Ragen's original, but I don't think she'll mind 20 you use it.

    When I settled(定居) in Chicago，my new city seemed so big and unfriendly. Then I had a 1 problem and had to go to hospital for a 2examination.

    It seemed a small 3 compared to the one I was about to face, but things started to go 4 right from the beginning , not having a car or5 the city, I was depending on the buses to get me from A to B, 6I'd left myself plenty of time, soon it was 7. I was going to be late, because I had mistakenly boarded a bus that was taking me in the 8 direction.

    I 9 the bus and stood on the road not knowing what to do, I looked into the eyes of a 10 , who was trying to get past me, 11 , instead of moving on, she stopped to ask if I was 12. After I explained my 13to her, she pointed to a bus stop across the street, where a bus would take me back into the city to my 14. Sitting there waiting, I felt 15that someone had been willing to help. 16, hearing a horn(喇叭)nearby, I looked up to see a car with my new friend 17 at me to get in. She had returned to offer me a 18 to the hospital.

    Such unexpected 19 from a passer-by was a lovely gift to receive. As I climbed out of the car at the hospital and turned to thank her, she smiled and told me not to lose  20, for all things are possible.