【推荐2】As I was taking a walk with my mom，I asked her，"Have you taken the senior bus yet?" I held my breath as I waited for her ____．"Oh，yes，I have，"she said．"How was it?" I said the words as_ ___ as I could to show my excitement，even though I sensed the answer was not going to be ____．She sighed heavily，"No one ever ____ on that bus．They all sit there quietly and look sad．I only see about thirteen ____ old ladies and men." My ____ for her situation grasped my stomach．

My dad had recently passed away, and his sudden leave made my mother _____and frightened. For fifty-seven years, my dad had walked by her side. Mom never learned to ____, so Dad drove her everywhere. Now，her wheels were gone，as one grandchild so properly ____ her situation．I knew she needed great ____ to make the decision to take the senior bus. However, I firmly believed the ____ wouldn't last too long, for Mom was so outgoing and active that she could chat with almost everybody whom she met in the street．

Several days later，when I came to visit her，I asked. “Do they talk to you now? " She ____ and there was a sparkle in her eyes. It didn't take genius to figure out that the ____ had changed．"It was silly that all of us must sat there ____ saying a word．So one morning when I ____，I greeted them and then remarked what a nice day it was．Soon，they began to ____ and we chatted happily．Now we are friends and always have some good ____ on the bus，"she replied．

My mother held the key to the ___ _of the other lonely people on that bus．A smile and some ____ words were all it took．She sowed tiny seeds of ____ for herself and her friends on the bus．

【推荐3】Like a good cheese, wine, or pair of well-worn blue jeans, some things get better with time. For me, Anne Lamott’s book named Shitty First Drafts can also be grouped into this________.

I can still hear the laughter when our high school English teacher________ it over two decades ago. At first, her nod to this classic essay was ________ on account of the fact that the elegant, not-quite elderly lady had just________the inappropriate word “shitty" into her classroom lecture like it was no big deal. As she went on to explain,I________her point about the writing process, and really appreciated some catch-phrases she d borrowed and used to________our attention.

Years later,when I was trying to find something to read, a college professor advised me to give Lamott’s Bird by Bird a________.This time around, I encountered some tips on writing that left behind only insightful,________and humorous bits of wisdom.How________it is to finally hear from a professional writer that like others, she also experiences the same sorts of struggles as a college student working at an essay assignment!

As a full-time writer, now I rely on _______to pay bills and put food on the table.When those words come less _______and I struggle to find any _______， I make a point of reminding myself where all brilliant writings begin. The ones who make it look easy are often those who have _______some interest, ability or natural talent and a lot of practice, efforts,and struggles.At this moment,when I re-read Anne Lamott’s Shitty First Drafts, it suddenly dawned on me that the story reveals more than what I have had _______, one of which is Lamott’s combined gift and endeavor. As it turned out, the more I dig into it, the more it _______my understanding of what is behind the words.

【推荐2】When things went wrong, Ittleby Fein always had something nice to say.

When Dad forgot about the pizza and it burned, Ittleby said, “Don't ______. It'll still taste good.” And he was ______. The pizza edges were dark, ______ the middle wasn't bad.

Ittleby looked on the ______ side. And everyone, except Hazel, ______ that about him.

Hazel was the   ______ student in class. On her first day, Ittleby said, “Nice to meet you, Hazel. I think you'll like it here.” Hazel looked at him, “I ______ it.” Ittleby didn't know what to do. He'd never ______ anyone like Hazel.

____ Mr. D. said they'd have recess (休息) inside ______ the rain, Hazel said, “Bad things come in threes. No outdoor recess is number one. What will the ______ thing be?”

The class didn't have to ______ long to find out. Greta was carrying a box of paints during art class. She ____, and paint went flying. Hazel turned to Ittleby, “That was the second ______ thing. What will the third be?”

Ittleby didn't know what to say. Hazel seemed so ______ about the Rule of Three Bad Things.

Emma came to look at Ittteby's ______. She picked it up, not realizing she had paint on her fingers. Hazel pointed, “Ittleby's picture is ruined (破坏)! There's number three.” Emma looked   _____. “I'm sorry, Ittleby.” “It's OK, Emma. If I add wings, the fingerprint (指纹) could look like butterflies,” said Ittleby.

So Ittleby added wings. ______ he said, “Everyone, let's make a field of butterflies.”

Everyone put a fingerprint on Ittleby's paper. Only Hazel didn't.

“Want to add one?” Ittleby asked her. Hazel thought about it, and she carefully added wings.

“It looks ______. I like it very much,” said Ittleby. Hazel _____, “You know, I don't really think there's a Rule of Three Bad Things.” Ittleby nodded, “Bad things happen. But good things happen, too. And sometimes, there are good things hiding where you don't expect them.”

【推荐3】It was pouring outside when we all waited inside the door of the Wal-Mart. Some were patient while others _______ , because nature messed up their hurried day. I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens _________ the dirt and dust of the world. Memories of running, splashing so carefree as a child in the rain awoke in me as a short relief of the _________ of my day.

Then, a sweet voice broke the atmosphere, “Mom, let’s run through the rain.”

“What?” Mom asked.

“Let’s run through the rain!” She _________ .

“No, honey. We’ll wait until it _________ a bit.” Mom replied.

This young child waited about another minute and repeated it again.

“We’ll get wet if we do.” Mom said.

“No, we won’t, Mom. That’s not what you said this morning,” the young girl said firmly.

“This morning? What did I say?”

“Don’t you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said if God could get us through this, he could get us through anything!”

The entire crowd stopped, _________ silent. I swear you couldn’t hear anything but the rain. Mom _________ and thought for a moment about what to say.

Now some would laugh it off and scolded her for being silly. Some might even _________ what was said. _______ this was a moment of confirmation in a young child’s life and a moment when ________ can be developed into faith. “Honey, you are absolutely __________ . If we get wet, we’ll maybe just need washing.” Mom said. Then they ran off, holding their shopping bags over their __________ just in case.

They got wet. But they were followed by a few who __________ and laughed like children all the way to their cars. And yes, I did. I got wet. I needed washing.

Circumstances or people can take away your material possessions, including __________ and health. But no one can ever take away your precious ________ . So don’t forget to take the opportunities to make memories every day!