1 . I dropped a clay cooking pot on my feet. More accurately, I slipped down the back steps of my house on a rainy night, _________ the pot into the air. I managed to stay upright (挺直的) and _________ on my backside with my feet in front of me, but the pot also landed upright-and on my feet, breaking in two. The hot juices I was trying to throw into the outdoor dustbin _________ in the air, and then rained down upon me. At the very moment, I could _________ the headline: “Woman Dies Doing Dishes After Dinner.”

Life didn’t stop because I got _________.

However, my daily routine slowed down. I _________ less urgent appointments. Though I hated the _________ in my plans, I soon realized it left me a gift: spare time. I rediscovered long-forgotten _________ . I read a book just for pleasure. I caught up with friends and family members in e-mails and texts. I _________ with my watercolor set. And my spirit __________ again.

When I was __________ to slow down, I realized how unhealthy my lifestyle used to be. So I decided something had to __________. Now I try to leave some __________ for activities and practices that bring me joy, like going for walks or enjoying a meal with friends.

Every time I cook in my new pot, I remember the __________ of slowing down. And I never ever walk down __________ stairs with a pot in my hands.

2 . It was our first evening dog-sitting while our teenage daughter Rochelle was on vacation for two weeks. Louie searched the entire house for his “mommy”. Then, that disappointed but determined puppy （小狗） developed a plan.

While my husband Paul and I were watching TV, we heard loud noises. Something heavy was being dragged down the stairs. I looked around and saw this six-month-old puppy laboriously dragging his large, hard-sided carrier down the stairs. The next moment saw him drag his possessions one by one, first his blanket, and then his bowl, bone, ball and sweater. The project took most of the evening but Louie showed no sign of tiredness at all.

After packing all the items into the carrier, he attempted to jump inside. Once inside, he got the zipper between his teeth and, with all the strength, he pulled the zipper closed. Then he lay down and went to sleep in it throughout the night. The message was abundantly clear. He wanted to go see his “mommy”. He had seen her pack her suitcase and go away for her vacation. He must do the same so he could find her. When I unzipped his carrier in the morning, Louie was excited, but his “mommy” was nowhere to be seen.

The puppy surprised us with new undertakings every day. His absolutely favorite activity was going for a car ride. The possibility of stopping at McDonald's was his consideration. But one day, my husband didn't stop at McDonald's. He left Louie in the car with the window slightly open while he went to a drugstore. Louie managed to jump out of the window. He walked two blocks and found Paul, walking around him as if saying, “Can we go to have fried chicken now?”

Louie is an old gray-haired dog now, but he is still up to his old, and new, tricks.