One afternoon in August, five years after Mom passed away, I was unpacking my groceries(食品杂货) in my kitchen. When I lifted my left hand out of a grocery bag, I suddenly couldn’t breathe. Looking at the ring on my finger, I found the star sapphire (蓝宝石)was gone. Mom had given me the ring on my twenty-first birthday. I had worn it every day for twenty-nine years. It was a reminder of Mom and a symbol of our love.

“No! No! No!” I yelled, hurrying to check the bag and the floor, and then my car, but the star sapphire was nowhere to be found. Feeling helpless, I called my best friend, Marie. “The star sapphire in my ring fell out. I don’t know what to do,” I said, extremely worried.

Marie replied, “Please don’t be anxious. Try to stay calm and positive. You can go back to the places you just visited and take a look.” But how could I keep hope in seemingly impossible situations? Anyway, I started my car and drove to the grocery store again. I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was little chance that I could find my stone.

Back at the grocery store, I pulled into the same parking spot and looked everywhere for my star sapphire. My hands and knees felt the hot ground as I searched crazily around and under my SUV car. Then I rushed inside the store, searching for a familiar face for more help. I spotted Amanda, a staff member whom I had met on previous shopping trips, and urgently tapped her on the shoulder. “I was just here twenty minutes ago and lost the stone of this ring. It’s very special to me. It’s from my late mom. Could you please help me look for it?” I cried, unaware that many other people around also heard my words.

Amanda’s eyes softened and she nodded understandingly. She immediately took a large mop(拖把) and started carefully sweeping it back and forth down the first aisle (过道) of the huge store.

In tears, I called after her, “It’s light blue and small.”

Suddenly, a customer near the counter excitedly called out loudly, “Oh, Madam, I’ve found it!”.

It was Father’s Day and I wanted to make it special for my father. I planned to surprise him with a homemade breakfast in bed and a day full of activities that he loved.

I woke up early that day and started preparing his favorite breakfast, paratha with butter and honey, and a glass of milk. I put a note on the side of the plate where I had written, “I love you, Dad!” and arranged everything perfectly.

With the plate in my hands, I walked toward Dad’s bedroom. I opened the door and tiptoed(踮着脚走)toward his bed. But to my surprise, Dad was not in bed. I looked around the room, but couldn’t find him there. I searched for him in the house. But there was no sign of him.

I checked his car and it was in the garage(车库). I was very worried and did not know what to do. Just then I saw my mum coming out from the other room. I asked her about Dad and she told me that he had to leave early for work that day. He had an important meeting and a car was sent from his office to pick him up.

I was sad to hear that. Then I slowly walked towards my room, and there I noticed a note on my side table. It was from my dad. He had written the same thing Mum had just told me, but he had also promised to buy oranges on his way back as I had asked him to do so the night before. He had also expressed how sad he was to be spending this day without me, but promised to make up for it as soon as possible.

Paragraph 1: I was disappointed but I knew that work was important to my dad.

Paragraph2: The next morning, I woke up early and quickly freshened up.

I hurriedly made my way through the busy airport, my mind focusing on the adventure that awaited me at my destination. I had been looking forward to this trip for months and had packed everything I needed for my much-anticipated painting trip. Brushes, canvases(画板), and a column of watercolor paints - my most cherished companions on this creative journey - were carefully placed in my carry-on luggage.

As I approached the security checkpoint, a sense of unease began to settle within me. I couldn’t help thinking that I must have forgotten something. I checked my passport and air ticket. Everything was in their place. Suddenly, my heart skipped a beat, and I realized I had forgotten about the strict rules on liquids in carry-on baggage. I felt a sense of panic as the realization dawned upon me - I would have to part ways with my beloved painting supplies.

Unwillingly, I handed over my paints to the stern-faced (面无表情的) security officer, knowing that they were victims of my carelessness. I felt as if my creative spirit and good mood for the trip had been swept away in a gust of wind. I couldn't help complaining to him about how important those paints were to me and how much I had been looking forward to this trip. The officer’s straight face provided no comfort as he informed me that I could collect my items upon my return in a week.

Days passed as I silently counted the minutes until I would be reunited with my artistic companions. On the day of my long-awaited return, my heart fluttered with nervous anticipation. As I exited the airplane and made my way to the baggage claim area, a familiar face caught my eye. Amongst the sea of strangers, a security officer stood, holding a package that resembled my beloved art supplies. My eyes widened in disbelief, my steps quickening with each step. Could it be possible that he had gone through the trouble of saving my cherished materials? As I reached the security officer, he met my gaze (凝视) with an unexpected smile.

With a knowing look, he handed me the package containing my precious tubes of paint.

I left the airport that day, feeling a great desire to share my story on the Internet.

Many of us come across certain situations that make us laugh in the future. The similar thing happened to me on 12, July 2010. It was rainy season. My parents needed to go to the nearby city to attend a marriage ceremony. They decided to keep me at home because I too should understand housekeeping in the absence of parents. I agreed on their thought with full confidence. This incident made me completely alone at home. Therefore, I got complete freedom to enjoy the cartoon shows on TV and many other fun activities. I looked outside the window of my house. It was raining heavily. Suddenly the electricity supply went off.

I was a little scared but the words of my parents encouraged me to face the situation. Unexpectedly, I heard someone knocking at the door of my house. I went near to the door and stole a look through it. No one was there! Then I opened the door to make sure.

I have the habit of watching horror movies. This incident created the thoughts of ghosts and evils in my mind. I felt that a ghost might be willing to enter my house. I was completely shocked. I lit the candles in my room. Again, I heard the knocking sound. But this time, I didn’t dare to open the door. Instead, I preferred lying on the bed and wrapping myself with blankets.

The electricity supply started after almost one hour. I speedily turned the TV on and played devotional songs. I switched on the lights of all rooms. I am a curious person who loves science. My curiosity brought me to check out the incident. So I went near to the door and opened it.

To my surprise, I found that a small dog was standing outside the house.

My parents saw the dog, confused.

As I approached my fortieth birthday, I realized that my life was quite meaningless in the larger scheme of things. I had friends and a loving husband and yet something was missing. With no children, I felt that I hadn’t done anything that would help mankind or change the world. I would have no legacy to leave.

One day I was watching TV and I thought of my desire. It was to be someone who mattered. I wanted to make a difference in the lives of people and in the lives of animals. After all, dogs had always been a large part of my life, from the time when I was a little girl growing up in central Oklahoma. I thought that my “purpose” would somehow include my love of singing, writing, travel, and of course, working with animals.

Then, something happened that shook my entire core. The “love of my life” dog, my Nicholas, was diagnosed with terminal cancer. He died thirteen months later. I became quite concerned for Bear, our remaining dog, who was six years old. Bear had been Nicholas’s shadow and now that Nicholas was gone, Bear wouldn’t even eat. Our vet suggested that we get another dog to see if that would encourage Bear to eat.

I found an online advertisement for a Bichon Frise （卷毛比熊犬） and when we arrived at the place, it was a nightmare, like one of those puppy mills （工厂） you read about or see on the television news. I decided to delay my search for my “purpose” as I needed to tell the world about the horror I had discovered right in my own backyard.

I had even a bigger fight ahead of me than Nicholas’s cancer. This was a fight that would take years. I did research and then I spread the word on the Internet. People began to listen and we formed a small group of Bichon Frise lovers called Small Paws Rescue.

I started out sending the latest news on our rescue efforts to about twenty-five people.\

My achievement made me reflect on the past.