1 . My parents have certainly had a troubled relationship. They _________ often, and even fought a lot.

It was my dad’s _________ that has changed the relationship.

In 2018, my father, the always _________ dad, discovered that he had kidney (肾脏) disease.

The _________ to go ahead with a transplant (移植) for my father was very difficult. But Mom _________ going further. She decided to _________ a kidney to my father. She said she wasn’t _________, and it was the right thing to do.

At last a _________ was chosen — November 11. All our relatives and friends gathered in the _________ that day.

The __________ went well, and not long afterward, my sister and I were allowed to go in to visit. Dad was in a great deal of __________, but all he wanted to talk about was Mom. Was she OK? How was she feeling? When the nurses __________ Mom in a wheelchair into a recovery room to visit Dad, both our parents were trying to talk to each other through __________. The nurses allowed us to __________ the pendant (垂饰) to Mom, which Dad had bought and asked us to give to Mom after the operation. Everybody was crying, even the __________.

My dad was having a very __________ time fighting back emotion, and __________ my parents reached out to __________ each other’s hands. In my nearly 35 years of existence, I’d never seen my parents do that, I __________ a picture with my camera. That photo of my parents’ hands __________ everything.

2 . Auntie Zeny took care of me from the time I was born until I was 15. She didn’t join us for ________, eating at a small table attached to the washing machine. I remember lingering around her and wondering why she ate ________. She would give me a motherly smile and ________ me back to the dining room. They are your parent; I am not, was the ________ she seemingly wanted to make clear.

It was ________ for me to view Auntie Zeny as anything but a second mother. Whenever my real mother talked to her about not completing certain housework properly, I would ________ Auntie Zeny. Every evening before my parents came home, she would patiently listen to me ________ about classmates and homework. Then she would comfort me and offer ________ in the form of Christian stories. Meanwhile, all her kids had to crowd around the phone once a week, ________ to hear their mother’s voice on the other side of the line.

After leaving Hong Kong to attend high school in the USA, and ________ university in Canada, I still found myself ________ Auntie Zeny. So I flew to visit her in the Philippines. I met some of her kids, now adults. Perhaps due to my guilt for having taken ________ away from their mom, I expected that I would be ________, but they spoiled (善待) me, serving me big portions at every ________ meal!

Now, my parents regularly send some of their allowance to Auntie Zeny to show their ________ because she greatly influenced my emotional and moral development.

3 . In a class many years ago, the teacher gave us the “unpardonable”—the class homework! The _______ was to go to someone you love and tell them you love them. _______ it doesn’t sound like a very tough assignment, I realized that I was _______ the generation of men who were taught that expressing emotions is not “macho” (男子气概的).

You see, five years ago, my father and I had a _______ disagreement and we _______ seeing each other unless it was Christmas or other family _______. But by the time I got home I had convinced myself I was going to tell my father I loved him. It’s weird, but just making that decision seemed to lift a heavy load _______ my chest. So I rushed home to tell my wife my plan. When I told her, she hugged me, and for the first time in our married life she saw me cry.

The next morning, I went to the office early and _________ more in two hours than I had the whole day before. At 9:00 I called my dad, “Dad, can I _________ tonight?” My dad responded with a(n) __________ tone, “Now what?” At 5:30, I was at my parents’ house ringing the doorbell, __________ that Dad would answer the door. I was ________ if Mom answered that I would chicken out and tell her instead.

But luckily, Dad did answer the door. I took a deep breath to __________ myself and said, “Dad, I just came over to tell you that I love you.” It was as if a transformation came over my dad. His face ________, the wrinkles seemed to disappear and he began to cry. He hugged me tightly and said, “I love you, too, son.”

Two days after that visit, my dad, who had heart problems, but didn’t tell me, had a heart attack and ________ in the hospital, unconscious. I don’t know if he’ll make it. So my message to all of you is this: Don’t wait to go to someone you love and tell them you love them and do it now!

4 . One factor that can influence consumers is their mood slate. Mood may be defined __________ a temporary and mind positive or negative feeling that is generalized and not tied __________ any particular circumstance. Moods should be ___________ from emotions which are usually more intense, __________ to specific circumstance, and often conscious. __________ a sense, the effect of a consumer’s mood can be thought of in __________ the same way as can our reactions to the __________ of our friends — when our friends are happy and “up”, that tend to influence us positively, __________ when they are “down”, that can have a __________ impact on us. Similarly, consumers operating under a __________ mood state tend to react to stimuli (刺激因素)in a direction __________ with that mood state. Thus, for example, we should expect to see __________ in a positive mood state evaluate products in more of a __________ manner than they would when not in such a state. ___________ , mood states appear capable of __________ a consumer’s memory.

Moods appear to be __________ influenced marketing techniques. For example, the rhythm, pitch and __________ of music has been shown to influence behavior such as the __________ of time spent in supermarkets or __________ to purchase products. In addition, advertising can influence consumers’ mood which, in __________ , are capable of influencing consumer’s reactions to products.

5 . On the morning of September 11th, my closest friend, Kevin Bowser, died in the World Trade Center. The sorrow was so awful, but I was determined to channel it into something with_________.

The next summer, I set off on a two-month bicycle tour to Philadelphia to _________ him. The whole nation was in deep sorrow and, as I travelled and _________ new people, we would inevitably (不可避免地) hug. I didn’t notice the _________ they brought at the time, but when I returned, a friend said that I often spoke about the hugs I shared with _________. The bike ride and the _________ I made enriched me, so I planned a second. I call it “Big Dave’s hug” .

Between 2002 and 2015, I _________ the stretches of North America three times. My Big Dave’s hug banner (横幅) introduced me and my _________. Some people were _________ about hugging me when they didn’t know the first thing about me. But when they saw my intention was__________ and I wasn’t asking for anything, they __________. Young people would reveal their childhood secrets and affairs, while elders always had great stories to __________. Every city would warn me that the next was less __________, but they never were.

It generated enormous joy. It was not just a hug, but also __________ and moments. People ask why I’m doing it and I say it __________ me, makes me smile and provides perspective.

6 . This morning, a former student sent me a message, telling me he is living a happy life. He said he often thinks of me and that he especially misses my _________ classes.

My thoughts went back to that shy, overweight boy who _________ to our school in his fifth grade. He was quiet and _________. Some of the boys teased him about his lack of _________ ability. When they played games, Gibby would often be left standing alone. Several times I went to the playground and asked to _________ a team. I would call out several _________ and then, around the fourth or fifth spot, I would call Gibby and a few others who never seemed to get _________ by their peers. My team may not have been the best, but we were the happiest and definitely the most _________ and loyal.

That spring I decided to give my students more _________. We began by running, but after one or two circles around the playground, Gibby would lag far behind, __________. However, after a month, he lost a few pounds and could __________ the group easier. Then we added floor exercises to the program. Gibby was still there, stretching and bending, lifting and kicking, as __________ as ever. He never gave up or made __________. Many students admired his __________ and in time, he gained confidence and began to smile and talk more. He was no longer the new kid.

Messages of this kind always call up sweet memories. Yes, as a (n) __________ teacher, I love all my students and help them become what they can be.

7 . We might look different and speak different languages, but most of us, especially the young ones, love sweets! One day we _________ one of the 15,000 orphan(孤儿)-led houses in Swaziland. Inside the _________ we found a beautiful little girl with huge brown eyes, Tanzile. I gave her a sweet from my bag and she said something in the _________ language. The nurse next to me _________: “She wants another one, doctor, to give to her little sister.” I said “_________” and gave her another.

Later that day, we passed by Tanzile’s house to say goodbye. To our _________ she seemed to be holding on to that _________ sweet I had given her. I thought she was _________ and had taken two for herself. But after the _________ had asked her some more questions, this is what we learned:

Tanzile is 7 now. Two years ago her parents __________ in the disaster. At the time of her parents’ death, she __________ her baby sister, who was three at the time, and has never seen her. But ever since that time, whenever Tanzile __________ anything from anyone, she refuses to accept it, __________ they give her two. In fact, in the little mud hut where she lives, we found a pile of old things which she has been __________to give to her sister one day.

I can still remember the nurse trying to __________ her that “ Tanzile, if someone gives you food, you must accept it, __________ it is only one piece and not two - for your own __________ and safety.” And it was so __________ for us to keep the tears from our eyes as she shook her head __________

On the way back, I thought of that old Eagles’ song — “When we’re hungry, __________ will keep us alive.”

8 . My Grandma’s Mug (马克杯)

When I was growing up, one of my favorite traditions was Sunday-morning breakfast with my grandparents. They lived up the street in our tiny river town and welcomed any mass-goers from our large _________ family to their home after.

As soon as we walked in the door, Grandma got busy making a fresh pot of coffee, while Grandpa took _________ at the stove. The rest of us _________ the table before gathering around it in _________ of the meal.

Once her family had finally had their _________ , Grandma would _________ in her chair in the living room, leaving the _________ in the kitchen for cleanup later. Her coffee mug on the table next to her, Grandma joined in on the various _________ that were happening around that comfortable room.

Both of my grandparents have _________ in recent years. As the holidays __________ , I find myself __________ to see Grandma and Grandpa in that kitchen just one more time.

The sights, sounds, and smells of those cherished mornings __________ over me recently when I went to pour my own morning coffee. As I __________   a certain mug, the memory of my grandma in her kitchen — coffee in hand, making sure we were all taken care of — brought __________ to my eyes. Knowing her hands once held the coffee mug helps me feel __________ to her and the love we will always share.

9 . I had not hugged a friend or a family member for more than two years.

I hadn’t had that ______ until recently when my sister-in-law came for a brief visit. For everyone’s safety, we met outside. Despite the ______ weather in January, her hug warmed me from the inside out. I realized how much I ______ embracing loved ones — the warmth that ______ long after our arms untwined (松开).

There was war in my home town in Bosnia, so I found every moment was full of ______. On one peaceful morning, I begged my mom to let me go outside after weeks wilting (蔫) indoors. She ______ agreed. I was outside for only 10 minutes ______ I was caught in an explosion. I ______ to my neighbor’s house for safety and threw my arms around her neck while my legs were ______ underneath me. She hugged me with both arms and ______ me into her house. I was still in her arms when the ambulance arrived.

______, I made a full physical recovery, but the emotional ______ never left me. Years later there was another explosion near my house, when my father was away to buy a loaf of bread. When he came back inside, I gave him the biggest hug ______, choked in tears as I held him tight.

That same night my parents managed to arrange my escape from our war-torn city. They desperately wanted at least some of my childhood to be ______. I was 16 and came to America on my own. A generous host family took me ______. Over next several months, I suffered ______.   The only way I shared my feelings was by giving Oscar, their dog, a big ______.

Now, due to our pandemic lives, hugging a stranger is the ______ thing on our minds. For many of us, ______ hugging a relative or a friend comes with stress and anxiety because of risks and precautions (防范). I ______ that in the not-so-distant future we can safely hold one another again, a friend, relative, or a stranger.

10 . Armed with sunscreen and locking my bike, I was ready. With a ______ heart, I was ready to ______ my life. It had been a tough year. I lost my parents. After a year of sadness, something had to change.

I make my living onstage as a motivational speaker. I teach people how to be ______. Thoughts are very ______, and you will prove what your mind expects, good or bad. I believed it all, because it always ______. Until it didn’t.

I ______ that, if it lasted any longer, the ______ that had been around me would never leave. The idea came to me on a Sunday: I would______ Pinellas County’s gulf(海湾) coastline, all of it. Spending endless hours walking where the water meets the sky would heal my hurt. I knew it. This was my Forrest Gump moment.

On my first day, the first thing I saw was the Skyway Bridge in the distance. I’d ______ that bridge every week for the last 15 years to visit my parents. A pang(一阵剧痛) of sadness shot through me, but it didn’t ______. Instead, I thought about what I’d survived.

On my second day, I was not sad, but not really happy. I slept straight through the night and ______ excited. For the first time in a very long time, I was more interested in what was in front of me than what was ______.

The final part of my exploration was the islands. When I got there, I needed to do something to mark the ______, so I got on my knees to write in the sand: “DONE”.

Looking back, it was the ______ word. Sure, I was done walking. But I was also done feeling like a ______. I was done with the darkness. I’d turned the corner.