When a mom attended school to help her disabled son, her son and the school thanked her in the sweetest way. It wasn't until after his college years that Marty became disabled after __down stairs. When her son __to get his MBA, Judy O'Connor attended every class with him to help him write and __. Every day, Judy would sit by Marty in class, taking notes to make sure of __specific requests, raising her hand so he could answer questions, and silently writing down his __on test days. "After a little while, we found that working together we could __a great deal, " Marty says.

On graduation day at Chapman University, Judy was dressed in black to mix in with the other __. Little did she know she'd soon be the center of __. When Marty's name was called, his mom helped __him to the front of the stage, ___for a picture with Marty as he received his diploma. Over the loudspeaker, a（n）___was made in a voice ___with happy tears: The university was giving Judy an honorary（荣誉的）MBA. " A lump came to my throat. I was proud of my son and ___to be honored, " says Judy.

The mother and the son had joked that Judy was putting in enough work to earn her own ___. To Marty, there was no question that his mom,a retired elementary school teacher with a business degree, had ___earned her honorary MBA.

Perhaps just as important, Judy gave Marty ___. Life as Marty knew it before the ___may have changed, but he encourages anyone in a ___situation to keep up hope. " Just keep an open mind, ___you can make your diversity your advantage and take challenges as a（n）___for growth in your life," he says.

   Yesterday I was a bit early for a date so I stopped in at McDonald’s for a coffee. I think they make the best coffee. Two very pleasant young girls were working at the counter and the customer ahead was hard to please!

The young girl was sweaty and near tears. I only wanted coffee but I liked lots of milk in it. I really didn’t want to be difficult so I said, “You go ahead and add lots of milk and if it’s not enough, I’ll ask for more.” She smiled. She made a perfect coffee. I left her two pink candies as a tip (小费).

I went to her supervisor and let the leader know how well she dealt with such a difficult customer ahead of me. More of that needs to be done for young people starting out — probably the first job.

I remember how hard it was. I would have run away crying and quit, if it had been me yesterday serving those customers. I’d still be crying too.

Comments posted by molliecat on July 29, 2018

READERS’ COMMENTS

FayBaby wrote: Customer service can be one of the most difficult and thankless jobs at times. Your expression of appreciation (感激) probably made her day.

Mish wrote: How dear you were to lend support there, dear molliecat. Love you!

Kiwicat wrote: My sons both have very unpleasant first job stories of how rude and demanding customers can be. I now always encourage a new cashier or someone to do job training. Thanks for the reminder (提醒物) that we can be more thankful to those who offer front-line customer service.

Mindyjourney wrote: Thank you for helping calm the young worker with your appreciation and thoughtfulness. So many good lessons you have earned are shared. Blessings, dear molliecat.

   I was the fool at school, regarded as a special needs student. I was termed as such, obviously, because I was not interested in school and did not care for my _______.

Over time, I started to believe in my stupidity. I _______ the fact that I was in special needs classes and poured it out as anger and depression. But one activity _______ this view of myself chess.

I started to play chess with my father after school simply because I wanted to _______ him at something. My father was a _________ man, fond of physics, writing, religion…, almost every _______. He was called a walking dictionary. So, winning in chess against my father would be a _______ that I had intellectual power. On the small chessboard, I had a chance to _______ my so-called inability.

Game after game, I wanted to beat my father even more. I started to study chess books and play against a chess computer to _______ my skills. One weekend, I finally checkmated(将杀) my father on a ferry ride, which made me feel ________.

Two years later, I became the second board on my school chess team, with our top board being the best high school player in the state. But before the tournament season, our top player ________ to come. There came my chance to play as top board against the best players in other states.

I was determined to show who I had become: a(n) ________ person able to win with calculation, logic and will. My most ________ game came in the final round. Our team was facing a high school which only excellent students attended. It was ________ a match between a special needs student and a smart soul. My opponent(对手) was playing well and kept ________ while I kept defending to keep my king safe. He spent long trying to break down my defenses, but could not find the final push. I ________ with more defensive moves, trying to make it as difficult for him as possible. With little ________ left, he started to make rapid moves. ________ he could make the final decision, he ran out of time. Honestly, as his clock flag fell, I jumped up out of my seat and kissed the floor out of excitement. Of course it was not the most sportsmen—like ________, but I could not control my emotions.

While holding my winner’s cup, I knew I was not ________. The inferiority complex (自卑感) had melted away, and I realized that underneath our thoughts, each person is a genius.

My wife Laura and I were on the beach, with three of our children, taking pictures of shore birds near our home in Alaska when we spotted a bear. The bear was thin and small, moving aimlessly.

Just a few minutes later, I heard my daughter shouting, "Dad! The bear is right behind us!" An aggressive bear will usually rush forward to frighten away its enemy but would suddenly stop at the last minute. This one was silent and its ears pinned back — the sign (迹象) of an animal that is going in for the kill. And it was a cold April day. The bear behaved abnormally, probably because of hunger.

I held my camera tripod (三脚架) in both hands to form a barrier as the bear rushed into me. Its huge head was level with my chest and shoulders, and the tripod stuck across its mouth. It bit down and I found myself supporting its weight. I knew I would not be able to hold it for long.

Even so, this was a fight I had to win: I was all that stood between the bear and my family, who would stand little chance of running faster than a brown bear.

The bear hit at the camera, cutting it off the tripod. I raised my left arm to protect my face; the beast held tightly on the tripod and pressed it into my side. My arm could not move, and I sensed that my bones were going to break.

Drawing back my free hand, I struck the bear as hard as I could for five or six times. The bear opened its mouth and I grasped its fur, trying to push it away. I was actually wrestling (扭打) with the bear at this point. Then, as suddenly as it had begun, the fight ended. The bear moved back towards the forest, before returning for another attack — the first time I felt panic.

Apparently satisfied that we caused no further threat, the bear moved off, destroying a fence as it went. My arm was injured, but the outcome for us could hardly have been better. I'm proud that my family remained clear-headed when panic could have led to a very different outcome.

   As a waitress I have met and seen all types of people. I think it is _____ that brings us all together. I was about to _____ my job one afternoon and go home when a family came in.

As they sat down, they _____ that they were on their way home. And they added they just had enough money to buy their children only a _____ snack and that all they needed was _____ I showed them a few things on the menu and _____ them what they would like.

As I walked away to _____ their order, I just couldn’t _____ to see this family leaving,_____ with just a snack and some water!______ , I asked some of the other waitresses to ______ me in helping this family. They ______ because they knew I was kind when it came to ______ others. It made them feel good too. So I ______ to the table and told them that they could order what they wanted because it would be paid by some ______ strangers. At first, they didn’t know what to say, but then they looked at the ______ to see what was on offer. They then ______ accepted the meal and said “Thanks” with smiles.

When they left, all I could see was the ______ on their faces. With tears in my eyes, I wished them a ______ trip. I learnt that with every kind ______ , you can get to know a person, and the feeling it gives flows both ways.