I was born in New York City. My first seven years were spent in Manhattan, and then we moved to the Bronx. As a child with a strong ___for knowledge, I went to a public school and received a good ___education there.

At the end of my high school I decided to major in science and, in particular, ___. One of the ___factors may have been that my grandfather, whom I loved dearly, died of cancer when I was 15. I was ___motivated to do something that might eventually ___a cure for this terrible disease.

With great efforts and help from my parents, I ___graduate school at New York University in 1939. I was the only female in my graduate chemistry class, and ___my Master of Science degree in chemistry in 1941.

I was doing my research into ___with other scientists. When we began to see the results of our ____in the form of new drugs which filled real ____needs and benefited patients in very ____ways, our feeling of ____was immeasurable.

Over the ____, my work became both my vocation and avocation(业余爱好). ____, I became an enthusiastic photographer and ____. I have traveled fairly widely over the world, but there still remain many places for me to explore. ____major interest is music and I am an opera lover. I also ____concerts, ballet and theater.

In my ____career I was promoted frequently, and in 1967 I was appointed Head of the Department of Experimental Therapy, a position which I ____until I retired in 1983.

   This is my son Matthew's last night at home before college. I know that this is good news. I feel proud that Matthew will go to a great school. I know that this is his finest hour. But looking at the suitcases on his bed sends me out of the room to a hidden corner where I can't stop crying.

Through the sorrow，I feel rising embarrassment. "Pull yourself together！"I tell myself. There are parents sending their kids off to battle zones. How dare I feel so shattered（感到震惊难过的）？

One of the great gifts of my life has been having my boys，Matthew and Johnowen. Through them，I have explored the mysterious and complicated（复杂的）bond between fathers and sons. As my wife and I raised them，I have discovered the love and loss between my father and me. After my parents' divorce，I spent weekends with my dad in Ohio. By the time Sunday rolled around，I was unable to enjoy the day's activities because I was already afraid of the goodbye of the evening.

Now，standing among Matthew's belongings，I realize it's me who has become a boy again. All my sadness and longing to hold on to things are back，sweeping over me as they did when I was a child.

His bed is tidy. It already has the feel of a guest bed. In my mind I replay the scene that I wrapped him in his favorite blanket. That was our nightly routine until one evening he said，"Daddy，I don't think I need a blanket tonight." I think of all the times when we lay among the covers reading. I look at the bed and think of all the recent times when I was annoyed at how late he was sleeping. I realize I'll never have to worry about that again.

For his part, Matthew has been a rock. He is treating his leaving as just another day at the office. And I'm glad. After all, someone's got to be strong. I'm proud that he is charging into the first chapter of his adult life with such confidence.