My mother was a (清洁工) in our school canteen(食堂) when I was in the middle school. At that time she was such an embarrassment(使人难堪的人) to me not only because of her job but also because of her (外貌). She had only one eye. Every time I saw her in my school, I pretended(假装) not to see her and ran away.
After (毕业), I got a good job in another city. Then I got (结婚) and had two kids. I told my family that my parents had been (去世的)，so they never saw my mother, even her photo. But one year later, I got a letter, it read:
My dear son Jeff.
I'm sorry to disturb(打扰) you, but I really miss you all the time. I'm (恐怕) that I will have no chance to see you again.
I'm sorry that I was always an embarrassment to you when you were growing up. However, I had no (选择). When you were very young, you got into an (事故) and lost your eye. As a mother, I couldn't stand that you would have to grow up with one eye. So I...
I am (自豪) of my son who is enjoying his beautiful world for me with that eye.
With all my love to you!
Mom
After reading the letter, I couldn't help (哭).
Many people want to buy the newest gadget(小玩意), the fastest car and the most expensive watch-but are these things really worth?
For some people, these things give them status(地位). They're cool because they have a cool car, or they're better at the newest Xbox game. Lots of people say that buying new things makes them happy. They like having new, pretty, impressive things. The problem is that people don't stay happy. The feeling you get when you buy something new disappears. For example, there's a new iPhone. You stop liking your old car. Your friend has a Beats in a different color and it's much nicer! Things get old and outdated. And someone else always has something better.
So, what can you buy and stay happy with? A study suggests that the best thing to spend your extra(额外的) money on is doing things like traveling, learning to cook and speak a language, skiing or surfing. What about going to the theater, eating at a Michelin starred restaurant or climbing a mountain?
In the long term (从长远看), people are happier with money they spend on activities than on things. You don't remember what shoes you wore, but you remember running the marathon! When you do new things or things you enjoy, you get life experience and memories. You can share them with people. Even if you don't enjoy the experience, you can learn something and often a little while later you see the good sides of it. At least, it's a story to tell-maybe even a funny one.
So forget about designer clothes and fancy gadgets-a new skill or experience lasts longer!
When I was in the third grade, I was picked to be the princess in the school play.
For weeks my mother helped me 1 my sentences. But once during a performance, every word 2 from my head. My teacher asked me to change roles and be the narrator(解说员). Though I didn't tell my mother what had 3 that day, she felt my 4 and asked if I wanted to take a walk in the yard．
It was a lovely spring day. We could see dandelions(蒲公英)coming out through the grass, just like a painter had touched our woods and fields with bits of gold. I watched my mother carelessly bend down(弯腰) 5 some flowers. "I think I am going to dig up all the wild grass," she said. "But I like dandelions; all flowers are beautiful -even dandelions!" I said. My mother looked at me seriously. "Yes, every flower shines in 6 own way. And that is true of people, too," she said. She had guessed my pain. I started to cry and told her the 7. "You will be a beautiful narrator," she said, 8 me of how much I loved to read stories aloud to her.
Over the next few weeks, I learned to take 9 in the role. The big day finally came. A few minute, before the play, my teacher came over to me. "Your mother asked me to give this to you," she said, handing me a 10. After the play, I took the flower home, laughing that I was perhaps the only person who would keep such wild grass.
