Eleven years ago, the world I was familiar with ended. My _______ was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Over the course of seven months, Bill went from_______ me at tennis to needing my help to go to the bathroom.

It was the_______ time of my life. Maybe not_______. But it was certainly the time when I felt most alive. I _______ that a flat tire or the small complaints of a child with the sniffles (抽鼻子)_______ in comparison with the beauty of sudden laughter, the night sky, the _______ of a bakery. I found I could _______ myself to see more beauty.

In the days after Bill’s diagnosis and brain surgery, being his caregiver _______ me to find clinical trials and talk to different oncologists, which gave me a sense of________. In the later days, it meant being fully present for almost every moment. During his last weekend, a relative________ him. I noticed that she’d changed her appearance, and not in a good way. It was the kind of thought I’d ________ keep to myself. Just then, Bill ________ exactly what I’d been thinking, in that ruthlessly (鲁莽地) truthful way he had, and I found myself________ out loud.

“I could live with this man forever, even________ as much care as he does,” I thought. However, he would be dead in four________!

Eleven years later, I still try to be the ________   I became during those seven months. I try to be a little more ________ and generous, a little more grateful for the small __________ in life. It was my husband’s last, best __________ to me.

A survey said the average Asian dad spent one minute a day with his children. I was shocked. I mean, a whole minute? Every day? Get real. Once a week maybe. The fact is, many Asian males are terrible at kid—related things. In fact, I am one of them.

Child—rearing (养育) doesn’t come naturally to guys. My mother knew the names of our teachers, best friends and crushes. My dad was only vaguely aware there were short people sharing the apartment. My mother bought healthy fresh food at the market every day. My dad would only go shopping when there was nothing in the fridge except a jar of capers and a bay leaf. Then he’d buy beer. My mother always knew the right questions to ask our teachers. My dad would ask my English teacher if she could get us a discount on school fees. My mother served kid food to kids. My dad added chili sauce to everything, including our baby food.

The truth is, mothers have superpowers. My son fell off a wall once and hurt himself all over. I demanded someone bring me a computer so I could google what to do. My wife ignored me and did some sort of chanting phrase such as “Mummy kiss it better,” and cured l7 separate injuries in less than 15 seconds.

Yes, mothers are incredible people, but they are not always right. Yet honesty forces me to record the fact that mothers only know best 99.99 percent of the time.Here are some famous slip-ups.

The mother of Bill Gates: “If you’re going to drop out of college and hang out with your nerdy friends, don’t come running to me when you find yourself penniless.” The mother of Albert Einstein: “When you grow up, you’ll find that sitting around thinking about the nature of time and space won’t pay the grocery bills.” The mother of George W. Bush: “You’ll never be like your dad, who became President of the United States and started his own war.”

One day, Sue argued with her mother. She left home without saying a word. _________ she left in a hurry, she didn’t take any money.

When she saw a noodle shop, she suddenly felt _________. The shop owner saw her standing outside and asked her if she would like a bowl of noodles. She nodded but then she said that she didn’t have money.

“Don’t worry. I’ll _________ you,” the shop owner said. A few minutes later, he brought _________ a bowl of noodles. Sue cried.

“What’s wrong?” the shop owner asked.

“I am touched by your kindness. Even a _________ can give me a bowl of noodles, but my mother often argues with me. I hate her!”

“Girl, why do you think so? Think again. I _________ gave you a bowl of noodles and you were touched. Your mother has raised you since you were born. Why aren’t you grateful (感激的)?”

Sue was surprised after _________ that.

On the way home, Sue thought over. She stopped in front of the door and saw her _________ worried and tired after looking for her everywhere. When she saw Sue come back home, she was overjoyed. “Are you hungry? I cooked supper. Come to _________ while it is still hot.”

Sue couldn’t control herself. She cried and hugged her mother.

In our life, it is __________ for us to appreciate the small actions of strangers. But for the relatives, especially our parents, we see their sacrifices (牺牲) as a matter of course.