My Dad’s Jeep

When my father died, I got his car. Eight years later, it’s _________ . How am I supposed to say good-bye _________ ? “Why does our car look so dirty?” my 5-year-old daughter, Fianna, recently asked. “This car is super _________ .” I replied.

“Because it’s Grandpa Jack’s?” Fianna asked as we _________ out of the school parking lot. I smiled and nodded. It has kept him _________ ever since.

To Fianna, Grandpa Jack is a concept, not a(n) _________ person she knows. Fianna’s saying my father’s name reminds me of his current _________. It’s then — and all the times I _________ his warm hugs or the gent let one of his voice — that the car _________ me. It’s __________ on wheels that my father existed and that, for a period, he __________ my life with love.

One recent morning, I pulled up into our driveway after __________ Fianna off at school. Then I parked, played Ben King’s “Stand By Me” loudly over the old speakers, and stayed __________ .

I let every __________ of my dad that the song and the Jeep created sit with me in the car. I wish I __________ had to say good-bye to my father. At least I still have time to learn how to say good-bye to a car.

I never planned to move back to my hometown in Ohio when I came home from California! I thought I would ________ there for a few weeks and then I could leave as soon as my dad ________. But one of his doctors told me that he couldn’t live alone anymore and suggested that I take him with me.

“Two big ________,” I said to my dad one night. “Stay in Ohio alone? Or go to California with me? It’s like choosing your own adventure.”

My dad ________ for a second and replied, “Based on my ________ and age, I don’t think I can do either one.”

My dad had lived in Ohio for the past 54 years. And then at 75, I asked him to leave all his life behind and come to live with me, his 31-year-old ________ and trust me to take care of him, something I had never done before. To be honest, I was ________, too. I had to ________ apart of my life as well. But I’d rather have us be terrified together.

After sitting in silence for a few seconds, I added, “If I said you had to ________ California and live with me, how would you feel about that?”

I was ________ shocked by his answer: “Oh, great. But...”

I didn’t even let him ________ his but. It was decided. In less than a month. I cheerfully ________ his apartment up, and bought him a ticket to California.

At first, people kept asking me, “Are you ready to take on this responsibility?”

My ________ was always the same: “I’m his daughter and no one is going to ________ him as much as I do.”

Now, he is living happily with me and I’m ________ that I have done what I had to do.

A Love Note to My Mom

When I was a little girl, I would often accompany you as you modeled for fashion photographers. It was years later that I finally understood what role ___________ played in your life. Little ___________ I know you were saving every penny you earned to go to ___________ school.

I cannot thank you enough for what you told me one autumn afternoon when I was nine. After finishing my homework, I wandered into the dining room where you were buried ___________ piles of law books. I was ___________. Why were you doing ___________ I do — memorizing textbooks and studying for ___________? When you said you were in law school, I was more puzzled. I didn’t know Moms ___________ be lawyers too. You smiled and said, “In life, you can do anything you want to do.”

As young as I was, that statement ___________ ringing in my ears. I watched as you faced the ______________ of completing your studies, starting companies with Dad, while still being a ______________ and a Mom of five kids. I was exhausted just watching you ______________.With your words of wisdom in my ______________ mind, I suddenly felt unlimited freedom to dream. My whole world ______________. I set out to live my life filled with ______________, seeing endless possibilities for personal and professional achievements.

Your words became my motto. I ______________ found myself in the unique position of being either the first (woman doctor in Maryland Rotary) or one of the few women (chief medical reporters) in my field. I ______________ strength every time I said, “Yes, I’ll try that.”

Encouraged by your ______________, I have forged ahead (毅然前行) with my life’s journey, less afraid to make mistakes, and ______________ meeting each challenge. You ______________ it, and now I'm doing it. Sorry, got to run. So much to do, so many dreams to live.