When I was eight I was helping Dad fix up old furniture in the factory. He gave me a cent for every nail I ________ out of old boards.

I got my first ________ job. at a local restaurant in town at l6. My main responsibilities were ________ tables and washing dishes. Every day after school I would head to the ________ and work until ten, even on Sundays.

At that age it was difficult going to work and ________ my classmates run off to swim or play. I didn't necessarily like work, but I loved what working allowed me to have. Because of my ________ I was always the one buying when my classmates and I went to the local McDonald's. This made me ________.

Word that I was trustworthy and hard—working got around town. A local clothing store ________ me credit(赊账). I immediately ________ a $68 sports coat and a 22 pair of shoes. I was ________ only 65 cents an hour, and I   ________ owed the storekeeper $ 90! So I leaned early the ________ of easy credit. I paid it off as soon as I could.

My first job taught me self-control, responsibility and brought me a ________ of personal satisfaction few of my ________ had experienced. As my father once told me, “If you ________ responsibility, there are not many things in life you can't have.” How right he was.

It was just three days from Thanksgiving, and my husband, Gerald and I were on our first tour across the Canadian prairies. _________ I knew we would be away for Thanksgiving, but the reality of it didn’t really _________ on me before we hit the road. Now, we had to spend Thanksgiving with strangers.

We _________ in front of a small, lakeside house, mildly _________. Would it be okay to disturb others on this private celebration? As we_________ into Betty and Gary’s home, we were immediately met with _________. The wood stove took every bit of chill out of the air, and the smell of food _________ us like a soft blanket. We gathered around the table. Our anxiety _________ as we were drawn into this circle of friendship. We told stories, shared laughs, and as the day called us to gave _________.

We thought we were going to spend Thanksgiving with strangers, but we really didn’t. Something __________ happens when good food is __________ shared around an open table. Conversations begin. __________ starts to flow. Divisions disappear. Relationships are __________. Through the simple act of sharing a meal together, we discover we’re __________ by our desire to love, our need for __________ and our common humanity. What a perfect way to celebrate Thanksgiving!

I love roller coasters. If I could ride roller coasters every day for the rest of my life I would die a really _____1___ man. I will stand in line for 40minutes just to get on a ride that lasts 30 seconds. Each step that I take brings me closer and closer to my ____2____ of going on a ride of a lifetime. The ____3____ has me skipping around like a 4 year old.

But during my first ride there, that kind of thrill turned to absolute ____4____ when I made it to the front. ____5____ waiting in line I was now having a second thought. Quietly, I negotiated within myself about my courage to go through with this _____6___.

From far away it looked ____7____ but when I was about to get in the driver’s seat I ____8____ I forgot my license. After some self motivation I finally made the move to ____9____ my seat.

On my way up I could clearly see the ups and downs ____10____ me. To me they were not only the route but also ____11____ challenges. Soon the track was full of such ___12_____tunnels that I could see only what was behind me but not in front.

___13_____ there were people around me with both of their hands in the ____14____ while I, knowing that things were going to get _____15___ , grasped the handle on my seat. I wouldn’t dare celebrate something that ____16____ me.

Just like roller coasters, _____17___ is full of ups and downs, darkness and light, and is unpredictable when we go through various __18______ situations. The best thing to do when we meet anything ____19____ is to lift our hands and ____20____ whatever we do.