We always celebrated Dad’s birthday on Thanksgiving Day, even after he entered a nursing home.As years went on, these events took on a 41 meaning for me: A traditional birthday party for Dad, and thanking for all that he had been doing to me in my life.When we knew it might be his 42 birthday, the whole family decided to 43 together for a huge birthday celebration at the nursing home.
Dad was a good story-teller and here was the 44 he had had.During a quiet moment, I announced it was now Dad’s 45 to listen to stories for a change.I wanted everyone to tell Dad what we loved about him.The room became 46 .Then one after another, people told stories from their hearts, while Dad 47 with tears in eyes.People 48 kinds of stories—stories about when they were little, stories about when Dad was young, and stories that shared family treasures.
The stories 49 . Everyone seemed to have more than one story.Even the little grandchildren couldn’t 50 to tell Dad why they loved him.For a man who had been kind to so many people in his life, here was our 51 to celebrate him.A few months later, at Dad’s memorial service, we more fully realized what we had 52 Dad that night.Those are the stories people 53 tell at a funeral after a loved one is no longer 54 to hear the words.They tell stories, full of 55 .But we had given those memories to Dad in his 56 , and we had told them through laughter, accompanied by hugs and joys.He had them to 57 and roll over in his mind during his last days and months.
Words do 58 , and they are enough.We just need to say them or to speak them 59 to the ones we love.That’s the way to 60 love and our chance to celebrate a person in his or her life.
A.special B.valuable C.double D.complex
A.another B.last C.important D.gather
A.unite B.arrange C.move D.gather
A.career B.pride C.happiness D.audience
A.choice B.wish C.turn D.right
A.lively B.still C.cosy D.noisy
A.understood B.invented C.recalled D.discussed
A.flowed B.passed C.unfolded D.differed
A.stop B.stand C.afford D.wait
A.responsibility B.situation D.desire
A.returned B.left C.given D.owed
A.sincerely B.gently C.normally D.regularly
A.available B.happy C.eager D.alive
A.tears B.feelings C.joy D.peace
A.mind B.life C.world D.work
A.hold B.share C.consider D.continue
A.suit B.fail C.survive D.matter
A.willingly B.publicly C.actually
A.get back B.call up C.give back D.keep up