Until now, I was still immersed in the excitement and the thrill of the day----Sep.12, 2007, the first day of the FIFA Women’s World Cup China 2007 held in Hangzhou. And also, it was the first day I worked as a volunteer. Actually the day before, I served the teams very late and when I came back to my dormitory, it almost midnight. Because of my work, I had to get up early that morning. Lacking of sleep, I was nearly worn out. Only one thing could spirit me up, that was the keen expectation of the Game. And the game was under the way.

My position was the player’s dressing room, where was the heaven of the football fans, but it was not mine. To be frank, I had no conception of football. As it was the big day for the team, the amiable old man yesterday became a serious coach today. I didn’t have chance to talk to him, because he was busy with the tactics. Peter, the team media officer, was all in a hurry. He introduced me to the team manager Jo Sanders. What my entire job at present was to help them whenever they needed me.

The game started at 5pm. Good luck! I said to all the girls. They went to their battlefield—the pitch. Then came the hurrah and whoop, and the good news of the goal of the Australian Team. As I was on my duty and moreover I was not a football fan, I didn’t watch the game and was not as excited as those crazy spectators. But things changed at the last 20 minutes, when an injured player was sent back to the dressing room. Doctors, team staff, official officers, local officers and volunteers shuttled. The dressing room was filled with a sudden disturbance.

   After the mess I was asked to be a accompany of her. Once she was a little better, she eagerly asked me to turn on the TV. I knew that though she was here, her heart was still in the field. She pointed to her heart, smiling: “Yes, I always with them.” But the game was still on, she complained about the long and torturing time. For the following time, I was so lucky to watch the game with her. Her enthusiasm always incited me, who was utterly ignorant about football, to draw all my attention to the ball on the field.

“Shovel the ball, shovel the ball!”

“Good girl! Come on, one more goal, one more!”

 Goal! “Yeah! Wonderful!”

 Australian team got another goal .5 minutes left; the score was 1:4. The Australian team was doom to win. No worries makes it! She told me that it was a native Australian speaking. Yes, we won eventually. We cheered for our victory and she urged me to see the girls in the field.

Girls came back with the triumph. My dear friend, one of the players, Alicia shouted to me excitedly in the other side of the corridor: “Pam, we are win!” “Yes, you are amazing! Congratulations!” We embraced firmly, the excitement and thrill getting the best of us. And she surprisingly held me up, we jumped and jumped together to celebrate the triumph and share our happinesses.

   All my hardship was finally offset by the happiness at the end of the day. Sleepiness and tiredness were totally wiped away; instead the excitement occupied my entire mind.

My ideal kid

You must be a girl, so that I can dress you up as a Barbie everyday. I would be very happy when people stroke you, praising: “what an adorable kid!”I am so fascinated with your lovely face, plump hands and soft skin that I can’t help hugging and kissing you fiercely again and again. Therefore, you must have a pleasant temper in order to respond to my unbearable passion with giggles. You seldom cry at night when I am sleeping soundly. You have a good appetite and not fastidious about your food. Above all, you must be a smart girl. Before you are capable enough to make decision, you must follow the blueprint I make for you: start playing piano at age of 2, learn Latin at 3, learn English and simple calculation at 4, learn French and swim at 5, go to primary school at 6…. Believe me, you will be benefit from them later on. Whenever you show off your piano ， Latin or other skills , I always feel proud of you. In nurturing I could touch you to know that there is more then myself, and that you are an extension of me. I come to realize that there is strength and potential beyond my own understanding. 

As time elapse, you are growing into a budding beauty. You are not a troublesome adolescent; instead you know how to reach me. You share all your secrets and troubles with me. Luckily, I needn’t to be a hateful mom who spy her daughter, peep at her diary and eavesdrop on her calls. Trust has gradually strengthened between us: we discuss how to deal with those bad girls in your class; we gossip about our acquaintances; we chat about the boy you like; we talk about women’s growth pain. Since you are growing and your inner cup is filled with the needed ingredients bit by bit, you come to concern about my feelings. When I feel lonely, you try all your tricks to wipe my bad mood out ; when I feel tired, you do the housework for me and comfort me with delicious meal ; when I feel depressed , you are a joy to be around that cheers me up. During this development phase, I acknowledge that you love me as much as I love you.

You will be always close to me. You never give cold shoulder to me, even if you are married. When I finish my responsibility, it’s your turn to take it on. Though we are not living under the same roof, yet you and your family get in touch with me regularly. I mean regular time, not too often, because I need your physical and mental support while I need free space for my own. Of course, you are able to handle your life, so that I needn’t to be your babysitter or domestic help. And I will start my long-awaited travel around the world without concerning about you.

   I may end my life  at some where in my journey, but there is no regrets in my life, cause I have you—such a wonderful kid!

 “A laugh a day keeps a doctor away!”My grandpa explained:” when things aren’t going my way,I tell myself they are not a big deal and they will be better.I’d rather laughing than crying.The more laugh you have ,the happier you will be.That’s the secret of my health.”

  Indeed,he is right. Happiness is always the first choise for my grandpa to maintain healthy.Grandpa’s day begins with chipper laughter and some strange folk music.We never know why he is so happy as if there is no hardship in his life. Then it is his breakfast ,a meal is as simple as a bowl of rice,a dish of salted vegetable,a dish of meat and a bottle of bear.All these countryside food are neither as nutritious as ours,nor are they scientific.But to my grandpa,they are the luxuries he ever had,so that he always has a good mood at the beginning of the day. After that he starts working like every peasant,weeding and fertilizing, still with high spirits. When my grandma complains about the low income of his work and tends to quarrel , grandpa always smiles and comforts my grandma with a hot fat roasted sweet potato, boasting:” Look, I made the best sweet potato in the world. I’m the king of the sweet potato. You are the queen.How rich we are!”  Of course,there is no quarreling later on. Strangely ,no matter what problems or difficulties  they are,grandpa will easily find a way to go through them with his vigorous emotion. So his day ends with cheerfulness.It is amazing that this kind of mood subtly contributes to my grandpa’s health.Though he is 72 now, he is as strong as a horse.For my grandpa ,nothing can be better than happiness in keeping healthy.