From the time I was a child growing up in New Jersey, I loved spending weekends with my grandparents. I felt1in Granny's small kitchen. We always had peaceful conversations, and Granny always seemed to include some wisdom with every dish she prepared.
I remember one Saturday morning in particular. After breakfast I asked Granny, "What kind of soup are you making today?" "Vegetable beef," she answered. "And you can help by cutting some carrots." As I slowly cut the carrots, I said, "I've got to give a report next week and I'm scared (害怕的). I don't like standing in front of everybody. What if I forget what I'm going to say?" Or what if somebody laughs?" "And what if you do just fine?" Granny asked. "Have you prepared notes?" "Well, no. That would be a lot of work." "Hard work never2anyone," Granny said. "You could try practising in front of a 3. It's easy to find how well you are practising."
I pushed the pieces of carrots to the side of the cutting board and went on to complain (抱怨) about schoolwork, friends and family. Granny took it all in, listening4while I talked about so many pieces of grief in my life. "Nancy," she said, "there's nothing wrong with a little trouble in your life. Well, you know, a lot of people don't make homemade soup these days. They say it's too much trouble. But I don't5such a little trouble. It adds flavour to my soup — and to my life. My soup would be pretty bland (淡而无味) without the vegetables, and so would my life if it didn't have the little ups and downs." She smiled and then started washing the dishes. While I helped Granny clean up, I thought about what she had said. I still had a few days to practise my report.
That Saturday, Granny gave me food for6as well as a bowl of her homemade soup. As I7the meal with my grandparents, somehow my problems didn't seem so big any more. Maybe I could turn a little trouble into something as8as Granny's homemade soup. I would have to work on them. Granny had said hard work paid off.
