第11部分(第1/6 頁)

d　my　students　how　their　weekend　had　been。　One　young　man　said　that　his　weekend　had　not　been　so　good。　He　had　his　wisdom　teeth　removed。　The　young　man　then　proceeded　to　ask　me　why　I　always　seemed　to　be　so　cheerful。

His　question　reminded　me　of　something　I’d　read　somewhere　before：　“Every　morning　when　you　get　up；　you　have　a　choice　about　how　you　want　to　approach　life　that　day；”　I　said。　“I　choose　to　be　cheerful。”

“Let　me　give　you　an　example；”　I　continued，addressing　all　sixty　students　in　the　class。”　In　addition　to1　teaching　here　at　UNLV；　I　also　teach　out　at　the　munity　college　in　Henderson；　17　miles　down　the　freeway　from　where　I　live。　One　day　a　few　weeks　ago　I　drove　those　17　miles　to　Henderson。　I　exited　the　freeway　and　turned　onto　College　Drive。　I　only　had　to　drive　another　quarter　mile　down　the　road　to　the　college。　But　just　then　my　car　died。　I　tried　to　start　it　again；　but　the　engine　wouldn’t　turn　over2。　So　I　put　my　flashers　on；　grabbed3　my　books；　and　marched　down　the　road　to　the　college。

“As　soon　as　I　got　there　I　called　AAA　and　arranged　for　a　tow　truck　to　meet　me　at　my　car　after　class。　The　secretary　in　the　Provost’s　office　asked　me　what　has　happened。　‘This　is　my　lucky　day。’　I　replied；　smile。

“‘Your　car　breaks　down4　and　today　is　your　lucky　day？’　She　was　puzzled。　‘What　do　you　mean？”

“‘I　live　17　miles　from　here；’　I　replied，‘My　car　could　have　broken　down　anywhere　along　the　freeway。　It　didn’t。　Instead；　it　broke　down　in　the　perfect　place：　off　the　freeway；　within　walking　distance　of　here。　I’m　still　able　to　teach　my　class；　and　I’ve　been　able　to　arrange　for　the　tow　truck　to　meet　me　after　class。　If　my　car　was　meant　to　break　down　today；　it　couldn’t　have　been　arranged　in　a　more　convenient5　fashion。’

“The　secretary’s　eyes　opened　wide；　and　then　she