Mother Jane Reed We were hiking in the pouring rain in the Swiss Alps when my 74-year-old mother called out, "I want to tell you that I love you, just in case I get struck by lightning." It can happen. We're well above the tree line. Now the roles are reversed. I'm protecting her. The thunder rumbled and we took cover under a boulder. Later, on the way back, mother slipped and hurt her hand. As I pulled out my first aid kit, I remembered how my mother always nursed my wounds, both physical and emotional, and I said from the bottom of my heart, "I love you." I was diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder when I was in third grade, and my two older sisters lived with me. We share a bedroom in our home near Milan. Every night, they waited for me to turn the lights on and off 38 times. When I drive out, I have to count every street light. After counting street lights for a few hours during the 12-hour drive, I was so exhausted that I broke down and cried. The sisters said, "Sleep, and we will count for you." Knowing that my sister will share my work -- even when I fall asleep, life goes on. It meant the beginning of my recovery. Meet Mark Sams At the 96th Street subway entrance, there was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. She was obviously waiting for someone. Maybe waiting for her husband? Anyway, I'm not the type to talk to strangers. I sighed, went down the stairs, and got on the subway. Just as the bell rang and the car doors closed, a friend of mine rushed in with the beautiful lady. My friend introduced me to a pretty lady -- her sister. That's how I met my wife 30 years ago. In my freshman class at Fu Jen University in Taiwan, I was the only student from a slum, and I didn't think I deserved to be among the rich students who spent the summer abroad. Eventually, I dropped out. Thirty years later, the school asked me to speak to its students as a successful immigrant. After the speech, a freshman sent me an email: "I feel exactly the same way you did. Can we be friends?" It was like my 19-year-old self coming back to me and seeking understanding and encouragement from others. I told her: "You are important, please keep talking."