My husband, a simple man, has a favorite saying: “A bargain is really a bargain when you don’t buy it”.   36   he sets aside his simple ways when we dine out. Unlike his relatives who enter a restaurant armed with calculators to make sure they never   37  , my husband   38   his own tip 5 percent each time the accepted standard increases. He hasn’t analyzed why he tips so generously, but I think the habit   39   from his high school years, when he worked as a busboy(饭店打杂工) and got tips from people he served.

Over the years, our growing boys would suggest that Dad let them   40   dessert rather than tip so much. He stood firm   41   their strong demands. Our sons and I have   42   to accept his habit. We recently   43   our son’s girlfriend to seafood. We chose a restaurant near Cocoa Beach. Our server, a grandmotherly woman   44   at the art of service, flew around the restaurant serving dishes and drinks   45   treating customers enthusiastically. She remembered their special   46  , likes and dislikes. She didn’t serve us   47   food. She served us the best food. She made sure the kitchen gave her fresh produce. At the end of the meal, our waitress    48   the bill, then went to   49   to the growing crowd of other diners. My husband paid with a credit card and added her tip. When we left, “Mr. Goldsmith!” she called waving a receipt (发票) at him, “Thank you.”

“What did you give her?” I asked, wondering if he had done something   50   or made a calculation error. “She gave us great service. I just thought she deserved a big   51   in tips.” It wasn’t until later when I overheard our son retelling the story of the grateful waitress that I realized she had given my family something   52   a thank you. She showed our son the   53   of recognizing hard work. Her show of gratitude (感激之情) helped a dad earn a bit more   54   from a loving son. And it reminded me just why I married this   55  , caring man.