Thomas presents 101 new stories that are at once universal and personal. From big cities to farm communities, from office cubicles to hospital wards, from Normandy Beach to Boston's Fenway Park, the contributors, selected from among thousands, tell about the words that changed their lives forever. And the "right words" can come from anywhere--the pages of a songbook, the pulpit of a church, the wreckage of Ground Zero, a hand-stitched sampler hanging on a wall, or a child's simple expression of love.--From publisher description.

"All royalties from The right words at the right time, volume 2: your turn! will be contributed to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital"--Jacket flap.

pt. 1. The simple stuff: Homecoming / Timothy Ciciora ; Beautiful shade of yellow / Jackie Sigmund ; Message in a teddy bear / Daniel Walisiak ; Umbrella to remember / Susyn Reeve ; Wisdom on wheels / Maralyn Schwer ; Confessions of a plain Jane / Jan E. Van Leuven ; Zen and the art of trying / DeMar Regier ; Guinea pigs, pancakes, and why I hate Nike / Ame Stargensky ; Eye on the road / Zev Saftlas -- pt. 2. At a crossroads: Forty / Ann Swinford ; Big fix / Mary N. ; Breaking the chains / Leigh Anne Jasheway-Bryant ; Jumping the tracks / Nicole Hanton ; Clock / Joan Mueller ; Busted! / Ann Pierce ; What I found on the couch / Dan C. ; Prison saved me / Dax Xenos -- pt. 3. Taking chances: My perfect mess / Nancy Roman ; Facing the music / Kathleen Muldoon ; Bottom of the ninth / Marlon LeTerrance ; Everyone is shy / Julie Knapp ; Bull ahead / Donna Surgenor Reames ; Juror / Christine Ducey ; Right road / Debra Cheehy -- pt. 4. Finding yourself: Coffee with Sam / Michael Raysses ; What mama said / Thomas Kennedy ; Ride home / Mike Sackett ; Through my daughter's eyes / Beverly Tribuiani-Montez ; On the same ground / Tena Zapantis ; More than feet and inches / Ruthie Just Braffman ; Saved! / Ted LoRusso ; By any means necessary / Ron Rey -- pt. 5. Survival: Silent night in Vietnam / Stephen T. Banko III ; Bitter or better / Judith Grace ; Within my reach / Pius Kamau ; Single word / Janice Ann Nelson ; Serious case of the L.I.D.s / David Parker ; Poem that reached through time / Diana Michael ; Chew your water / Terrie McKenna ; Nobody dies here / Bob Lenox ; Doing the thing you cannot do / Carole O'Hare ; 15 minutes / Katie Adair -- Friends and family: Well / Charlie Riggs ; Boy at ground zero / Paul Keating ; That's what friends are for / David Sanger ; Grandma's big secret / Anne Shaw Heinrich ; Sassy / Patti Virella ; Hitchhiker's tale / Robert J. Simmons ; Just enough of today / Shara Pollie ; Greatest gift / Stella Pulo ; Win-win / Mauricio Heilbron, Jr. ; Just getting started / Cynthia Harris -- pt. 7. On the job: Stacking the logs / Frank Lunn ; Passing the test / Margery Hauser ; Coulda-woulda-shoulda / Linda Roth Conte ; Wanted / Gor Yaswen ; What you tolerate / Gerry Oguss ; Truck no. 15 / Bert Goolsby ; Love at work / Ruth B. Spiro ; Shirkaholic / John Donohue -- pt. 8. Love & romance: Falling for Charlie / Janet Guillet ; Love song / Laura Neumeyer ; Jane Austen meets the New York Giants / Geralyn Ruane ; 50-50 / Brenda Degner ; Grab him and kiss him / Kaye Whillock ; Anniversary card / Elizabeth Morrissey ; You just know / Lisa Mercurio ; Australian love story / Diana Harley -- pt. 9. Keeping the faith: Yelling at God / Carol Kodish-Butt ; Unexpected prayer / Steve Martinez ; Good enough for now / Rebecca Marie Barkin ; Circles in the dirt / Jon B. Fish ; Coming to America / Herbert Launer ; Being carried / Denise Horbaly ; Repairing my world / Tom Yulsman -- pt. 10. Essentials: Covering all the bases / Jay Ratliff ; Every person I meet / Kathleen Nash ; Help! / Jacqueline Sia ; One does what one can / Kathy Faught ; Chemistry test / Eric Dodson Greenberg ; Credit hammer / Archie Harper ; Pride inside / Stephanie Castillo ; Nana after hours / Lloyd Lederkramer ; Accidental accordionist / Kay Hickman ; Bird on your head / Wanda Thomas -- pt. 11. Letting go: Growth in the valley / Richard Cook ; My father's daughter / Karri Watson ; It went unspoken / Mark Drought ; Matter of forgiveness / J. ; Hero's return / Susan Luzader ; Celebrating Jonathan / Amy Jaffe Barzach ; Unthinkable / Terry Naylor ; My sister's letter / Paul E. Mulryan -- pt. 12. Bottom line: Nothin' but a thing / Dorsey Prince Leonard ; Pentagon, 9/11 / April Gallop ; Keep it in your head / Marne Benedict ; Broken lamp / Tim O'Driscoll ; Surviving mom / Ann Hite ; Waiting for my real life to begin / Maureen Ryan Griffin ; Coda / Gregory Fouts -- pt. 13. St. Jude story: Regular kid / Lindsey Wilkerson.