I miss you Sam!!

I miss you Sam!!
I miss you Sam!!

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

A Reminder for Us All

IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER - by Erma Bombeck
(written after she found out she was dying from cancer).

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.

I would have talked less and listened more.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.

I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.

I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

I would have sat on the lawn with my grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life.

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, 'Later. Now go get washed up for dinner.' There would have been more 'I love you's' More 'I'm sorry's.'

But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute.look at it and really see it . live it and never give it back. STOP SWEATING THE SMALL STUFF!!!

9 comments:

EG CameraGirl said...

Wise words!

Sunny said...

Amen.
Sunny :)

Susan at Stony River said...

What a wise and beautiful lady she was. Excellent words to live by!

Peggy said...

Sylvia:

Erma's words I try never to forget!

I love being reminded,thanks friend!

Bonnie Zieman, M.Ed. said...

Interesting - she seemed for these words anyway - to stop needing to get a laugh once she found she was dying. Oh, I'm sure she kept her sense of humour - but there is a more serious tone to her reflections. Humor can serve as a way to distance ourselves from what is real - I know, I do it all the time! ;-)

Kay said...

I would have....loved every choice I made.

Anonymous said...

She was a great writer! I read most of her books (collections of her essays), borrowed from the public library. Some of those stories were truly hilarious.

Elizabeth Bradley said...

I miss her, what joy she brought to so many women. There really was nobody like her before she showed on the scene and we have no replacement. These words she wrote when she knew she was on her way out should be read and savored. She speaks truths that we tend to ignore because life is what happens when we're busy making plans.

Thanks Sylvia, if only we could stop and pay attention to such sage advice. I'm gonna go hug The Husband.

Aleks said...

Thank you Sylvia for this beautiful foreverlasting reminder of what is it all about,I mean life.Whish you a lovely evening,Aleksandra :O)

What Can I Say?

What Can I Say?
I'm interested in almost everything. Use to like to travel, but it's too expensive now. I take Tai Chi classes, swim, volunteer in a Jump-start program for pre-schoolers. I'm an avid reader and like nearly everyone these days I follow politics avidly. I'm a former teacher and Special Projects Coordinator for a Telecommunications company, Assistant to the President of a Japanese silicon wafer manufacturing company. Am now enjoying retirement -- most of the time. I have two daughters, one son-in-law and two sons scattered all over the country. No grandchildren.

Portland Time