Life's Values - Miscellaneous - http://maxpages.com/myemptyspace/Lifes

My brother-in-law opened the bottom drawer of my sister's bureau
and lifted out a tissue-wrapped package. "This," he said,
"is not a slip. This is lingerie." He discarded the tissue
and handed me the slip. It was exquisite; silk, handmade
and trimmed with a cobweb of lace. The price tag with an
astronomical figure on it was still attached."Jan bought
this the first time we went to New York, at least 8 or 9
years ago. She never wore it. She was saving it for a special
occasion.Well, I guess this is the occasion."He took
the slip from me and put it on the bed with the other clothes
we were taking to the mortician.His hands lingered on the soft
material for a moment, then he slammed the drawer shut and
turned to me."Don't ever save anything for a special occasion.
Every day you're alive is a special occasion."

I remembered those words through the funeral and the days that
followed when I helped him and my niece attend to all the sad
chores that follow an unexpected death.I thought about them
on the plane returning to California from the Midwestern town
where my sister's family lives.I thought about all the things
that she hadn't seen or heard or done.I thought about the
things that she had done without realizing that they were
special.
I'm still thinking about his words, and they've changed my life.

I'm reading more and dusting less. I'm sitting on the deck and
admiring the view without fussing about the weeds in the garden.
I'm spending more time with my family and friends and less
time in committee meetings. Whenever possible, life should
be a pattern of experience to savor, not endure. I'm trying to
recognize these moments now and cherish them.I'm not "saving"
anything; we use our good china and crystal for every special
event such as losing a pound, getting the sink unstopped,
the first camellia blossom. I wear my good blazer to the market
if I feel like it.My theory is if I look prosperous, I can
shell out $28.49 for one small bag of groceries without wincing.
I'm not saving my good perfume for special parties; clerks
in hardware stores and tellers in banks have noses that function
as well as my party going friends.

"Someday" and "one of these days" are losing their grip on my
vocabulary. If it's worth seeing or hearing or doing, I want
to see and hear and do it now.I'm not sure what my sister
would've done had she known that she wouldn't be here for the
tomorrow we all take for granted.I think she would have called
family members and a few close friends.She might have called
a few former friends to apologize and mend fences for past
squabbles.

I like to think she would have gone out for a Chinese dinner,
her favorite food.I'm guessing - I'll never know.It's those
little things left undone that would make me angry if I knew
that my hours were limited.Angry because I put off seeing
good friends whom I was going to get in touch with someday.
Angry because I hadn't written certain letters that I intended
to write one of these days.Angry and sorry that I didn't tell
my husband and daughter often enough how much I truly love them.
I'm trying very hard not to put off, hold back, or save anything
that would add laughter and luster to our lives. And every
morning
when I open my eyes, I tell myself that every day, every minute,
every breath truly is... a gift from God.

If you've received this it is because someone cares for you.
If you're too busy to take the few minutes that it would take
right now to forward this to ten people, would it be the first
time you didn't do that little thing that would make a
difference in your relationships?I can tell you it certainly
won't be the last. Take a few minutes to send this to a few
people you care about, just to let them know that you're
thinking
of them. May love litter your life with blessings.

To realize the value of ONE MONTH,ask a mother who gave birth
to a premature baby.

To realize the value of ONE WEEK, ask the editor of a weekly
newspaper.

To realize the value of ONE HOUR, ask the lovers who are waiting
to meet.

To realize the value of ONE MINUTE, ask a person who missed the
train.

To realize the value of ONE-SECOND, ask a person who just
avoided
an accident.

To realize the value of ONE MILLISECOND, ask the person who won
a
silver medal in the Olympics.

Treasure every moment that you have!

Yesterday is history.

Tomorrow is mystery.

Today is a gift.That's why it's called the present!!

Time Of Your Life (Good Riddance) |

SLB123456@aol.com

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Page Updated Wed Jun 13, 2001 10:05pm EDT