Erma Bombeck - If I Had My Life to Live Over

A friend sent me this, and I thought I would share it with you:

In honor of women's history month and in memory of Erma Bombeck who lost her fight with cancer.

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.

Don't worry about who doesn't like you, who has more, or who's doing what.

Instead, let's cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us.

Let's think about what God HAS blessed us with. And what we are doing each day to promote ourselves mentally, physically, emotionally. I hope you all have a blessed day.

Sirensong,

Thanks for this! I think that a cancer diagnosis, even without being terminal as Erma Bombeck's was, really puts things in perspective. I look back on my hysterectomy and recuperation as a time of grace, of new life, of a whole new perspective.

Blessings,
Marlene

Siren:

Someone sent Erma's words to me last year while I was going through treatment. I LOVE IT!!

I make it a point to drive in the summer with the air conditioning on and the windows down!!

S

Siren, thank you for posting this. God bless Erma Bombeck. She made us laugh and now, after her death, we can still learn so much from her. Once more we are reminded of fortunate we are to be here and how we need to embrace life and taking nothing or no one for granted.