IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER by Erma Bombeck

 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 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 children and
>                     not worried about
>                     grass stains.
>
>             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, as well as
>                    spiritually.
>
>        Life is too short to let it pass you by.
>
>        We only have one shot at this and then it's  gone.
>         I hope you all have a blessed day.
>
>                 *  * .(\ *** /).*. *
>                     * (\ (_) /) *
>                   * . (_/   \_) . *
>                    * .  /___\  . *
>
>         In memory of Erma Bombeck and many who we all know and love
who have  lost their fight with cancer.  Here is an angel
sent to watch  over you...
>         Pass this on to the people you want watched over....
>                             I did.