TNCOCKE-L Archives

Archiver > TNCOCKE > 1999-08 > 0934338188


From: "DELBERT GUSTIN" <>
Subject: [TNCOCKE] Fw: Fw: FW: Life?
Date: Tue, 10 Aug 1999 22:23:08 -0400


----------
> From: thuber <>
> To: Vicki Lawrence <>
> Subject: Fw: Fw: FW: Life?
> Date: Monday, August 09, 1999 7:14 AM
>
>
>
> ----------
> > From: Marla Cole <>
> > To: ; ; ;
> ; ; ;
> ; ; ;
> ;
> > Subject: Fwd: Fw: FW: Life?
> > Date: Sunday, August 08, 1999 11:43 PM
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > >Subject: Fwd: Fw: FW: Life?
> > >Date: Sat, 07 Aug 1999 23:57:26 CDT
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >> 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 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 it is
> > >> > special.
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >> 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! JUST
> > >> > RETURN IT!!
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >> "You've got to dance like nobody's watching, and
> > >> > love like it's
> > >> > >> never going to hurt."
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >> "People say true friends must always hold hands,
> > >> > but true friends
> > >> > >> don't need to hold hands because they know the
> > >> > other hand will
> > >> > >> always be there."
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >------- end -------
> > >> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >_______________________________________________________________
> > >Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.com
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________________________
> > Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.com
>
>

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