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 committe 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
store 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 have 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!
__________________________________
Great Optimism,
Dutch Driver
Abilene, TX 79605
mailto:
Choragus@email.com
Home Page:
http://home.att.net/~Choragus
ICQ #26317826