One of my favorite writers....

If I Had My Life To Live Over
by Erma Bombeck
The following was written by the late Erma Bombeck
after she found out she had a fatal disease.




If I had my life to live over, I would have talked less and listened more.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained and 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 burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.

I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television - and more while watching life.

I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.

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 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 sorrys" ...

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.



© Erma Bombeck

The first book I ever read by Erma Bombeck was "If Life is a Bowl of Cherries What am I doing in the Pits?!" I laughed my butt off. Erma was timeless, every once in a while when I need a good laugh I will go to my book shelf and grab my old pal Erma. She lived it, she wrote about it and she made us laugh at how crazy we made our lives. When the kids were driving you crazy she made us realize that all too soon they would be gone, as with a million other household happenings, Erma made it ok. I read an article published by one of her neighbor's after her death and he talked about what a good person Erma was. She stuck to her values and beliefs, was an awesome wife and mother, daughter and friend. She was a great sport and would try anything. Sometimes when I'm being way to hard on myself I try to remember what's important. It's not the spotless bathroom, or the perfectly decorated house, but the times I let myself be human in front of my kids, when I laughed at myself, when I let the guard down and gave them a few glimpses of my soul. This is hard for me and it's something I need to work on. I was once asked by a friend if I could be any author in the world who would I pick, and I didn't hesitate, "Erma Bombeck!" I said. My friend looked stunned. Then I replied, "She embodied the best an author can give, she took real life and made it worth living". So to all the parents out there that feel like sometimes life is just the same actions over and over remember, it's the impromtu smiles, the unexpected laughs and moments that mean the most to your loved ones....so go and have an "unexpected moment" today and every day! Peace and smiles....