If I Had My Life To Live Over

by Erma Bombeck 

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 gone to bed  when I  was sick instead  of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I wasn'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 realizing  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" and  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. 

After 9-11

On Monday we emailed jokes.  On Tuesday we did not.

On Monday we thought that we were secure. On Tuesday we learned better.

On Monday we were talking about heroes as being athletes. On Tuesday we relearned who our heroes are.

On Monday we were irritated that our rebate checks had not arrived. On Tuesday we gave money away to people we had never met.

On Monday there were people fighting against praying in schools. On Tuesday you would have been hard pressed to find a school where someone was not praying.

On Monday people argued with their kids about picking up their room. On Tuesday the same people could not get home fast enough to hug their kids.

On Monday people were upset that they had to wait 6 minutes in a fast food drive through line. On Tuesday people didn't care about waiting up to 6 hours to give blood for the dying. 

On Monday we waved our flags signifying our cultural diversity. On Tuesday we waved only the American flag.

On Monday there were people trying to separate each other by race, sex, color, and creed.  On Tuesday they were all holding hands.

On Monday we were men or women, black or white, old or young, rich or poor,  gay or straight, Christian or non-Christian.  On Tuesday we were Americans

On Monday politicians argued about budget surpluses. On Tuesday grief stricken they sang 'God Bless America'.

On Monday the President was going to Florida to read to children. On Tuesday he returned to Washington to protect our children.

On Monday we had families. On Tuesday we had orphans.

On Monday people went to work as usual. On Tuesday they died.

It is sadly ironic how it takes horrific events to place things into perspective, but it has. The lessons learned this week, the things we have taken for granted, the things that have been forgotten or overlooked, hopefully will never be forgotten again. 
 

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