----------
> From: Michele Fannucci <cfannuc1@nycap.rr.com>
> To: Kathy Belanger <MrsB47@aol.com>; Janet LeBeau
<JLEBEAU@courts.state.ny.us>; Jackie Brennan <timijack@ix.netcom.com>;
Linda Manoni <manonil@nehealth.net>; Delia & Bob Pyskadlo
<rpyskadlo@yahoo.com>; Mark & Lisa Pyskadlo <pyskadlo@capital.net>; Michael
Forbes <Mcforbes1@aol.com>; Bill & Nancy Semenick <BSemenick@aol.com>;
Bobby Pyskadlo <bob@pyskadlo.com>; Judy Byrnes <rbyrnes1@nycap.rr.com>;
Priscilla Dallara <rdallar1@nycap.rr.com>; Linda Stenberg
<lindacrump@global2000.net>; Gayle Burns <macgalmom@aol.com>; Ellen Flynn
<Nelle09@aol.com>; Cathy McGrath <seamus@capital.net>; Charmaine Schaefer
<cschaef2@nycap.rr.com>; Rosemary Coughlin <cougrose@shen.neric.org>;
Joanne Sweet <ssweet1@nycap.rr.com>; Mary Murphy <madgad@juno.com>; Penny
Fulton <fultpenn@bellsouth.net>
> Subject: A Story To Live By
> Date: Wednesday, June 14, 2000 8:49 PM
>
> > A Story To Live By
> > by Ann Wells (Los Angeles Times)
> >
> > 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 often enough how much I
> > truly love him. 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.
> >
> > 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."
> >
> > 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.
> >
> > Enjoy the moment
