If I Had My Life to Live Over

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

Handbook for 2010

**Writer Unknown**

HEALTH

1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants..
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy
5. Make time to pray.
6. Play more games
7. Read more books than you did in 2009 .
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minutes walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

PERSONALITY
11. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive
present moment.
13. Don't over do. Keep your limits.
14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need..
18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with His/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum
that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree...

SOCIETY

25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything.
28. Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

LIFE
32. Do the right thing!
33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
34. GOD heals everything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change..
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37. The best is yet to come..
38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
39. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

Ipod-less, 2 lessons, Thanks Pat.

By Catherine L. Stevenson

I had the honor to run in the 6th annual Pat's Run today. It was a race that my husband had pushed me to sign up for at the last minute...and I wasn't overly excited to run in it. I have this competitive spirit and whenever I feel less than 100% prepared, I prefer to sit out and prepare to be fully ready for the next race.

After getting less than 5 hours of sleep this morning, I found myself standing in the porta potty line @ Pat's Run at 620AM, inching my way forward before my bladder would pop. My husband had taken off to go check in our bag, while I was in line, when I realized that my Ipod was in this backpack. I asked a woman in line that we had been talking to during the line inching process to hold my spot...and I went to find Eli. Given the 28,000+ participants, I couldn't find him...

So I got back in line and was hopeful that Eli would remember to take my Ipod out of the bag. Here I was, 10 minutes before the race would start, waiting in line fidgeting with the combination of needing to using the bathroom and thinking what I would do without my Ipod. My usual routine 10 minutes until start would be playing with my Ipod Shuffle to ensure I had the perfect "start line song" ready to go.

At that moment, I'd dropped my race number that I was holding in my hand, and a guy with a pleasant smile behind me, in this fabulous porta potty line, had picked it up to give back to me.

I said, "thank you" and given my Ipod-less moment, I started to talk to the 2 men. I noticed the 2 men were in the Army by the patches on their shirts. They were telling me how they came from San Diego for the race. One of the young men mentioned that he would be running in the Coronado Bridge 4 miler in a few weeks, then the Rock 'N' Roll Half Marathon in June. His friend said that he had just finished in a 240 mile 5-man relay in Cali. I was so impressed with the dedication to running these 2 friends had together, and at the same time, felt a very unassuming energy to them. Both men were very much gentleman, humble and held a different demeanor than most young men I'd come across that were around my age.

I saw one of the guy's motion where he leaned back a bit and I couldn't help but look down to notice that these 2 friends, these 2 men that were no older than 27, each had a prosthetic leg...The moment spoke for itself and I smiled, thanking them for their service, and wishing them the best in all their races.

I made it to the restroom, Eli came back with my Ipod, and we were off to corrale 3 to start the race.

About 800 meters into the race, my Ipod decided to go out on me. I ended up, for the first time in my running history, music-less.

As soon as the Ipod went out, the diversity, camaraderie, dedication, and humility of the day suddenly became very apparent. In front of me, alongside me, behind me--2 boys that were about 7 years old running side by side with matching "42" shirts they'd made; next to me I had a veteran with all prosthetic arms and legs; behind me was a teenage girl I'd met that had less than 2 hours of sleep because she was up all night for the Relay for Life that ended the morning of this race.

To think that I almost didn't come to Pat's Run because I was consumed with the finish line results: my preparation that was not 100% where I wanted it to be and a fear that my time wouldn't be 'good enough.'

It is in these humbling, defining moments when I'm able to interpret a few of the mantras of life I've come across the past several years that I've sought to understand, but in truth, only were empty words to me.

I will remember today as a moment when I understood that (1) Happiness is a journey and not a destination (2) Events happen beautifully, gracefully when you allow them to.

A Cab Ride

This cab ride story is what inspired this blog; felt it was appropriate to give tribute and post the story for all to read.

This short story was forwarded by a certain, amazing bff of mine...

What does "dancing" mean to you"?

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A Cab Ride

by Kent Nerburn

I arrived at the address and honked the horn. After waiting a few minutes, I walked to the door and knocked.. 'Just a minute', answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor.

After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90's stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940's movie.

By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets. There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.

'Would you carry my bag out to the car?' she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman. She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb. She kept thanking me for my kindness. 'It's nothing', I told her.. 'I just try to treat my passengers

the way I would want my mother treated'..

'Oh, you're such a good boy', she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address and then asked, 'Could you drive through downtown?'

'It's not the shortest way,' I answered quickly..

'Oh, I don't mind,' she said. 'I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice'.

I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening 'I don't have any family left,' she continued in soft voice.. 'The doctor says I don't have very long.' I quietly reached over and shut off the meter. 'What route would you like me to take?' I asked.

For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator.

We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.

Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing. As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, 'I'm tired. Let's go now'.

We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico. Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move.

They must have been expecting her.

I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.

'How much do I owe you?' she asked, reaching into her purse.

'Nothing,' I said

'You have to make a living,' she answered.

'There are other passengers,' I responded.

Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly.

'You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,' she said. 'Thank you.'

I squeezed her hand, and they walked into the dim morning light.. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life..

I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk.. What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?

On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more important in my life.

We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments. But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.

PEOPLE MAY NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT YOU DID,

OR WHAT YOU SAID ~BUT~THEY WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER

HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL.

Life may not be the party we hoped for,

but while we are here we might as well dance.