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, dont 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 sisters family lives. i thought about all the things that she hadnt seen or heard or done. i thought about the things that she had done without realizing that they were special.
im still thinking about his words, and theyve changed the weeds in the garden. im spending more time with my family and friends and less time in committee meetings. whenever possible, life should be a pattern of experience to savour, not endure. im trying to recognize these moment now and cherish them.
im 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 feel like it. my theory is if i look prosperous, i can shell out $28. 49 for one small bag of groceries without wincing. im not saving my good perfume for special parties; clerks in hardware stores and tellers in banks have noses that function as well as my party going friends.
someday and one of these days are losing their grip on my vocabulary. if its worth seeing or hearing or doing, i want to see and hear and do it now. im not sure what my sister wouldve done had she know that she wouldnt be here for the tomorrow we all take for granted.
i think she would have called family members and a few close friends. she might have called a few former friends to apologize, and mend fences for past squabbles. i like to think she would have gone out for a chinese dinner, her favorite food. im guessing. ill never know.
its those little things left undone that would make me angry if i knew that my hours were limited. angry because i put off seeing good friends whom i was going to get in touch with someday. angry because i hadnt written certain letters that i intended to write one of these days. angry and sorry that i didnt tell my husband and daughter often enough how much i truly love them.
im trying very hard not to put off, hold back, or save anything that would add laughter and luster to our lives. and every morning when i open my eyes, i tell myself that every day, every minute, every breath truly, is... a gift from god.
我的哥哥在法律打开了我妹妹衣柜最底层抽屉，拿出一个用纸包装的包裹。这一点，他说，是不是衬裙。这是内衣。他把薄纸撕开，递给了我那件内衣。
它很精致，丝质，全手工缝制，蕾丝花边的蛛网。与上一个天文数字的价格标签仍然附着。
这个月至少8或9年前买了我们第一次去纽约。她从来没有穿过它。她留着在一个特殊的场合。
嗯，我想这就是机会。
他把妹夫从我把它放在床上，和我们正在采取的殡仪业者其他的衣服。他的手徘徊了一会儿软质材料，随即砰然关上抽屉，转身对我说，不要把任何东西一个特殊的场合。你活着的每一天都是一个特殊的场合。
我记得度过了葬礼的那些话，并随后当我帮他和我的侄女照顾都遵循一个意外死亡后的伤心后事的那几天。我想对他们在飞机上从中西部的小镇，我的姐妹们的家庭生活返回加州。我想到了所有的事情，她说好的看到，听到或完成。我想到，她没有意识到其特殊性所作的事。
我还在想着他说的话，并且他们改变了杂草的花园。即时花更多的时间与家人和朋友在一起，少花些时间在那些工作会议。只要有可能，生活应该是经验细细品味的模式，无法忍受。我试着现在认识到这些时刻，珍惜他们。
林不保存任何内容;我们用我们精美的瓷器和水晶制品。比如说当体重减了一磅时，当厨房水槽堵塞，第一朵山茶花绽放......我穿我的衣服去市场，如果我喜欢它的感觉。我的理论是，如果我看上去还富足的，我可以掏出$ 28 49一小袋食品没有畏缩。我不是拯救我的香水为特殊的派对;在五金商店和银行出纳员文员有功能，以及我的晚会上朋友的鼻子。
有那么一天，这些天正在失去对我的词汇量的抓地力。如果值得去看，去听或做什么，我想看到和听到的，现在就行动。林不知道我的姐姐wouldve做了，她知道，她不会在这里了，明天大家都认为理所当然。
我想她会给叫家人和几个亲密的朋友。她可能还会给几位昔日朋友道歉，重修旧好过去的争吵。我想她可能会外出了中国菜，她最喜欢的食物。即时猜测。我永远无法知道。
它的那些小事情没有完成，将让我生气，如果我知道我的时间是有限的。生气，因为我一拖再拖看到好朋友的人我会得到与一天联系。生气，因为我说好的写一些字母，我打算写这些日子之一。愤怒和遗憾，我没有告诉我的丈夫和女儿往往不够我是多么真切地爱他们。
即时通讯正努力不再拖延，保留或珍藏那些带来欢笑和光彩的我们的生活。当我睁开眼睛，每天早上，我告诉自己每一天，每一分钟，每一瞬间都真是... ...上帝赐予的礼物。
