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Return-path: <VickyR96@aol.com< From: VickyR96@aol.com Full-name: VickyR96 Message-ID: <4d.27b7d7b.272705ba@aol.com< Date: Tue, 24 Oct 2000 11:33:14 EDT Subject: Friendship To: FF1052@aol.com, Samoa4188@aol.com, Ute_Ihnat@jafra.com, karann@earthlink.net, Pene5617@aol.com X-Mailer: Windows AOL sub 125 Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Disposition: inline <<< <<< < < Subject: FRIENDSHIP <<< < < THIS IS TRULY WORTH TAKING A MOMENT TO READ--- <<< < < FRIENDSHIP..... <<< < < <<< < < 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 feel <<< < < 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 and daughter often enough how <<< < < much I truly love them. 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 every day, every minute, every breath <<< < < truly is...a gift. <<< < < <<< < < 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 relationship. 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. May love litter your life with <<< < < blessings. <<< < < <<< < < To realize the value of ONE MONTH, ask a mother <<< < < who gave birth to a premature baby. <<< < < <<< < < To realize the value of ONE WEEK, ask the editor <<< < < of a weekly newspaper. <<< < < <<< < < To realize the value of ONE HOUR, ask the lovers <<< < < who are waiting to meet. <<< < < <<< < < To realize the value of ONE MINUTE, ask a person <<< < < who missed the train. <<< < < <<< < < To realize the value of ONE-SECOND, ask a person <<< < < who just avoided an accident. <<< < < <<< < < To realize the value of ONE MILLISECOND, ask the <<< < < person who won a silver medal in the Olympics. <<< < < <<< < < Treasure every moment that you have! <<< < < Yesterday is history. <<< < < Tomorrow is mystery. <<< < < Today is a gift. <<< < < That's why it's called the present!! <<< < < <<< < < It's National Friendship Week. <<< < < Show your friends how much you care... Send this <<< < < to everyone you consider A FRIEND. <<< < < If it comes back to you, then you'll know you <<< < < have a circle of <<< < < Friends. <<< < < <<< < < HAPPY FRIENDSHIP WEEK!!!! <<< <<<
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