A few days ago, I opened this drawer
If I Had My Life To Live Over
by 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.
Well that was just beautiful!
I think we all have ‘a pink candle sculpted like a rose’ that we should be burning! We may not even be aware of it and now you’ve given us something to think about. Thank you!
I’ll see you tomorrow at Show & Tell Friday.
Sue
xo
I am glad you got out the candle and burned it. Very funny! I love the quote from Erma. I just like to be the one who lights it.
Thank you for posting this, I was almost in tears…I don’t have a rose candle but if I ever come across one I’ll buy it and light it too!
Rondell
Oh, how I can relate to this post. I have spent the summer moving my mom to an assisted living facility. She has so many things that she saved…too pretty to use! And now…we have to dispose of so many things. Thank you for this message.
Take care ~Natalie
Oh, how I can relate to this post. I have spent the summer moving my mom to an assisted living facility. She has so many things that she saved…too pretty to use! And now…we have to dispose of so many things. Thank you for this message.
Take care ~Natalie
That is a wonderful post. I had read that many years ago, but had forgotten about it. Thanks for sharing and giving us a reminder to burn that rose candle.
What a lovely post! I’m heading straight to my candle drawer to look for a pink one. If I don’t have a pink one I KNOW I have plenty of others. (And I don’t like to burn them either). Thanks for such a sweet reminder.
What a wonderful post! I have read this from Erma Bombeck before. It was when she was dying of cancer. Being a cancer survivor, I know how important it is to burn that candle everyday.
My Mom used to save everything for a special occasion or she saved pretty PJ’s and robes “should she ever go to the hospital.” When that time came and she was in the hospital for 8 weeks prior to her death, she never did get to wear everything she had saved because she was too sick. But they did not go to waste as we donated all those pretty robes and PJ’s to the Hospice unit where she passed away for others to wear before their time here was over.
Thanks for the reminder of how precious “This day and every day is”!
Debbie
Because I often purchase vintage linens and collectibles at auctions and estate sales, I see it all the time … people’s treasures packed away for a “someday” that never came. I often wonder about the stories, and I sometimes find myself feeling a bit melancholy even as I thrill over beautiful “finds” I discover while unpacking the boxes. I say USE those beauties! If they wear out before I do, think of the memories I’ve made — and the beauty I’ve shared with others along the way. …So open those bottom drawers and pull out Great-Grandmother’s linens, jewelry, and dishes. Post pics of them on your blog. They’re yours now to share … and we’d all love to see them!
This is beautiful Susan!!
HAPPY FIRST PINK SATURDAY SUSAN,
WHAT A BEAUTIFUL POST. I HOPE I SEE A PINK ROSE CANDLE ONE DAY FOR SALE. MY ONLY DAUGHTER AMY GRADUATED TO HEAVEN IN OCTOBER 2009, AFTER WINNING HER BATTLE WITH CANCER SO WE KNOW ALL TO WELL ABOUT SEIZING THE MOMENT.
I LOVE YOUR BLOG.
HAVE A LOVELY WEEKEND.
HUGS
SIMPLY DEBBIE
Welcome and happy pink Saturday. What a fun pink post. Lovely. Have a great day.
Riet
The Netherlands
Good thing your mind made you want to really search for it. I am sure everybody who gets to read this will be glad they did cause one way or another, they . . . we have a “rose candle” , literally or figuratively, just waiting to be lit.
Happy 1st Pink Saturday!
Mizpah,
Li
My goodness you better check your forgotten places more often. These are all wonderful things for today’s Pink Saturday. You did an excellent job.
Hello and Happy Pink Saturday! What a lovely blog post!!! I was actually thinking about this EB message last week. Can’t believe you posted it! I think I’ll post it on my blog next week. Thank you!!
I don’t have a pink rose candle. I don’t have any candles. I use the wax tarts but I have recently brought out some things that I love rather than saving them for the perfect conditions.
Wishing you a very Happy Pink Saturday and thank you again for such a lovely PS blog post!
I love this post. The poem is lovely, never read it before. I love how you tied everything together–a great start to my weekend. Happy Pink Saturday.
Ann
Wonderful Pink Post! Amazing photos! Linking to you in my Pink Saturday post:)
Lovely post!
Welcome and happy pink Saturday.
This is a lovely post. Erma Bombeck was SUCH an amazing woman…very profound words. Thank you for sharing.
Blessings,
Patti @ Fill My Cup with Beauty
Hi Susan!!
Welcome to Pink Saturday!
Kudos to you for your great photos and inspiration for seizing the day! “Carpe Diem!”
I burned my rose candle in a warm fragrant bath shortly after I bought it. I did not regret it for a minute!!
Hugs, Laura
Oh girl…I’ve posted this before…sometime last year I think…and the story of Miss Erma always brings to me tears~
Happy Pink Saturday. Thanks for reminding us all what life is about~
xoRebecca
Happy Pink Saturday Susan Sweetie…
Welcome to the world of pinkies. Here you will find the best of the best who know all about the color PINK.
I have so enjoyed your write today. It is beautiful. I love the pink rose candle and the beautiful photos that you shot. The one in the drawer and the one in the dark night and lit, are my favorite. You captured the rose wonderfully in all its elegance.
I have loved this write of Erma’s for many years. It is soooo true isn’t it?
Thank you for allowing me to take time to smell the roses. I am Country Wings your newest follower. Please stop by and let me share my pink post with you as well. I love meeting new friends and sharing ideas. I would be honored if you signed up to follow my blog as well. I can’t wait to see what you write next.
Have a beautiful Pink Saturday.
Country hugs sweetie…Sherry
Happy PINK Saturday Susan! What a wonderful post today. It’s funny, I’ve read that a hundred times before and never noticed the part about the rose candle. I don’t have a pink one but I DO have a cream colored one that I have had forever. I think I will get it out today and let burn. Thanks for sharing and have a great weekend, Nan
Welcome to PS. Your post is great and really drew me in, I hope to write like that when I grow up. I don’t have a pink rose but do have pine cones that I reserve for Christmas but it just now occurred to me that I need to have them out all year since my decorating style includes pine cones (duh) I will have to find my Christmas decorations and get them out. Like you looking at that rose all these years, so my pine cones. LOL. So glad you have joined us on PS.
Hugs
Gail -Decorating My Tin Shack
Lovely how you placed it in a sweet bowl of water to burn. I do not have a candle like that. But if I come across one I will get it.
Blessings~
Gwen
What a beautiful and thought-provoking post. You certainly have a way with words and photography. I have signed up as a follower of your blog and will come back when I have time to read more. Welcome to Pink Saturday!
Sherry @ A Happy Valentine
Lovin’ this completely! I have candles that I never use! Gonna melt some wax this weekend!
Blessings- Tete
Hi I remember ready the article that you just posted for Pink Saturday, and how true it is, my thoughts are if you own it, use it,enjoy it or pass it on to someone who will! I’m glad you enjoyed it. I just learned how to use Mr Linky, if you want I can give you easy peasy instructions. Just e-mail me or click on the Vintage Black Friday on my sidebar as that is who helped me and she has it up on that blog post from yesterday! Welcome to Pink Saturday, this is my 2nd one and I love it!
wow, what a great first post for Pink Saturday. I can so relate to it as well. I have loads of candles waiting to be burned that I dont know why I am waiting. Hugs Sara
Erma Bombeck was so inspirational. I love her writings, they are just so true! Welcome to P.S. and for sharing that poem that I haven’t read in a very long time. great reminder! Marcia
Welcome to Pink Saturday…
I think we all have sweet pink roses we over look. And when we need it, there it is, right under our noses all along…
Wasn’t Erma Bombeck an amazing woman? I have a couple of her books and never tire of reading them. She was a very wise and witty woman!
Jil
what a great idea. This is such a beautiful post. It’s what we all need to do, take out those special things that mean so much to us and start using them and sharing them with people we love.
Happy Pink Saturday.
How pretty! WELCOME to PS!!!!
m ^..^
That was such a great post. Lovely. Welcome to Pink Saturday from your newest follower.
It’s a beautiful candle! I love the story. I had pink flower candles I got for a gift, but I never burned them. I think it’s because they seem too fancy for every day? But really, they aren’t! Thanks for that reminder. And thanks for stopping by our new blog! 😉
~michelle~
Happy Pink Saturday! So love Erma and her humor and attitude towards live. Good to see you here on PS as well as on Met Mondays! have a wonderful week, fondly, Roberta
http://con-tain-it.typepad.com
your pink candle is cute.
What a delightful post. I really enjoyed my visit! Happy PS!
http://cansforcookiesustroops.blogspot.cor http://poemsmyway-valrie.blogspot.com
What a lovely pink post. While I am a BIG candle lover…I don’t have pink candles but can’t wait to see your next post with all the lovely candles.
Licks & Wags, Niki
Wow, this post has blessed me so much today! I actually DO have a candle sculpted like a rose and was so sick of it just laying around that I stuck it in the yard sale bag! Thank goodness I read your post…I dug through the bags, trying to find it! I plan to post about it and link up next week.
To top it all off, my daughter came in this afternoon with this beautifully wrapped soap that my mom had bought her for Christmas last year. She said, “Mom, I’m never going to use this soap because it’s special to me.” So I explained to her (won’t go into detail…you can imagine) and said she should use the soap and just save the cute wrapper.
Anyway, I won’t write a book, but just wanted to let you know you’ve inspired me today. Thank you!
HaPpY pInK sAtUrDaY!
Sarah
http://www.bloggingwhilewaiting.blogspot.com
That’s wonderful, Susan….I love it! We seem to need to be reminded of these truths for some reason. Happy Pink Saturday~
Welcome to your first Pink Saturday, Susan. I am so glad you decided to participate.
I love the message of your post. We all need to enjoy every moment. I don’t have a candle shaped like a rose, but I do burn the candles I have. I love to savor the mood they provide.
My father loved Erma.♥
Look at the spray of light coming from the tip of the flame in the second picture-really special!
I used to have Erma’s quote framed and hung on a wall at a previous place. My search will be for where I have packed it away.
Rose candle is very beautiful and it is first selection of every occasions. I like your collection of different candles.
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