I don’t believe in Miracles. I rely on them.
Life may not be the party we hoped for,
but while we are here we might as well dance.
Dear Bertha,
I’m reading more and dusting less. I’m sitting in the yard and admiring
the view without fussingabout the weeds in the garden. I’m spending more
time with my family and friends and less time working. Whenever
possible, life should be a pattern of experiences to savor, not to
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, or the
first Amaryllis blossom. I wear my good blazer to the market. My
theory is if I look prosperous, I can shell out $28.49 for one small bag
of groceries. I’m not saving my good perfume for special parties, but
wearing it for clerks in the hardware store and tellers at the bank.
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 others would’ve done had they known they
wouldn’t be here for the tomorrow that we all take for granted. I think
they would have called family members and a few close friends. They
might have called a few former friends to apologize and mend fences for
past squabbles. I like to think they would have gone out for a Chinese
dinner or for whatever their favorite food was. I’m guessing; I’ll
never know. It’s those little things left undone that would make me
angry if I knew my hours were limited. 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 parents 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, tell myself that it is special. Every
day, every minute, every breath truly is a gift from God.
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.
I don’t believe in Miracles. I rely on them.
Life may not be the party we hoped for,
but while we are here we might as well dance.