You know over the years Mom's Kids all 8 of us have gotten Mom some beautiful things and I have even made things for her to use and to enjoy. We often wonder where these things are and why she has never used them. It kinda bothers of that she hasn't . Now my dad he can always use tools so we don't mess up with him. But all of us have wondered why mom doesn't use these things. So I plan on printing this for her to read. I got this message below in my mail from mountain wings. I wanted to share this with all of you . Hugs, Dottiemaye
SPECIAL OCCASION
=================
By Ann Wells (Los Angeles Times)
My brother-in-law opened the bottom draw 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, hand made and
trimmed with a cobweb 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 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 all 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 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 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, 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 that 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
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 it is special.
Every day, every minute, every breath truly is a gift from God.
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