Purple Hats in Honor of Women

[JudyLynne]

PURPLE HATS
In honor of women's history month and in memory of Erma Bombeck who lost her fight with cancer.
IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER - by Erma Bombeck
(written after she found out she was dying from cancer).
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 have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.
I would have talked less and listened more.
I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or 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 have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.
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 sat on the lawn with my grass stains.
I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life.
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 sorry's."
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. Stop sweating the small stuff.
Don't worry about who doesn't like you, who has more, or who's doing what.
Instead, let's cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us.
Let's think about what God HAS blessed us with. And what we are doing each day to promote ourselves mentally, physically, emotionally. I hope you all have a blessed day.

[Snowden]

JudyLynn, I am so glad you posted this. I loved Erma Bombeck; and she speaks both for and to me in this. I don't have a purple hat; I have a beautiful dark green Fedora that looks smashing on me and goes with absolutely nothing else I own. Every so often - at least once a year - I take it out and make sure it still becomes me, feeling almost Scarlett O'Hara-ish, but a bit more mod, and tell myself I'm still young and adorable. (Not that I was ever adorable since age 3, but it sounds good.)

I always take time to listen to people I enjoy listening to - when I can get them to talk. It's not always easy. At times it's as if we need a can opener to find what's locked inside some people.

My favorite phrase is "I love you," and I always mean it. Erma taught me a lot, since she and I were raising our kids at about the same time. I discovered her when my youngest was just a baby - but the other two were so near her own. I read her columns and they were so near what I was going through with my kids.

Her son went to camp and came home with a suitcase full of strange clothes, for instance. I sent our middle son to camp and here came all the socks and clothes of all the kids in his cabin. Why? Well, this kid - one of the sloppiest you ever called your own - wanted a boat ride on the lake. The kids in the neatest cabin got the boat ride, and both weeks, to our amazement, his cabin got that reward.

When we got his suitcase home, I found out why. All the socks, underwear, shorts and shirts were in his suitcase - even his own.

[conlor]

At least he was neat, Marianne!

I always loved Erma too, and learned that love from my mom. I always knew that if I got my mom a book by Erma Bombeck for Christmas or her birthday, it would be something she loved getting and enjoyed.

[Woodmonkey]

I loved her and enjoyed reading what she had to say.

[JudyLynne]

Thank you for your comments. I loved reading Erma's articles. Very interesting.