如果我的生命可以重來一次

作者 Erma Bombeck [1927-96], 是知名的美國女作家, 是幽默文學界非常重要的作家, 他的文章不但讓你笑, 還讓你深思. 晚年寫了關於癌症病患家庭生活中, 有時歡笑有時悲傷的重要著作 " I Want to Grow Hair, I Want to Grow Up, I Want to Go to Boise: Children Surviving Cancer, (1989) ", 讓人們重新認識癌症患者的心聲. 作者於得知自己可能因腎臟疾病而不久人世後, 寫下這篇勸人把握時機,珍惜生命,令人為之動容的文章..
http://www.ermamuseum.org/exhibithome.htm

如果我的生命可以重來一次
生病時 我會早早上床休息
不會再假裝地球一天沒有我就會進入冬眠狀態。
我會盡情點燃雕塑成美麗玫瑰樣帽的粉紅色蠟燭
不會因為捨不得而讓他在儲藏過久後而毀壞
我會多聽聽 而且少說點話
我會多邀請朋友到家裡來晚宴
即使地毯會因而弄髒 沙發椅會褪色受損....
我會盡情地在華麗的客廳裡吃著爆米花
不會再費神計較訪客是否會希望能點燃璧爐而造成煙灰處處
我會多用點時間傾聽
祖父漫談他年輕時的點點滴滴
我從未會堅持車窗被滾動
在一個夏日因為我的頭髮做了。
我會坐在草與我的孩子和
沒擔心草汙點。
我會哭泣和笑了當觀看
電視- 和更多當觀看生活。
我從未會買任何東西正因為它
是實用的, 不會顯示土壤, 或被保證了
為終身。
而不是祝願去九個月懷孕, 我會
珍惜每片刻和意識到
驚奇生長在我裡面是唯一的機會在生活中
協助上帝在奇蹟。
當我的孩子浮躁地親吻了我, 我從未會有
前述, "以後, 現在去得到洗滌為晚餐" 。
有會是更"我愛yous" 更多
"我是sorrys" 。.....但主要, 給另射擊了在生活, I
會佔領每分鐘。...看它和
真正地看見它。...居住它。..並且從未給它。
停止冒汗小材料。
不要擔心誰不喜歡您,
誰有更多, 或誰做□什麼。
反而, 我們珍惜我們有與那些的關係
誰 愛我們。 我們考慮什麼上帝 有 保祐我們
與, 和什麼我們做□□天促進我們自己
精神上, 完全, 情感地, 和精神上。
生活是太短的以至於不能讓它通過您。
我們只有一被擊出在這並且它然後去。
~洱碼Bombeck~
2/21/27 - 4/22/96

If I Had My Life To Live Over
I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of
pretending the earth would have gone into a holding
pattern if I weren't there for a 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.....and I would have eaten
popcorn in the "good" living room and worried much less about
dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fire place.
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 done.
I would have sat in the grass 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 never have bought anything just because it
was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed
for 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 for dinner".
There would have been more "I love yous" 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.
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, and spiritually.
Life is too short to let it pass you by.
We only have one shot at this and then it's gone.
~Erma Bombeck~
2/21/27 - 4/22/96