LETTER TO A FRIEND

[Guest guest]

This was written by an 83-year-old woman to her friend......

Dear Friends,

I'm reading more and dusting less. I'm sitting in the yard 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 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