Love

Your presence is a present to the world.
You're unique and one of a kind.
Your life can be what you want it to be.
Take the days, just one at a time.

Count your blessings, not your troubles.
You'll make it through, whatever comes along.
Within you are so many answers.
Understand, have courage, be strong.

Don't put limits on yourself.
So many dreams are waiting to be realized.
Decisions are too important, to leave to chance.
Reach for your peak, your goal, and your prize.

Nothing wastes more energy than worrying.
The longer one carries a problem, the heavier it gets.
Don't take things too seriously.
Live a life of serenity, not a life of regrets.

Remember that a little love goes a long way.
Remember that a lot . . . goes forever.
Remember that friendship is a wise investment.
Life's treasures are people . . . together.

Realize that it's never too late.
Do ordinary things, in an extraordinary way.
Have health, hope, and happiness.
Take the time to wish upon a star.

And don't ever forget . . .
For even a day . . .
How very special you are.

'Tis the Last Rose

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"Tis the last rose of summer

left blooming alone.

All her lovely companions

Are faded and gone.

Thomas Moore

My brother-in-law opened the bottom drawer 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, handmade, and trimmed with a cobweb of 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 a 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 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 feel 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 tellers in 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 and hear and do it now. I'm not sure what my sister would have done had she known that she wouldn't be here for the tomorrow 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 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.

Sometimes when I'm too depressed or drowning in self-doubt, I know that I can call your name, and you will pull me out.

You taught me that I'm worth much more than what I'd always thought. You gave me strength and confidence that so long I had sought.

You showed me that I'm beautiful, both outside and in. You proved that I'm not second best, time and time again.

One day I will return to you all you've given me. I don't know in what time or form, but I promise soon you'll see.

For richer, for poorer, in sickness, in health, through all of the thick and thin, I trust I can always count on you and am proud to call you friend.

Have you ever watched kids on a merry-go-round or listened to the rain slapping on the ground?

Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight or gazed at the sun into the fading night?

Do you run through each day on the fly? When you ask "How are you?", do you hear the reply?

When the day is done, do you lie in your bed with the next hundred chores running through your head?

Ever told your child, we'll do it tomorrow. And in your haste, not see his sorrow?

Ever lost touch, let a good friendship die 'cause you never had time to call and say "Hi"?

When you run so fast to get somewhere, you miss half the fun of getting there. When you worry and hurry through your day, it's like an unopened gift...thrown away.

*Roses & The Meanings Of Their Colors*
	White Rose Innocence, Secrecy, Spiritual love
I Love You, Gently Like A Rose
	*Red Rose* *Love, Respect,* *Passion*
A gift of love for you.
	Yellow Rose Joy, Friendship, Enjoy The Moment
May all your days be filled with joy,
	*Pink Rose* Grace, Joy Thankfulness, The Glow Of Your Smile
and all your dreams come true.
	*Coral Rose* *Desire*
I Love You
	Lavender Rose Enchantment
I Love You, Gently Like A Rose
	*Orange Rose* Fascination

I hired a carpenter to help me restore an old farmhouse. He had just finished a rough first day on the job...a flat tire made him lose an hour of work, the electric saw quit and now his ancient pickup refused to start. While I drove him home, he sat in a stony silence. On arriving, he invited me to meet his family.

As we walked toward the front door, he paused briefly at a small tree, touching the tips of the branches with both hands.

When opening the door, he underwent an amazing transformation. His tanned face was wreathed in smiles and he hugged his two small children and gave his wife a kiss.

Afterwards, he walked me to the car. We passed the tree and my curiosity got the better of me. I asked him about what I had seen him do earlier.

"Oh, that's my trouble tree," he replied. "I know I can't help having troubles on the job, but one thing's for sure, trouble don't belong in the house with my wife and the children. so I just hang them up on the tree every night when I come home. Then in the morning I pick them up again."

"Funny thing is," he smiled, when I come out in the morning to pick 'em up, there ain't nearly as many as I remember hanging up the night before."

author unknown

Looking back on the memory of
The dance we shared, 'neath the stars above
For a moment all the world was right
How could I have known that you'd ever say goodbye

And now I'm glad I didn't know
The way it all would end the way it all would go
Our lives are better left to chance I could have
missed the pain
But I'd of had to miss the dance

Holding you I held everything
For a moment wasn't I a king
But if I'd only known how the king would fall
Hey who's to say I might have chanced it all

Yes my life is better left to chance
I could have missed the pain but I'd of had to miss the dance

More Stories.. More Stories...
Love Continues Page 2