Everyday Is a Gift
Thursday, September 27th, 2007My friend John opened the bottom drawer of his wife’s bureau and lifted out a gift box. This is not a normal hair accessory, this is a gift.” He said and opened the box, took a exquisite hair accessory.
It was a crystal-coated, barrette, handmade and trimmed with a cobweb of lace. His wife was deeply impressed by such design at her sight with it.
John bought it to her as a gift at the first time they went to
Well, I guess this is the occasion.
He took the barrette and put it on the bed with other clothes we were taking to the mortician. His hands lingered on the barrette 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 performed to all the sad chores that follow an unexpected death. I thought about them on the plane returning to
I’m still thinking about his words, and they’ve changed the seeds 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 this moment 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 took prosperous, I can shell out 100 dollars for a small bag of groceries without wincing. I’m not saving my good perfume for special parties; clerks in hardware stores and tellers in bank have noses that function as well as my party going friends.
