Every Day is A Gift 珍惜每一天
my brother-in-law opened the bottom drawer of my sisters 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, dont 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 sisters family lives. i thought about all the things that she hadnt seen or heard or done. i thought about the things that she had done without realizing that they were special.
im still thinking about his words, and theyve changed the weeds in the garden. im spending more time with my family and friends and less time in committee meetings. whenever possible, life should be a pattern of experience to savour, not endure. im trying to recognize these moment now and cherish them.
im 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. im 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 its worth seeing or hearing or doing, i want to see and hear and do it now. im not sure what my sister wouldve done had she know that she wouldnt 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. im guessing. ill never know.
its 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 hadnt written certain letters that i intended to write one of these days. angry and sorry that i didnt tell my husband and daughter often enough how much i truly love them.
im 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, i tell myself that every day, every minute, every breath truly, is... a gift from god.
妹夫打开了妹妹衣柜最底层抽屉,拿出一个用纸包装的包裹。“这个,”他说,“不是件普通内衣,而是一件豪华内衣。”他把薄纸撕开,递给了我那件内衣。
它的确精致无比,丝质、全手工缝制,周围还有一圈网状蕾丝花边。价签都尚未拆去,上面的数字高得惊人。
“这是我们第一次去纽约时简买的,至少已是八、九年前的事了。她从没有穿过它。她想等一个特殊的日子再穿它。”
唉,我想现在便是那特殊的日子了。
妹夫从我手中拿过内衣放在床上,和其他我们要带给殡仪服务人员的衣服放在一起。他的手在那柔软织物上徘徊了一会儿,随即砰然关上抽屉,转身对我说:“永远不要把任何东西留给什么特殊日子。你活着的每一天就是一个特殊的日子。”
这两句话久久在我耳边回响着,伴我度过了葬礼和帮妹夫、侄女处理妹妹意外死亡后的伤心后事的那几天。我从位处中西部的妹妹家返回加州时,在飞机上还是在想这两句话。我想到妹妹未曾有机会看到、听到或去做的事。我想到她淡然做过,但却没有意识到其特殊性的事。
我至今还在想着妹夫说的话,正是它们改变了我的心境。我花了更多的时间与家人朋友在一起,而少花些时间在那些工作会议上。无论何时,生活应当是一种“品味”而非一种“忍受”。我在学习欣赏每一刻,并珍惜每一刻。
我不再去“珍藏”任何东西;只要有一点好事,我们就不吝啬使用精美的瓷器和水晶制品,比如说当体重减了一磅时,当厨房水槽堵塞通了时,当第一朵山茶花绽放时……如果我想穿,我就穿上我名牌衣服去市场购物。我的理论是:如果我看上去还富足的话,我可以毫不心疼地为一小袋杂货付出28.49美元。我不再为特殊的派对而珍藏我上好的香水;五金店售货员和银行出纳员们的嗅觉,不会比派对上朋友们来得差。
“有朝一日”和“终有一天”这样的词正从我的常用词汇中淡出。如果值得去看、去听或去做,我当即就要去看、去听或去做。人们总是理所当然的以为自己必然有明天,不知假如妹妹知道她将没有明日,她会做些什么。
我想她会给家人和几位密友打电话。她可能还会给几位昔日朋友打电话主动道歉,摒弃前嫌。我想她可能会外出吃顿她喜欢的中餐。我只是猜想而已。我永远也不会知道。
假如我知道我的时间不多了,那些没来得及做的小事会让我恼火。恼火是因为我一拖再拖没能去看看“有朝一日”会去看的好友们。恼火是因为我还没有写出我“终有一天”要写的信。恼火与内疚是因为我没能更经常地告诉我的丈夫和女儿:我是多么真切地爱他们。
我正努力不再拖延、保留或珍藏那些能给我们生活带来欢笑和光彩的东西。每天清晨当我睁开双眼,我便告诉自己每一天、每一分钟、每一瞬间都真是……上帝赐予的礼物
-
主题演讲比赛方案(精选5篇)
主题演讲比赛方案篇1一、活动目的为了丰富在校研究生生活,锻炼学生们的演讲能力和口头表达能力,增强学术气氛,给大家提供一个展现自我,提升自我的机会和舞台,研究生院决定举办一场别开生面的演讲比赛。二、演讲主题以"活力与梦想"为主题,尽情发挥各参赛选手的自身风...
-
演讲稿比赛(精选22篇)
演讲稿比赛篇1作为一名小学语文教师,谈到读书,脑子中就会出现目前诸多的学校都在用的一句话:书香感动心灵,经典滋润人生。是啊,哪个伟人志士不是饱读诗书之人!鲁迅读书,诵出“横眉冷对千夫指,俯首甘为孺子牛”,令人敬仰。中国近代民主革命的伟大先行者,被被尊称为国父的...
-
比赛开场前演讲词(精选5篇)
比赛开场前演讲词篇1王:尊敬的各位领导各位老师曹:亲爱的同学们合:大家下午好!乔:曾经我们走过风雨如晦的岁月,苦难的中华民族备受列强的欺凌。安:曾经我们在暗夜里艰难探索,寻求中国富强的正确路径。王:多难兴邦,艰难困苦,并没有压弯中国人民不屈的脊梁。曹:只有共产党才...
-
责任演讲比赛主持稿2022(精选17篇)
责任演讲比赛主持稿2022篇1尊敬的老师,亲爱的同学们:大家好!勇担责任,是人心之根本,是成长之基,是一个国家维护民族气节、增国力的依托所在。浩大的宇宙,赠与人生命,让人有认识世界了解世界的权利,那么与之匹配的责任也随即产生。作为中华民族的一员,我们从出生的那一刻...
相关文章
- TED英文演讲稿:Why you will fail to have a great career
- TED英文演讲稿:Why you will fail to have a great career大纲
- Every Day is A Gift 珍惜每一天大纲
- 经典英语演讲稿: It is Important to Drive Safely
- Obama's Weekly Address:Everyone Should Be Able To Afford Hi
- Laughter really is the best medicine for cancer pa
- Cover Letter Sample of Rail Yard Engineer
- 英文读后感之Review of “Is Arrogant and Prejudice”
- administrative secretary 英文求职信范文
- Obama‘s Weekly Address:Celebrating Independence Day