Posted by Terry S. (24.24.79.45) on June 14, 2000 at 16:58:35:
Subject: Seize the moment!!!!
>>>> > > >
>>>> > > > LET'S EAT ICE CREAM
>>>> > > > I have a friend who lives by a three-word philosophy: "Seize the
>>>> >moment."
>>>> > > > Just possibly she may be the wisest woman on this planet. Too
many
>>>> >people
>>>> > > > put off something that brings them joy just because they haven't
>>>> >thought
>>>> > > > about it, don't have it on their schedule, didn't know it was
>coming
>>>> >or
>>>> >are
>>>> > > > too rigid to depart from their routine. I got to thinking one
day
>>>> >about
>>>> > > all
>>>> > > > those women on the Titanic who passed up dessert at dinner that
>>>> >fateful
>>>> > > > night in an effort to cut back. From then on, I've tried to be
a
>>>> >little
>>>> > > > more flexible.
>>>> > > > How many women out there will eat at home because their husband
>>>> >didn't
>>>> > > > suggest going out to dinner until after something had been
thawed?
>>>> >Does
>>>> > > the
>>>> > > > word "refrigeration" mean nothing to you? How often have your
kids
>>>> >dropped
>>>> > > > in to talk and sat in silence while you watched Jeopardy or
>>>> >television?
>>>> >I
>>>> > > > cannot count the times I called my sister and said, "How about
>going
>>>> >to
>>>> > > > lunch in a half hour? "She would gasp and stammer, "I can't."
>>Check
>>>> >one:
>>>> > > > "I have clothes on the line." "My hair is dirty." "I wish I
had
>>>> >known
>>>> > > > yesterday." "I had a late breakfast." "It looks like rain."
>"It's
>>>> > > > Monday." She died a few years ago. We never did have lunch
>>>> >together.
>>>> > > > Because North Americans cram so much into their lives, we tend
to
>>>> >schedule
>>>> > > > our headaches. We live on a sparse diet of promises we make to
>>>> >ourselves
>>>> > > > when all the conditions are perfect: We'll go back and visit the
>>>> > > > grandparents when we get Nate pottie-trained. We'll entertain
when
>>>> >we
>>>> > > > replace the living room carpet. We'll go on a second honeymoon
>when
>>>> >our
>>>> > > > kids get out of college. Life has a way of accelerating as we
get
>>>> >older.
>>>> > > > The days get shorter, and the list of promises to ourselves gets
>>>> >longer.
>>>> > > > One morning, we awaken, and all we have to show for our lives is
a
>>>> >litany
>>>> > > of
>>>> > > > "I'm going to," "I plan on" and "Someday, when things are
settled
>>>> >down
>>>> >a
>>>> > > > bit.
>>>> > > > When anyone calls my "seize the moment" friend, she is open to
>>>> >adventure
>>>> > > > and available for trips. She keeps an open mind on new ideas.
Her
>>>> > > > enthusiasm for life is contagious. You talk with her for five
>>>> >minutes,
>>>> >and
>>>> > > > you're ready to trade your bad feet for a pair of Rollerblades
and
>>>> >skip
>>>> >an
>>>> > > > elevator for a bungee cord. My lips have not touched ice cream
>>in 10
>>>> > > years.
>>>> > > > I love ice cream. It's just that I might as well apply it
directly
>>>> >to
>>>> >my
>>>> > > > hips with a spatula and eliminate the digestive process. The
other
>>>> >day, I
>>>> > > > stopped the car and bought a triple-decker ice cream cone. If
my
>>car
>>>> >had
>>>> > > > hit an iceberg on the way home, I would have died happy.
>>>> > > > Now......go on and have a nice day. Do something you WANT to
do,
>>not
>>>> > > > something on your HAVE TO list. Life is too short.....share the
>>love
>>>> >and
>>>> > > > joy you have with your family and friends. They may slip away
>>>> >unexpectedly
>>>> > > > and it will be too late.