Passing the Purple Hat

Those of you who know me, know that I am passionate about a number of worthy causes.  While I may not have the funds to support these causes financially – I do everything within my power which I can to promote awareness and to pass legislation to further research and cures for these causes.  Today’s cause is cancer.  Ovarian cancer to be exact.  My beloved Nana passed away from ovarian cancer.  She failed to have an annual examination each year like she should have, and by the time she began having complications and did go to see a doctor, it was too late.  The cancer had spread through the majority of her reproduction organs and was spreading into the remainder of her body.  She only survived a little over six months after being diagnosed with it, she held on just long enough to see my baby sister be born.  Back in 1982, they did not have the treatments available that we do now, and our family endured agonizing heartache having to watch this vibrant, loving, full-of-life woman wither before our eyes and just ravage her body and mind before taking her from us.

If you do nothing else in this world, please be sure ladies to get your annual examination from your OB/GYN.  Take care of yourselves!  You are so worth it!!!  Erma Bombeck wrote “If I Had My Life to Live Over” when she learned that she was dying of cancer.  I wanted to share this with you today to remind us all that life is short and fleeting in the grand scheme of time.

• If I had my life to live over, I would have talked less and listened more.
• I would have invited friends over to dinner, even if the carpet was stained and the sofa faded.
• I would have eaten the popcorn in the ‘good’ living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.
• I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.
• I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.
• I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.
• I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains.
• I would have cried and laughed less while watching television – and more while watching life.
• I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.
• I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I were not there for the day.
• I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn’t show soil or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.
• Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I would have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only change in my life to assist God in a miracle.
• When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, “Later. Now go get washed up for dinner.”
• There would have been more “I love you” … more “I’m sorry” …

But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute … look at it and REALLY see it … live it … and never give it back.

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