If I Had It All To Do Over
Someone asked me the other day
if I had my life to live over would I change anything.
My answer was no, but then I thought
about it and changed my mind.
If I had my life to live over again,
I would have waxed less and listened more.
Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy and
complaining about the shadows over my feet,
I'd have cherished every minute of it and realized
that the wonderment growing inside me was to be my only chance
in life to assist God in a miracle.
I would have never insisted the car windows be rolled up on a
summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.
I would have invited friends over to dinner
even if the carpet was stained and the sofa faded.
I would have eaten popcorn in the "good" living room and
worried less about the dirt when you lit the fireplace.
I would have taken the time to listen
to my grandfather ramble about his youth.
I would have burnt the pink candle,
sculptured like a rose,
before it melted while being stored.
I would have sat cross-legged on the lawn with my childred
and never worried about grass stains.
I would have shared more of the responsibility,
carried by my husband,
which I took for granted.
I would have eaten less cottage cheese
and more ice cream.
I would never have bought anything
just because it was practical.
When my child kissed my impetuously,
I would never have said, "Later.
Now, go get washed up for dinner".
There would have been more I love yous...
more I'm sorrys...
more I'm listening...
but mostly, given another shot at life,
I would seize every minute of it...
look at it and really see it...
try it on...
live it...
exhaust it...
and never give that minute back
until there was nothing left of it...
Written by
Erma Bombeck
Back to My Poems Page
if I had my life to live over would I change anything.
My answer was no, but then I thought
about it and changed my mind.
If I had my life to live over again,
I would have waxed less and listened more.
Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy and
complaining about the shadows over my feet,
I'd have cherished every minute of it and realized
that the wonderment growing inside me was to be my only chance
in life to assist God in a miracle.
I would have never insisted the car windows be rolled up on a
summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.
I would have invited friends over to dinner
even if the carpet was stained and the sofa faded.
I would have eaten popcorn in the "good" living room and
worried less about the dirt when you lit the fireplace.
I would have taken the time to listen
to my grandfather ramble about his youth.
I would have burnt the pink candle,
sculptured like a rose,
before it melted while being stored.
I would have sat cross-legged on the lawn with my childred
and never worried about grass stains.
I would have shared more of the responsibility,
carried by my husband,
which I took for granted.
I would have eaten less cottage cheese
and more ice cream.
I would never have bought anything
just because it was practical.
When my child kissed my impetuously,
I would never have said, "Later.
Now, go get washed up for dinner".
There would have been more I love yous...
more I'm sorrys...
more I'm listening...
but mostly, given another shot at life,
I would seize every minute of it...
look at it and really see it...
try it on...
live it...
exhaust it...
and never give that minute back
until there was nothing left of it...
Written by
Erma Bombeck
Back to My Poems Page