My brother-in-law opened the bottom drawer of my sister's 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 exquisite1, silk, handmade and trimmed with a cobweb of lace. The price tag with an astronomical2 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, 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 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 sister's family lives. I thought about all the things that she hadn't seen or heard or done. I thought about the things that she had done without realizing that they were special.
I'm still thinking about his words, and they've changed the weeds 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 savour, not endure. I'm trying to recognize these 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 look prosperous, I can shell out $28. 49 for one small bag of groceries without wincing3. I'm not saving my good perfume for special parties; clerks in hardware stores and tellers4 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 it's worth seeing or hearing or doing, I want to see and hear and do it now. I'm not sure what my sister would've done had she know that she wouldn't 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. I'm guessing. I'll never know.
It's those little things left undone5 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 hadn't written certain letters that I intended to write one of these days. Angry and sorry that I didn't tell my husband and daughter often enough how much I truly love them.
I'm trying very hard not to put off, hold back, or save anything that would add laughter and luster6 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。
这是大家首次去纽约时简买的，至少已是8、九年前的事了。她从没穿过它。她想等一个特殊的日子再穿它。
唉，我想目前便是那特殊的日子了。
妹夫从我手中拿过内衣放在床上，和其他大家要带给殡仪服务职员的衣服放在一块。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重要的日子。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、侄女处置妹妹意料之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，但却没意识到其特殊性的事。
我到今天还在想着妹夫说的话，正是它们改变了我的心理。我花了更多的时间与家人朋友在一块，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。我在学习赏析每一刻，并珍惜每一刻。
我不再去珍藏任何东西；只须有一点好事，大家就不吝啬用精美的瓷器和水晶制品，譬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假如我想穿，我就穿上我名牌衣服去市场购物。我的理论是：假如我看起来还富足的话，我可以毫不心疼地为一小袋杂货付出28.49USD。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1日和终有一天如此的词正从我的常用词语中淡出。假如值得去看、去听或去做，我当即就要去看、去听或去做。大家一直理所当然的以为自己势必有明天，不知倘若妹妹了解她将没明日，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。我想她或许会外出吃顿她喜欢的中式快餐。我只不过猜想而已。我永远也不会了解。
倘若我了解我的时间不多了，那些没来得及做的小事会让我恼火。恼火是由于我一拖再拖没能去看看有朝1日会去看的好友们。恼火是由于我还没写出我终有一天要写的信。恼火与内疚是由于我没能更常常地告诉我的老公和女儿：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大家生活带来欢笑和光彩的东西。天天清晨当我睁开眼睛，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。
