IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER

by Erma Bombeck

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would

go into a holding pattern if I weren’t there for the day.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.

I would have talked less and listened more.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or 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 have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day

because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

如果生命可以重来，

我会在自己生病时卧床休息，而不是假装整个地球将因我今日不在而停止旋转。

我会在那个玫瑰形状的粉红蜡烛在地下室里融化之前将它点燃。

我会少说多听。

我会请朋友到家里吃饭，虽然我的地毯满是污渍，沙发已经褪色。

我会在干净的客厅里吃爆米花，而不是担心当有人想点燃壁炉时会看到壁炉里未打扫的灰烬。

我会抽出时间听爷爷絮絮叨叨讲他年轻时的往事。

我会替丈夫分忧解难。

我永远不会在炎热的夏天因为自己的头发刚刚梳理和喷好发胶而坚持别人把车窗摇起。