November was CANCER month:

Is there any family who is not affected by this terrible disease? A number of prominent people have made it possible to talk about it publicly, – the facts, the treatments, the pain and the loss. I lost a 17-year old sister to a fast growing sarcoma, my father to lung cancer, a cousin to pancreatic cancer, another relative to stomach/colon cancer and my youngest sister is a survivor of breast cancer.

I met Erma Bombeck years ago when we were both on the speakers list at a Health Convention in Texas. I loved her books and her talent to turn the most ordinary happenings of her family life into stories full of humour the world loved. I enjoyed her lecture and laughed heartily, had lunch with her and was amazed that she was actually a serious person. She was just a woman like any other. When I heard of her struggle with cancer I couldn’t wrap my head around it. Erma, – this outwardly happy person who made everybody laugh at her children’s antics, has cancer? No way! And when she died I was grieving for her, her family and all her untold stories.

A friend sent me the following, – and I must say Erma’s message has deep meaning for all of us. Look it over, think about it and how it might apply to your own or a loved one’s life. If you are directly or indirectly affected by the big CA pass it on to your friends.

IN honor of women’s history month and in memory of Erma Bombeck who lost her fight with cancer.

Pass this on to five women that you want watched over. If you don’t know five women to pass this on to, one will do just fine.

IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER – by Erma Bombeck
(written after she found out she was dying from cancer).

• 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.
• I would have sat on the lawn with my grass stains.
• I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life.
• I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn’t show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.
• Instead of wiling away nine months of pregnancy, I’d have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in 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’s, more ‘I’m sorry’s.’
• 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.. STOP SWEATING THE SMALL STUFF!
• Don’t worry about who doesn’t like you, who has more, or who’s doing what
  Instead, let’s cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us… 

If you don’t mind, send this on to all the women you are grateful to have as friends.
Maybe we should all grab that purple hat earlier.
Please send this to five phenomenal women today in celebration of Beautiful Women’s Month.
If you do, something good will happen–you will boost another woman’s self esteem. 
2 KEEP IT LIT! 
IN MEMORY … . … . ….
These are the colours that represent the different cancers.
All you are asked to do is keep this circulating, even if it’s to one more person, in memory of anyone you know who has been struck by cancer.
A Candle Loses Nothing by Lighting Another Candle.