lawopenedthebottomdrawerofmysistersbureauandliftedoutatissue-wrappedpackage.this,hesaid,isnotaslip.thisislingerie.hediscardedthetissueandhandedmetheslip.

　　itwasexquisite,silk,handmadeandtrimmedwithacobweboflace.thepricetagwithanastronomicalfigureonitwasstillattached.

　　janboughtthisthefirsttimewewenttonewyork,atleast8or9yearsago.sheneverworeit.shewassavingitforaspecialoccasion.

　　well,iguessthisistheoccasion.

　　hetooktheslipfrommeandputitonthebed,withtheotherclothesweweretakingtothemortician.hishandslingeredonthesoftmaterialforamoment,thenheslammedthedrawershutandturnedtome,donteversaveanythingforaspecialoccasion.everydayyourealiveisaspecialoccasion.

　　irememberedthosewordsthroughthefuneralandthedaysthatfollowedwhenihelpedhimandmynieceattendtoallthesadchoresthatfollowanunexpecteddeath.ithoughtaboutthemontheplanereturningtocaliforniafromthemidwesterntownwheremysistersfamilylives.ithoughtaboutallthethingsthatshehadntseenorheardordone.ithoughtaboutthethingsthatshehaddonewithoutrealizingthattheywerespecial.

　　imstillthinkingabouthiswords,andtheyvechangedtheweedsinthegarden.imspendingmoretimewithmyfamilyandfriendsandlesstimeincommitteemeetings.wheneverpossible,lifeshouldbeapatternofexperiencetosavour,notendure.imtryingtorecognizethesemomentnowandcherishthem.

　　imnotsavinganything;weuseourgoodchinaandcrystalforeveryspecial.eventsuchaslosingapound,gettingthesinkunstopped,thefirstcamelliablossom…iwearmygoodblazertothemarketififeellikeit.mytheoryisifilookprosperous,icanshellout$28.49foronesmallbagofgrocerieswithoutwincing.imnotsavingmygoodperfumeforspecialparties;clerksinhardwarestoresandtellersinbankshavenosesthatfunctionaswellasmypartygoingfriends.

　　somedayandoneofthesedaysarelosingtheirgriponmyvocabulary.ifitsworthseeingorhearingordoing,iwanttoseeandhearanddoitnow.imnotsurewhatmysisterwouldvedonehadsheknowthatshewouldntbehereforthetomorrowwealltakeforgranted.

　　ithinkshewouldhavecalledfamilymembersandafewclosefriends.shemighthavecalledafewformerfriendstoapologize,andmendfencesforpastsquabbles.iliketothinkshewouldhavegoneoutforachinesedinner,herfavoritefood.imguessing.illneverknow.

　　itsthoselittlethingsleftundonethatwouldmakemeangryifiknewthatmyhourswerelimited.angrybecauseiputoffseeinggoodfriendswhomiwasgoingtogetintouchwithsomeday.angrybecauseihadntwrittencertainlettersthatiintendedtowriteoneofthesedays.angryandsorrythatididnttellmyhusbandanddaughteroftenenoughhowmuchitrulylovethem.

　　imtryingveryhardnottoputoff,holdback,orsaveanythingthatwouldaddlaughterandlustertoourlives.andeverymorningwheniopenmyeyes,itellmyselfthateveryday,everyminute,everybreathtruly,is...agiftfromgod.

　　ThankyouforgivingmethisopportunitytoimprovemyoralEnglish.Thankyou