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  • From: Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com>
  • To: "homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org" <homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: [Homestead] Living life
  • Date: Sat, 27 Aug 2005 09:23:21 -0700

I am excitingly close to retirement; will be going home to Heartwood on September 9th to get it back to the condition where I left it four years ago, get the shop building started, then back here to Phoenix for the worst part of the winter, then Chris will go with me back to Heartwood in time for the redbud-and-dogwood extravaganza. Then presumably starts the happily-ever-after part, subject to revisions by Momma Nature and other strong forces, but most strongly directed by the homestead philosophy.

So I've lately been feeling both excited and contemplative. Happened across this oldie but goodie* again, which now I will take the time to share with those who have not read it before and with those who have read it but perhaps would profit by a rereading:

"If I had my life to live over again, I'd dare to make more mistakes next time. I'd relax. I'd limber up. I'd be sillier than I've been this trip. I would take fewer things seriously. I would take more chances, I would take more trips, I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers. I would eat more ice cream and less beans. I would, perhaps, have more actual troubles but fewer imaginary ones. You see, I'm one of those people who was sensible and sane, hour after hour, day after day.
Oh, I've had my moments. If I had it to do over again, I'd have more of them. In fact, I'd try to have nothing else--just moments, one after another, instead of living so many years ahead of each day. I've been one of those persons who never goes anywhere without a thermometer, a hot-water bottle, a raincoat, and a parachute. If I could do it again, I would travel lighter than I have.
If I had my life to live over, I would start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall. I would go to more dances, I would ride more merry-go-rounds, I would pick more daisies."
--Nadine Stair

* http://www.benjaminrossen.com/DAISIES/html/daisies_06.htm





  • [Homestead] Living life, Gene GeRue, 08/27/2005

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