my brother-in-law opened the bottom drawer of my sisters 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 exquisite, silk, handmade and trimmed with a cobweb of lace.
　　the price tag with an astronomical 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, dont 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 sisters family lives.
　　i thought about all the things that she hadnt seen or heard or done.
　　i thought about the things that she had done without realizing that they were special.
　　
　　im still thinking about his words, and theyve changed the weeds in the garden.
　　im 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.
　　im trying to recognize these moment now and cherish them.
　　
　　im 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 wincing.
　　im not saving my good perfume for special parties; clerks in hardware stores and tellers 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 its worth seeing or hearing or doing, i want to see and hear and do it now.
　　im not sure what my sister wouldve done had she know that she wouldnt be here for the tomorrow we all take for granted.#p#分页标题#e#
　　
　　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.
　　im guessing.
　　ill never know.
　　
　　its those little things left undone 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 hadnt written certain letters that i intended to write one of these days.
　　angry and sorry that i didnt tell my husband and daughter often enough how much i truly love them.
　　
　　im trying very hard not to put off, hold back, or save anything that would add laughter and luster 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.
　　
　　中文翻译：姐夫打开姐姐桌子最下面的那层抽屉，拿出一个用纸裹着的包裹。“这不是件普通的衬裙，而是一件豪华内衣，”他说。他拆开包装，把这件衣服递给我。它做工精湛，质地为丝绸，手工制作的，上面仍然贴着标有天文数字的价签。他继续说道，“这是简在我们
　　第一次去纽约的时候买的，至少是
　　八、九年前了吧。但她从来没有穿过，她要把它留到特殊的场合穿。我觉得现在就是这个特殊的场合。”他从我手中接过衣服，把它和我们打算带到葬礼的其他衣服放在一起。然后他转向我，“不要把任何东西留到一个特殊的场合。你活着的每一天都是特殊的。”
　　我记住了这句话，而且它改变了我的生活。现在我会读更多的书，而很少打扫卫生；我会坐在甲板上欣赏风景，而不会再为花园中的杂草烦恼；我花更多的时间与家人和朋友在一起，而把很少的时间用在开会上。无论什么时候，只要可能的话，生活都应该是尽情享受，而不是无奈的忍受。如果我喜欢的话，我就会穿着我的运动夹克去市场。我不会把我的名贵香水留在特殊的聚会再用，五金商店的店员，银行的职员会和出席晚会的朋友一样有着灵敏的嗅觉？“特殊的日子”，“那些特别的日子”这些词语正从我的常用词汇里淡出。只要是值得看，值得听，值得做的事情，我现在就想去看，想去听，想去完成。如果我知道我所剩的时日不多的话，那么我会为那些没有做的小事而生气。我会因为推迟去看一个我想？“特殊的日子”里联系得朋友而生气。我会因为没能写那些想在“特别的日子”里写的信而生气。我会因为没有经常告诉我的丈夫和我的女儿我多么地爱他们而感到生气和懊悔。我努力地不推迟该做的事情，努力地留住任何可以给我们的生活带来欢乐和光彩的瞬间。每天当我睁开眼睛的时候，我告诉我自己今日就是特别的一天。每天，每一秒，每一次呼吸都是特别的礼物