If I Had My Life To Live Over

If I had my life to live over
I'd like to make more mistakes next time.
I'd relax. I would limber up. I would be sillier
than I have been this trip. I would take fewer
things seriously. I would take more chances. 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
I'd have fewer imaginary ones.

You see, I'm one of those people who live sensibly
and sanely hour after hour, day after day. Oh,
I've had my moments, and 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 themometer, a
hot water bottle, a raincoat and a parachute.
If I had to do it again, I would travel lighter
than I have.

If I had 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, 85 years old, Louisville, Kentucky.