To live each day . . .

If you only had one day left to live . . . how would you spend it? I was thinking about that the other day . . . what would I be doing if this was the last day of my life and I knew that it was??? Twenty four hours, one thousand five hundred and sixty minutes . . .

Would you make every minute count?? Every second?? I like to think that I would. Each second would become very precious indeed.



I'd want to drink in all the good things in my life . . . the things I take for granted . . . like birdsong in the back garden and flowers blooming. I'd close my eyes and smell the air . . . really smell the air.

I'd taste the dew that falls on the grass every morning. I'd hug my Todd and breathe him in and really feel his arms around me, instead of just taking for granted that they were there.

I'd speak to each one of my children and all the people that I truly treasure in this life of mine, and I'd tell them that I love them . . . no matter what, and always will.



I doubt I'd turn the television on at all. I wouldn't want to waste a second of my precious day watching someone else live their lives . . . I'd be far too busy living my own.

I'd put on my favourite music and spend a few minutes in quiet thought . . . eyes closed, drinking in each note. I'd dance . . . with Todd, or alone . . . just dance . . . across the garden grass in my bare feet, so that I could feel each blade against my skin, smell the lovely green smell of the grass being crushed beneath my toes and feel the air brushing against my cheeks.



I'd lay on the lawn and look up at the clouds for a few minutes . . . watching them move, ever so slowly. Every hum of every bee, every butterfly's kiss . . . would count.

I'd memorize each moment of the sun's descent across the expanse of sky and wallow in the twilight, thinking of firefly lights and warm summer nights . . . the night-time chorus of the birds echoing through the tree tops.



I'd watch the stars come out and count them, and thank God for all my blessings.

What makes that day, my last day . . . any different than today? I should do all of those things today! I should live each day as my last . . . squeezing every moment out of every day, the good and the bad . . . and be glad for it. Say all the things that need to be said, when they need to be said, and not put off for tomorrow . . . anything.

Live life as it is meant to be lived . . . with gusto and appreciation.

That's what I am going to do today. How about you??

When I was growing up it was a real treat if my mom made us a Date and Nut Loaf. It was always moist and delicious. We'd have it sliced thin and spread with soft butter. Oh my, but it was delicious . . . so simple to make and yet . . . so very, very tasty.



*Date and Nut Loaf*
Makes 1 loaf
Printable Recipe

Moist and sweetly studded with sticky rich dates and crunchy, meaty walnuts. This tasty loaf is a real keeper. If anything, it gets even better upon standing.

1 cup chopped dates
1/2 cup white sugar
4 TBS butter
3/4 cup boiling water
1 egg, well beaten
1 tsp baking soda
1 3/4 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup chopped toasted walnuts

Preheat the oven to 180*C/350*F. Butter a nonstick loaf pan and line with parchment paper. Butter again. Set aside.

Put the dates, butter and sugar into a bowl. Pour the boiling water over top. Stir to melt the butter and than let sit until it cools to room temperature. Stir in the egg, baking soda, salt, flour and chopped nuts, blending all together well. Spoon into the prepared loaf pan.

Bake for 50 minutes in the heated oven, until the top springs back when lightly touched and a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean. Remove from the oven and let stand in the pan for 5 minutes before removing from the pan to finish cooling on a wire rack. If you can resist it, try to leave it overnight before slicing. Store in an airtight container.



Over on The English Kitchen this morning, delicious Cod Fish Cakes, and some yummy Tartar Sauce. Oh my, but they are good.