In the midst of going through my mom Deborahās old papers, I found a typed-out poem of sorts attributed to an anonymous ā85 year old womanā. I appreciated the sentiment, and I wondered what it meant to my momāwho unfortunately never got to live to the ripe old age of 85.
I was about to post it here without further comment, but then I realized Aha! I have the Internet! I can search for a phrase from the poem and perhaps learn more about it!
And thatās when I discoveredā¦this wasnāt written by an 85 year old woman at all. š±
At first it seemed to be attributed to one āNadine Stairā so I thought maybe she was the 85 year old woman. But then I found this Wikipedia page about the poem, titled Moments, which explains that it was originally published under the title Iād Pick More Daises and written by Don Herold, who was a humorist and cartoonist whoā¦also didnāt live to 85 but died at the age of 76. And there was never any Nadine Stairāthat name was invented so the poem could be republished in a slightly modified form for a female audience.
Thereās also a version in Spanish wrongly attributed to Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges.
I think maybe I now regret looking this up on the Internet. š
At any rate, here is the version as I received it. I hope you enjoy this poem not written by an 85 year old woman! #obscureartists #quote
āIf I had to live my life over, Iād dare to make more mistakes next time. Iād 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 take more trips. I would climb more mountains, swim more rivers. I would eat more ice cream and less beans. I would perhaps have more actual troubles but Iād have fewer imaginary ones.
āYou see, Iām one of those people who live seriously and sanely hour by hour, day after day. Oh, Iāve had my moments, and if I had it to do over again, Iād have more of them. In fact, Iād try to have nothing else, just moments, one after another, instead of living so many years ahead of each day. Iāve been one of these persons who never goes anywhere without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a raincoat, and a parachute. If I had it to do again, I would travel lighter than I have.
āIf I had to live my life over, I would start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way in the Fall. I would go to more dances. I would ride more merry-go-rounds. I would pick more daises.ā
I watched a video about the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die and someone built a web app to help you listen to them all with a daily recommendation. I think Iāll give it a shot as part of my #TodaysAlbum project.