April 2005                                                         The Megaphone                                                       Page 9

If I Had My Life To Live Over

written by Erma Bombeck

(after she found out she was dying from cancer)

If I had my life to live over...I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.

I would have talked less and listened more.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.

I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.

I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a beautiful summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

I would have sat on the lawn with my grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life.

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished Every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later. Now go get washed up for dinner." There would have been more "I love you's." More "I'm sorry's." But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute...look at it and really see it .. live it...and never give it back.

Stop sweating the small stuff.

Don't worry about who doesn't like you, who has more, or who's doing what.

Instead, let's cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us.

Let's think about what God has blessed us with. And what we are doing each day to promote ourselves mentally, physically, emotionally.
              

Submitted by . . .
Bob Kochman '57      

Indiana

1. Tomato juice was first served at a French Lick, IN, hotel in 1925.
2. The world's largest orchid species collection is found at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana.
3. The first regulated speed limit on Indiana roads was initiated in 1921 . . . 20 - 25 mph!!
4. An average of 400 funnel clouds are sighted each year in Indiana.
5. The city of Gary, Indiana was built on fill brought from the bottom of  Lake Michigan through suction pipes.
6. There are only two Adams fireplaces in the United States. One is in the White House and the other in the Diner Home in Indiana.
7. Josie Orr, wife of former Indiana Governor Robert Orr, flew bombers and cargo planes during World War II.
8. The Indianapolis Methodist Hospital is the largest Hospital in the Midwest.
9. One of the first complete bathrooms in Indianapolis was in the home of Hoosier poet, James Whitcomb Riley.
10. The career of Dorothy Lamour (famous for the Crosby-Hope Road Movies) was launched in Indianapolis.
11. Aviatrix Amelia Earhart was once a Professor at Purdue University.
12. Crown Hill Cemetery (Indianapolis) is the largest cemetery in the U.S.
13. The library in Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana houses one of the largest genealogy libraries in America.
14. Wabash, Indiana was the first electrically lighted city in the U..S.
15. Pendleton, Indiana was the site of the first hanging of a white man for killing Indians.
16. The Courthouse roof in Greensburg, Indiana has a tree growing from it.
17. The world's first transistor radio was made in Indianapolis.
18. Clark Gable and wife Carole Lombard (a Hoosier) honeymooned at Lake Barbee near Warsaw, Indiana.
19. The American Beauty Rose was developed at Richmond, Indiana.
20. Elkhart, Indiana is the band instrument capitol of the World.
21. Frank Sinatra first sang with the Tommy Dorsey band at the Lyric Theater in Indianapolis.
22. Purdue Alumnus, Earl Butz, served as the Secretary of Agriculture.
23. U.S. 231 is the longest highway in Indiana (231 miles).
24. Johnny Appleseed is buried at Fort Wayne, Indiana.
25. The singing McGuire Sisters spent their childhood summers at the Church of God Campground in Anderson, Indiana.
26. The main station of the Underground Railroad was in Fountain County, Indiana.
27. There are 154 acres of sculpture gardens and trails at the Indianapolis Museum of Art.
28. La Porte County is the only county in America having 2 functioning courthouses.
29. Nancy Hanks Lincoln is buried in Posey County, Indiana.
30. The Lincoln Museum in Fort Wayne, Allen County, contains the world's largest private collection of President Abraham Lincoln mementos (Lincoln National Life Insurance Company).
31. Pendleton, Indiana was the site of the "Fall Creek Massacre." A museum housing 3500 artifacts of pioneer heritage now exists on that site.
32. St. Meinrad Archabbey is located in Spencer County and is one of only 2 Archabbeys in the U.S. and seven in the world. (Abbey Press is an operation of the Archabbey.)
33. A Buzz Bomb (German - WWII), believed to be the only one on public display in the Nation, can be found on the Putnam County Courthouse lawn in Greencastle.
34. Roberta Turpin Willett was born in Indiana.
35. Red Skelton was born in Indiana. Mae West was from Bedford, Indiana.
36. Forrest Tucker was from Pendleton, Indiana.
37. You can't ship wine to Indiana. (??? So how does it get here???)
38. Bob Greise is from Indiana (Old Purdue Boy)
39. Toni Tenille (of The Captain and Tenille) is from Indiana.
40. Oprah Winfrey built her residence in Indiana.
41. John Mellencamp is a Hoosier and resides in Bloomington.
42. The much sought after Hoosier Cabinets are an Indiana product.
43. 90% of the world's popcorn is grown in Indiana.
44. The Jackson Five are from Indiana as well as "Super Fan" Russ McLeod.
45. Florence Henderson is from Indiana.
46. The birthplace of the Automobile, Pneumatic Rubber Tire, The Aluminum Casting Process, Stainless Steel and the first push-button car radio was in Kokomo, Indiana.
47. Ma Kettle was born in Indiana.
48. The Gaither Trio is from Alexandria, Indiana, and they have "The Gaither Family Resources" on St. Rd. 9 in Alexandria, Indiana.
49. James Dean was born in Faimount, Indiana
50. Sandy Patty was born in Anderson, Indiana

  And you thought there was only field corn in Indiana!

Submitted by . . .

Jerry McClish '56

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