When the creative genius, Nora Ephron, died in 2012, she left a legacy that reflected a vast accomplished career. Ephron was responsible for such wonderful films as Heartburn, When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle, You’ve Got Mail, and Julie & Julia.

After her death, I came across an excerpt from her last book, I Remember Nothing: and Other Reflections. In it she made a list of what she would and would not miss and it’s the “What I Will Miss” list that inspired a blog post a few years back. Today I decided it was time to revisit it.

It’s a great reminder of how the little things turn out to be pretty big.

Here’s her list:

WHAT I WILL MISS

My kids

Nick

Spring

Fall

Waffles

The concept of waffles

Bacon

A walk in the park

The idea of a walk in the park

The park

Shakespeare in the Park

The bed

Reading in bed

Fireworks

Laughs

The view out the window

Twinkle lights

Butter

Dinner at home just the two of us

Dinner with friends

Dinner with friends in cities where none of us lives

Paris

Next year in Istanbul

Pride and Prejudice

The Christmas tree

Thanksgiving dinner

One For the Table

The dogwood

Taking a bath

Coming over the bridge to Manhattan

Pie

As I read through Ephron’s list, I thought about the little things I’d miss if I knew I was going to die and it turns out it’s the things that are so easy to take for granted. Things like…

Enjoying a good cup of tea while watching a bird’s nest under construction.

The way Poupon covers his eyes with his paws when he naps.

The feel of Michael’s hand in mine when we’re standing on a street corner waiting for the lights to turn.

Trees billowing in the backyard like soft sheets on a clothesline.

My mother pretending to be her cats and leaving me a rendition of a meowing Happy Birthday on my voicemail.

The smell of wild honeysuckle in late April.

The feel of wet sand under my feet.

Orange sherbet sunrises.

Silent mornings after a snowstorm.

Summer dinners on the back deck with close friends.

I wonder what you’d miss? And I wonder something else:

I wonder why we give so much attention to things that are not on the list.

Just something to think about today…  

Video of the Week

Watch this video of a 100 year-old woman who will remind you of what’s important in life – humor being first on the list!   You can watch it, here.