If I approach the Pearly Gates before you, my love:
Go ahead and throw out the empty milk carton you left on the counter after rinsing.
Set an extra unwrapped soap nearby the shower.
Snorkel more often, but refrain from deep diving, it will bother your ears for days.
Weld something… anything.
While on the yard swing, enjoy your morning cup of coffee and from it also appreciate the evening stars and moon.
Join a motorcycle group and ride more than chat.
Flip through my worn cookbook and bake a casserole. Freeze some for another day.
Be diligently aware of your wallet location.
Spend a few minutes to figure out the tv remote. Put on your glasses or memorize the buttons ahead of time.
Keep up with the Grandpa jokes but seek fresh fodder.
Enjoy more oatmeal and fewer M&M’s.
Learn to fish from the locals, get a boat, and launch it often.
Give yourself permission to take the entire paper towel or tissue, no need to save half for later.
Read the directions first.
Yes, keep talking to the backyard fruit trees, birds, and geckos.
Don’t encourage your grandchildren with dangerous activities. Adopt the mantra, “No one gets hurt on Pop Pops watch!”
Use a touch of sunscreen on your ears.
Take full advantage of your rearview mirror and slow your roll, even a little bit.
Build a furniture piece and place it in the living room. Build another and give it away.
When given the opportunity, teach your craft to the young.
When on your sunset beach stroll, walk your toes directly to the water and let the coolness refresh you without hesitation.
Refrigerator rule: First in, first out.
Bill paying rule: First in, first out.
Watch a chick-flick from time to time. Stay sensitive.
Give yourself permission to throw out the stack of business cards you already added to your contact list.
Duct tape and painter’s tape does not heal all wounds. Get stitches, if needed.
Iced hard lemonade with a squeeze of fresh lemon or lime settles nicely on a hot afternoon.
File your taxes before the deadline.
Limit your coffee microwave warmups to three times- deem the coffee not worthy on the fourth warming.
Hold a new hand in the same way you always held mine.
And if you approach the Pearly Gates before me, my love, I will:
Leave the captured bugs under the jar until they die of natural causes, then vac them up.
Rent a glass bottom boat and discover the ocean life beneath the water’s surface.
Wash and reuse plastic silverware.
Follow the Attendant’s signal to guide my tires into the car wash tracks properly, then shift the car into Neutral instead of Park.
Order a lunch from the dollar menu.
Fill the gas tank when it reads below half full.
Take the trash to the street before I hear the garbage truck approaching.
Check the Craigslist website just to see what people are posting. Stay curious.
Ask for help and return the favor.
If the hinges squeak, spray a little oil from the bottle on the top shelf.
Adopt Grandpa jokes and remember the punchlines.
Continue searching the sand for sea glass treasures and remember to look up and enjoy the moment the sun sets.
Bake banana bread and pass it over the fence to the neighbors.
Watch an action movie from time to time. Enjoy buttered popcorn.
Prep the area properly before prying open the paint can.
Raise a garden in the planter box you made for me. Name each plant.
DVR it and fast forward through commercials.
Watch for the car dash pre-set CHANGE OIL warning, schedule the oil change… keep the scheduled appointment… then reset the miles.
Buy a Party Pail of ice cream, then have friends over to share.
Screw the lid on tighter.
Write every day and dream great dreams.
