Farewell letter from Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Gabriel Garcia Marquez, the Columbian writer and author of Love in the Time of Cholera and One Hundred Years of Solitude, has retired from public life for reasons of health.

He has "terminal" cancer. This is Marquez' farewell letter to his friends.

I remember reading his colorful magical novels during my commutes from Washington, D.C. to Maryland. In 1982, Marquez caused quite a stir -- and inspired the writer within me -- when he won the Nobel Prize winner for literature.

Here is his farewell letter:

If God, for a second, forgot what I have become and grantedme a little bit more of life, I would use it to the best of myability.

I wouldn't, possibly, say everything that is in my mind, but I wouldbe more thoughtful of all I say. I would give merit to things not forwhat they are worth, but for what they mean to express.

I would sleep little, I would dream more, because I know that forevery minute that we close our eyes, we waste 60 seconds of light.

I would walk while others stop; I would awake while others sleep.

If God would give me a little bit more of life, I would dress in asimple manner, I would place myself in front of the sun, leaving notonly my body, but my soul naked at its mercy.

To all men, I would say how mistaken they are when they think thatthey stop falling in love when they grow old, without knowing thatthey grow old when they stop falling in love.

I would give wings to children, but I would leave it to them to learnhow to fly by themselves.To old people I would say that death doesn't arrive when they growold, but with forgetfulness.

I have learned so much with you all, I have learned that everybodywants to live on top of the mountain, without knowing that truehappiness is obtained in the journey taken & the form used to reachthe top of the hill.

I have learned that when a newborn baby holds, with its little hand,his father's finger, it has trapped him for the rest of his life.

I have learned that a man has the right and obligation to look down at another man, only when that man needs help to get up from theground.

Say always what you feel, not what you think. If I knew that today isthe last time that that I am going to see you asleep, I would hug youwith all my strength and I would pray to the Lord to let me be theguardian angel of your soul.

If I knew that these are the last moments to see you, I would say 'Ilove you'. There is always tomorrow, and life gives us anotheropportunity to do things right, but in case I am wrong, and today isall that is left to me, I would love to tell you how much I love you& that I will never forget you.

Tomorrow is never guaranteed to anyone, young or old. Today could bethe last time to see your loved ones, which is why you mustn't wait;do it today, in case tomorrow never arrives. I am sure you will besorry you wasted the opportunity today to give a smile, a hug, akiss, and that you were too busy to grant them their last wish.

Keep your loved ones near you; tell them in their ears and to theirfaces how much you need them and love them. Love them and treat themwell; take your time to tell them 'I am sorry';' forgive me','please' 'thank you', and all those loving words you know.

Nobody will know you for your secret thought. Ask the Lord for wisdomand strength to express them. Show your friends and loved ones howimportant they are to you.

Send this letter to those you love. If you don't do ittoday...tomorrow will be like yesterday, and if you never do it, itdoesn't matter either, the moment to do it is now.

For you,

With much love,

Your Friend,

Gabriel Garcia Marquez