Erma Bombeck was buried at the Woodland Cemetery under a 29,000 pound unmarked boulder from the Arizona desert.

Erma Bombeck was an American writer and humorist who wrote more than 4,000 newspaper columns and had a following of more than 30 million readers in the United States and Canada. She also published over a dozen books many of which became best sellers. Erma died in 1996 at the age of 69 after a battle with cancer and kidney disease. She was buried in her family's plot in the Woodland Cemetery in Dayton, Ohio under a 29,000 pound rock that her husband Bob had transported by flatbed truck from the Phoenix desert near where the couple had lived. Bill Bombeck, said he wanted a "piece of Phoenix" at Erma's grave to commemorate the 25 years the couple had spent together in Arizona.

Among, her many writings was this column that still continues to make its way around the internet.

"Someone asked me the other day if I had my life to live over would I change anything. My answer was no, but the I thought about it and changed my mind.

If I had my life to live over again I would have waxed less and listened more.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy and complaining about the shadow over my feet, I'd have cherished every minute of it and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was to be my only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

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

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 less about the dirt when you lit the fireplace.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.

I would have burned the pink candle that was sculptured like a rose before it melted while being stored.

I would have sat cross-legged on the lawn with my children and never worried about grass stains.

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

I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband which I took for granted.

I would have eaten less cottage cheese and more ice cream.

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

When my child kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later. Now go get washed up for dinner."

There would have been more I love yous, more I'm sorrys, more I'm listenings, but mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute of it, look at it and really see it, try it on, live it, exhaust it, and never give a minute back until there was nothing left of it."

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Erma Museum