Who is Erma Bombeck, Columnist

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic by 24 people | Log in to rate

Ranked #1,138 in People, #23,770 overall

Erma Understood Us!

Erma Bombeck was a delightfully funny writer, who identified with all of us who were trying to raise our families in the late 60's and early 70's. We were the wives and moms trying to figure out exactly what women's liberation meant. Liberated from what? Hadn't we always done as we were told and taken good care of our husbands and children? What was all this new talk about?

We clipped her columns, posted them to the front of the refrigerator, shared them with our friends and laughed -- and then laughed some more! In fact, I think one of Erma's best gifts was teaching us to laugh at ourselves, at our daily "crises".

Erma Bombeck Books 

Click to see more or to purchase.

Erma's books are a great gift for every woman on your list -- mother, daughter, aunt, cousin, sister, friend -- we all need a dose of Erma's wisdom and humor!

Forever, Erma: Best-Loved Writing From America's Favorite Humorist

Amazon Price: $11.55 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

If Life Is a Bowl of Cherries, What Am I Doing in the Pits?

Amazon Price: $6.99 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

Aunt Erma's Cope Book

Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

Family - The Ties that Bind...And Gag!

Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

Three reasons to love Erma Bombeck 

Three reasons I loved Erma Bombeck:
1. She was painfully honest.
2. She was hilariously funny.
3. Even as she faced cancer, she shared her journey with us all, writing her wisdom, her humor and her pain.

Erma Bombeck at a Glance 

Erma Louise Bombeck (born Erma Fiste; February 21, 1927 ? April 22, 1996) was an American humorist who achieved great popularity for her newspaper column that described suburban home life humorously from the mid-1960s until the late 1990s. Bombeck also published 15 books, most of which became best-sellers.

From 1965 to 1996, Erma Bombeck wrote over 4,000 newspaper columns chronicling the ordinary life of a midwestern suburban housewife with broad, and sometimes eloquent, humor. By the 1970s, her witty columns were read, twice weekly, by thirty million readers of 900 newspapers of the U.S. and...

A few Erma quotes -- She knew how to say it! 

from http://brainyquote.com

For years my wedding ring has done its job. It has led me not into temptation. It has reminded my husband numerous times at parties that it's time to go home. It has been a source of relief to a dinner companion. It has been a status symbol in the maternity ward.
Erma Bombeck

Getting out of the hospital is a lot like resigning from a book club. You're not out of it until the computer says you're out of it.
Erma Bombeck

God created man, but I could do better.
Erma Bombeck

Guilt: the gift that keeps on giving.
Erma Bombeck

House guests should be regarded as perishables: Leave them out too long and they go bad.
Erma Bombeck

Housework, if you do it right, will kill you.
Erma Bombeck

How come anything you buy will go on sale next week?
Erma Bombeck

I come from a family where gravy is considered a beverage.
Erma Bombeck

Quick, what do you think of Erma Bombeck? 

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Erma Bombeck legacy 

Good lesson for all of us!

(Written 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 taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.
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 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 not those who HATE on us

If I Had My Life to Live Over 

My Own Personal Version - What Would Your Version Say?

If I had my life to live over, I would

Laugh more, worry less
Be more active in my community
Teach School
Have stayed my ideal weight -
Entertain at least once a month
Visit every state in the USA
Exercise in fun ways - like dancing more often!
Learn to play bridge, ride a horse, water ski, snow ski, play the piano or guitar, build web pages.



I reserve the right to continue to change this list!

Links to Erma Bombeck 

Erma Bombeck Quotes
80 quotes and quotations by Erma Bombeck
Erma Museum
This online museum celebrates Erma Bombeck's life.
Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
The official Web site of the Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop -- the spot for humor and human interest writers -- sponsored by the University of Dayton

Erma Bombeck Videos 

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Garrison Keillor: Talking abou...

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Good Morning America's Erma Bo...

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Creative Quotations from Erma ...

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IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER-

Runtime: 4:05 | 4670 views | Comments

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Susie O- The Erma Bombeck of A...

Runtime: 9:42 | 362 views | Comments

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Attendee stand-up at the Erma ...

Runtime: 9:38 | 979 views | Comments

automatically generated by YouTube"

Vote for your favorite Erma Bombeck stuff 

If Life Is a Bowl of Cherries, What Am I Doing in the Pits? by Erma Bombeck

If Life Is a Bowl of Cherries, What Am I Doing in the Pits? by Erma Bombeck

"See if you can read a paragraph without laug more...1 point

The Family That Plays Together (Gets on Each Others Nerves)

The Family That Plays Together (Gets on Each Others Nerves)

No one, but no one, has written about domestic lif more...0 points

Forever, Erma: Best-Loved Writing From Americas Favorite Humorist by Erma Bombeck

Forever, Erma: Best-Loved Writing From Americas Favorite Humorist by Erma Bombeck

Erma Bombeck occupied a seat of honor in the homes more...0 points

Eat Less Cottage Cheese And More Ice Cream Thoughts On Life From Erma Bombeck by Erma Bombeck

Eat Less Cottage Cheese And More Ice Cream Thoughts On Life From Erma Bombeck by Erma Bombeck

<p>In 1979, someone asked humorist Erma Bomb more...0 points

Aunt Erma's Cope Book by Erma Bombeck

Aunt Erma's Cope Book by Erma Bombeck

"Her audience is everyone who has ever marrie more...0 points

What is your favorite Erma Quote? 

Did Erma make you laugh?

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  • Reply
    SoyCandleLover-Maker SoyCandleLover-Maker Nov 13, 2009 @ 2:27 pm
    "God created man, but I could do better." has to be my all time favorite, but so many are forever etched into my brain. I grew up with my mother laughing every morning to Erma's column. I did the same right to her last publish, and miss that. Fantastic job! 5 stars and fav. Thanks for the further insights to a great writer.
  • Reply
    Spook Spook Jul 5, 2009 @ 2:53 am
    I never even lived in America but always thought everyone knew her. She was so funny and if you look a bit deeper she was spot on on almost everything she said. Just dropped by to thank you for all your help with making giant Joan. Thanks a million.
  • Reply
    CCGAL CCGAL Jun 27, 2009 @ 5:57 pm
    I loved Erma Bombeck. Her story about making woman, with the tear on her cheek, and the discussion between the angel and god is one of my favorites. Think my favorite quotes were also titles of her books: "The Grass Is Always Greener Over The Septic Tank" and "If Life Is A Bowl Of Cherries, What Am I Doing In The Pits?". And I loved the Cauliflower Love column where her husband hides the pickled cauliflower from the kids because he knows she loves it - that one is more meaningful to me now that my kids are grown and my husband and I hide things from the adult kids so the other will get some of it. Erma was one of a kind and her writing helped me become who I am today.
  • Reply
    JenOfChicago JenOfChicago Mar 27, 2009 @ 11:44 am
    She was an original!
  • Reply
    BevsPaper BevsPaper Mar 27, 2009 @ 9:22 am
    Oh how I loved Erma! Whenever I was too stressed in my life - I would turn to her for some comic relief. One of my favorite books was "Life Is Always Greener...On the other side of the Septic Tank". Great lens!
  • Reply
    NanLT NanLT Feb 21, 2009 @ 6:23 pm
    I grew up reading Erma Bombeck's books and columns. She was and still is one of the funniest people I have ever read.
  • Reply
    JoanneOtt JoanneOtt Feb 18, 2009 @ 3:05 am
    I always found Erma to be very funny. Your lens is a great tribute to her. Very well done.
  • Reply
    Jan 30, 2009 @ 4:55 pm
    Wow Erma rocks! I had heard of her before but didn't really know what she was about - now I know! She was a wise lady that's for sure. I love her line 'housework, if you do it right, will kill you' - I have to use cunning tricks on myself to do housework, so this quote makes me feel much better!
  • Reply
    amandascloset0 amandascloset0 Jan 26, 2009 @ 6:42 pm
    Great lens! My mother used to read these when I was a kid. Years later I read them and loved them. Excellent writer for women. Great lens! 5 stars!
  • Reply
    mukunda22 mukunda22 Jan 18, 2009 @ 2:43 am
    A great tribute. I wasn't tuned into Erma much, but this helped me to remember a few tidbits!

    Thanks!!
  • Reply
    sittonbull sittonbull Jan 16, 2009 @ 10:06 pm
    OMG I loved Erma. Mama, Beth and I have laughed maniacally at her columns many a day! Mrs. Becky and Mr. Mel both had a wonderful sense of humor and loved to laugh...Isn't it a blessing to have those laughter genes?? When Becky and Mary went to play golf, Mama always came home with a "new" joke to tell and I could tell they had a ball! 5***** favored
  • Reply
    squidtastic squidtastic Jan 2, 2009 @ 10:23 pm
    As a 20 something mom of 5 I can definitely relate to each of her books - it's all still very relevant for todays moms :-)
  • Reply
    naturegirl7 naturegirl7 Jan 2, 2009 @ 7:53 pm
    I loved Irma, too. She had the right attitude about life. You shouldn't take things so seriously and you should always be ready to laugh. Great lens.
  • Reply
    Shelly Shelly Dec 17, 2008 @ 10:38 pm
    Looks like you've provided a place for Erma fans to gather, we were so lucky to experience her wit and wisdom!
  • Reply
    Gretchen_Lee_Bourquin Gretchen_Lee_Bourquin Nov 23, 2008 @ 8:32 am
    I loved Erma! I used to read her column and had her "Bowl of Cherries" book as a teenager. Thanks for making me think of her again.
  • Reply
    vbright105 vbright105 Oct 1, 2008 @ 7:06 am
    I loved Erma! I still think about her humor sometimes. She was incredibly witty, and even inspirational! Great idea and great lens!
  • Reply
    CCGAL CCGAL Sep 20, 2008 @ 10:00 am
    OK, I admit it ... I cried when Erma died. My two favorite pieces she wrote were about how God made woman and she made the tear on her own (talk about a heart squeeze!) and cauliflower love, where her husband hid the last piece of pickled cauliflower so the kids wouldn't get it before she did.

    Another fabulous lens. Thanks!
  • Reply
    kab kab Aug 31, 2008 @ 3:03 pm
    My second favorite household chore is ironing. My first being hitting my head on the top bunk bed until I faint. --Erma Bombeck
  • Reply
    mshomeec mshomeec Aug 29, 2008 @ 2:07 am
    Bet I still have some of those newspaper clippings...now yellow with age! Great lens, joan.
  • Reply
    CCB CCB Aug 12, 2008 @ 6:03 pm
    I LOVED the Erma Bombeck quotes section. There were quite a few that made me laugh out loud. A brilliant woman has blessed us with her wit and wisdom. She surely stood before God and happily declared that she used up everything He gave her.
  • Reply
    OhMe OhMe Aug 3, 2008 @ 10:29 pm
    Neat lens. I do love Erma! 5*
  • Reply
    magicpocketz magicpocketz Jul 9, 2008 @ 4:38 pm
    Erma herself would be proud. Good job
  • Reply
    bgreen bgreen Jul 3, 2008 @ 7:19 am
    What a nice tribute to such a great woman! She was a hero to so many women who didn't have a voice in those years. Thanks for your efforts to share her wisdom, humor and spirit with a new generations!
    Bonnie

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