Only the Good Die Young

That Billy Joel hit 'Only the Good Die Young' is resonating in my heart today. I have been blessed to have many friends and acquaintances in my 47 plus years on the planet. I'm at 'that age' when I start hearing that people I have known and loved are getting sick and dying.

Recently two that I have known have been smacked down with terrible news.

The first is an old college friend from Michigan State. Over the Thanksgiving holiday he became violently ill and started losing weight. After several days he checked into the hospital and it was discovered that he had become inflicted with Multiple Myeloma.

From Wikipedia: 'Multiple Myeloma is a type of cancer of plasma cells which are immune system cells in bone marrow that produce antibodies. Its prognosis, despite therapy, is generally poor, and treatment may involve chemotherapy and stem cell transplant. It is part of the broad group of diseases called hematological malignancies.'

He is slated to receive a bone marrow transplant in the coming months. Geez, he's just 46 with a wife and two boys. He's a fighter and is scraping hard to beat MM.

The other is a colleague whom I have known in the Navy for over ten years. He is married and they have seven children. I got word last night that he has lymphoma and less than six months to live. Again he is nearly my age. This news floored me. He has always been active and would run 3-5 times a week and was in great shape.

So there it is:
two middle aged men in fine health getting whacked down by cancer. Neither smoked nor drank excessively. Both fine family men and both men I respect.

This news, coupled with the passing of the father of the best man at my wedding, screams out to me. It virtually shouts from the highest mountain:

Matt, take care of yourself and live life to get the most out of it. You never know when you'll roll snake eyes and get called upstairs by the Big Guy.

I found the following story on-line and I'll share it with you. I only wish I had the life experience to write something so profound.

A STORY TO LIVE BY

I'm reading more and dusting less. I'm sitting on the patio and admiring the view without fussing about the weeds in the garden. I'm spending more time with my family and friends and less time at work.

Whenever possible, life should be a pattern of experiences to savor, not to endure. I'm trying to recognize these moments now and cherish them. I'm not "saving" anything; we use our good china and crystal for every special event such as losing a pound, getting the sink unstopped, or the first Amaryllis blossom.

I wear my good blazer to the market. My theory is if I look prosperous, I can shell out $28.49 for one small bag of groceries. I'm not saving my good perfume for special parties, but wearing it for clerks in the hardware store and tellers at the bank.

"Someday" and "one of these days" are losing their grip on my vocabulary. If it's worth seeing or hearing or doing, I want to see and hear and do it now. I'm not sure what my friends would've done had they known that they wouldn't be here for the tomorrow that we all take for granted.

I think they would have called family members and a few close friends. They might have called a few former friends to apologize and mend fences for past squabbles. I like to think they would have gone out for a Chinese dinner, or for whatever their favorite food was. I'm guessing--- I'll never know.

It's those little things left undone that would make me angry if I knew my hours were limited. Angry because I hadn't written certain letters that I intended to write one of these days. Angry and sorry that I didn't tell my husband and parents often enough how much I truly love them. I'm trying very hard not to put off, hold back, or save anything that would add laughter and luster to our lives.

And every morning when I open my eyes, I tell myself that it is special. Everyday, every minute, every breath truly is a gift from God.

So here's MY PHILOSOPHY. I put it at the end of every e-mail:

"Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body,
but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting "...holy shit...what a ride!"