This must be the season for celebrities dropping like flies from our midst. I've observed that
Everyone Thinks They Have One More Day.
Ed McMahon, Farah Fawcett, Michael Jackson, Billy Mays, Steve McNair. Like dominoes falling so does death and the Grim Reaper come to us at his own choosing. It is a great lesson to live in the moment, loving richly, living fully, NEVER taking for granted that tomorrow may come, hopeful yes, but not GUARANTEED for any of us. Struggle mightily as I do as a writer I offer to get this point across better with a story and a song.
AROUND THE CORNER
Around the corner I have a friend In this great city that has no end, Yet days go by and weeks rush on And before you know it the year is gone.
And I never see my old friend's face For life is a swift and terrible race, Yet he knows I like him just as well As in the days when I rang his bell And he rang mine.
We were younger then, Now we are busy tired men, Tired of playing a foolish game, Tired of trying to make a name.
Tomorrow I'll say I'll call on Jim, Just to show I'm thinking of him, But tomorrow comes and tomorrow goes, And the distance between us grows and grows.
Around the corner, yet miles away, Here's a telegram sir; Jim died today. And that's what we get, and deserve in the end; Around the corner a vanished friend.
Gary .. I was just talking about this yesterday after hearing of Steve McNair. You are so correct in saying that it's not guaranteed, that it could be right around the corner...and to live in the moment.
PS... I just wanted to add something... let's not just focus on those that were famous. What about all of those that lose their lives to _________... well, idiots that don't care or think... how about those 12 kids in MI that were shot at.. and so many others. Just food for thought. That was part of what I brought up in my conversation yesterday with a stranger. thanks
Beautiful post....but like so many others Gary, it will go unheeded by many because they believe it is meant for someone else.
About 5 years ago I grabbed my life by the horns and decided not to follow the sheeple. On average I work four days a week and I seldom miss a meal with my family. I've watched many of my friends talk about how they will work hard till retirement only for their families to suffer the fact that death comes long before retirement.
I responded to a post recently that there will always be another deal, but there won't always be another son, daughter, wife, mother or father. Time is much more precious than most of us will ever recognize...sadly.
Gary, So sad, isn't it? Life is indeed short and we never know when our last day is. I have always loved the saying "live like there is no tomorrow".
I was never a "Farrah" fan, truly, but did watch her documentary a few weeks ago and grew to love her, through her story and struggles. My heart broke for her and her family.
Wow, life is short.
I'm so thankful to have you as a friend Gary. Thanks for always taking the time to "touch" each and every one of us.
I take time out for many things. Small things but not always long visits with those I care about. This weekend a dear Activerain friend came in to stay a few nights. It showed me that even work can wait. I delegated my new clients to my agent and relaxed. It's very hard for me to let go of the reins. It will be so sad to see the memorial for Michael Tuesday.
You know it Gary. The good old days are here/now. It's all we have!
Watching the last MJ rehearsal . . . it sank in. He really will never tour again and we will never hear more except who will get the kids and who will be prosecuted for prescribing (or procuring) powerful soporifics for such a frail person . . .
Man! He still had it too!
Gary - After my husband and I bought our house we put every extra dime into it, until the week not one, but two of my neighbors suddenly died, both had young children and it was at that point I realized anything can happen. So now a majority of our extra dimes go towards family vacations and outings with our children. I want to make sure my kids have good family memories.
Great post! I have taken advantage of this slower than usual real estate market by playing with my 2 daughters more. I'm spending more time getting to know family, friends and neighbors better. We just had neighborhood get together yesterday with 41 people. We had never done this before in our small neighborhood. We were just saying we all were "too busy" before. It's definitely something to think about.
Great thoughts as usual Gary. It make you really stop and think that today is all we have. Tomorrow is not promised. That is why in the perfect prayer (The Lord's Prayer) it starts off with
"Give us this day our daily bread..." The bread that was referred to was Manna which had a shelf life of one day. It could not be stored up, but was enough sustenance to allow each that ate it another day. So maybe we should live each day as if it were our last, and perhaps procrastination, and good intentions would not shelf the important items we should be attending to.
Your poem made me tear up. It is very sad how we get so busy with our lives and think we will call or visit in the future. I have recently found so many high school friends on Facebook. One in particular just yesterday, well, her husband found me, I am so happy, she was my true best friend and she moved to the Cayman Islands and we lost touch....I will not let that happen again. Thanks for your beautiful post.
Gary~ Each and every day is a gift from the Lord, every day He allows me is a good day, but when it is time to go home i intend to leave with a smile on my face because I know He will be waiting for me.
Hello my friend none of us our promised tomorrow and it makes you know that you have to live every day to the fullest. This song came to mind as I read this and listened to the song you had. I definitely will remember YOU my friend. <SMILE> SONG
My dear friend - This is exactly why I put my best in everything I do. Before I call it a night, I make sure if I went to meet Jesus in my sleep, would I say to Him, I need just one more day? It's the way I see my world so black and white - there is no grey in between. The best is the black and the white is mediocrity. But I am truly trying to move towards grey.
That's why even when I'm tired, when I want to, I go back upstairs to give my shinning super-star another big kiss before I head to bed. I dont go to bed without my kitchen in order because I wouldn't want my husband needing to tidy my kitchen if I didn't wake up that morning. I know, I know, it's tiny in the grand scheme of things, but my life is meant to serve others to the best of my ability.
You just never know when your time will come. Not only should we treat others right, live our life to it's fullest, but most of all we should treasure the moments we have with each other.
Hi Gary: Your post should be read by everyone at least twice. They need to stop and think about what they just read and know that this does happen! When I lost my son, my most comforting thoughts now are, all the times we shared everyday of our life in taking the time for what is truly important.
I love that song - the day I found out an old dear friend had died - i decided to go for a drive - and this song came on the radio.........it was definitely an out of body experience....
this weekend I haven't been able to get that very thought - of your post - out of my mind.......and i get that panicky fluttery feeling - thinking of all the people i haven't stayed in touch with.......and all the amends to make.........hmmm
Hi Gary,
Around the Corner really made me stop and think. There is someone I need to reach out to and I will do that before this day ends. Thanks for the wake up call.
What a heartsong for the soul this is, Gary...just beautiful, awakening...pulling us into the present...the gift that LIFE is... opened for us to open up, for a moment of forever...xox
Gary - I have had so many reminders of this fact over the past year or so. I have told many of my friends to remember that we don't control our next breath.
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Too many famous people dieing. It really is sad.