I always find it strange when a celebrity either passes on or faces a tragedy in their own life. Most recently, John Travolta's son, Jett. I have been a fan of JT longer than I can even recall. One of my favorite movies was "Michael" - btw.
When I heard about his son, I got this pit in my stomach and could only imagine the horror of losing a child. You truly do not need to know someone to feel and understand their pain. After my mother died, I remember my dad telling me that there are 2 types of deaths that will change your life forever. Death of a spouse and death of a child. My dad was drawing from his deep sorrow in losing my mother - but I imagine that he was qualified to say that losing a child would be equally as heart wrenching.
I lost my parents at an age where I also had the world ahead of me (age 16 for mom and 18/19 for dad). I don't think I completely understood the gravity of what I was living at the time. Or maybe I was just that resilient. I think you lose some of that with age. Maturity adds gravity. I also think "maturity" has a way of robbing [overriding] some very basic instincts and principals we come naturally equipped with.
I watched the Barbara Walters special the other night where she interviewed Patrick Swayze (diagnosed and living -for now- with pancreatic cancer). When asked how long he hoped to live, he said, "Five years" and that was wishful thinking. Then he said, "Two years would be good...". Just typing that is hard to do.
I guess we are all more alike than we are different. Famous or not. I was told last year by someone I respect very much, that we should teach ourselves to approach life (and death) as children do. I can't help but wonder if that is not just trying to re-learn what maturity has robbed from us. Prophetic, really!
8 comments:
We had a little get together for a friend yesterday who was turning 40. It was a very hard birthday for her. Personally, I'm just tickled to wake up every morning and thank God that He has given me another day to live, in spite of the mess I made out of things the day before.
Having lost both parents too, I've come to realize I will die too some day and I really, really, want to make the most of this life, bless others while I am here, and live a life that honors God.
You know, I talk to different people and inevitably my "journey" (i.e. health episode)of the past year and a half comes up. People always are quick to tell me what a terrible thing I have gone through and all the way down that line of thinking. I made a decision early on that I was going to try and find the meaning in it all - beyond on the obvious physcial meaning.
I have come to really feel fortunate to have had this (what I call "journey"). It has been the catalyst to an awakening on so many levels. I'd love to bend your ear some day about it all. :-)
And I would love to have it bent by you. Waterloo is lovely this time of year, you know.
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Aahhh, being awake to the present...I love you for it, Brenda. They call them life changing events for a reason. Isn't nice to be awake to it? To understand the awe in the everyday?? SPread the Love!
well said, Ruthie...!
jan- I need your email address - email me at this address - I opened this when I was in Rochester to get and send email:
deerblue@hotmail.com
judi- many thanks!
Lets try that again - I am having a brain moment here and need to go to bed - um it just occured to me that my regular email is public here anyway - so whatever email you choose jan - I would be obliged to have yours!
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