Me, Schmidty, Tom D
I received startling news while I was vacationing in the British Isles. Another college friend had passed away. Last August, we lost Jeff to Lou Gehrig’s disease. This July, Tom Schmidt died unexpectedly of a brain aneurism. What I remember most about Schmidty is his sense of humor. He was always laughing. It gives me some solace knowing that he and Jeff are together again cracking each other up.
Tom was the one that alerted people to Jeff’s disease and later death. Because of Jeff’s short life, I hope Tom had a heightened sense of living life to the fullest. I hope he spent more time laughing with his family and friends. I hope he decided to do something that he had previously put off. And I hope it gave him much pleasure and laughter.
I’m cognizant of my parents aging and their friends dying. I’m not as focused on my aging and my friends dying. Death is the ultimate game changer. The unexpected and the expected end of people’s journeys help us live fully in the moment. What do we really want to accomplish? To be remembered for? Who are the people we want to spend time with? Who will help us dance?
I hope you never lose your sense of wonder,
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger,
May you never take one single breath for granted,
GOD forbid love ever leave you empty handed,
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you’ll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.
I hope you dance….I hope you dance.
I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance,
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Livin’ might mean takin’ chances but they’re worth takin’,
Lovin’ might be a mistake but it’s worth makin’,
Don’t let some hell bent heart leave you bitter,
When you come close to sellin’ out reconsider,
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.
I hope you dance….I hope you dance.
I hope you dance….I hope you dance.
(Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along,
Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder where those years have gone.)
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you’ll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.
Dance….I hope you dance.
I hope you dance….I hope you dance.
I hope you dance….I hope you dance..
(Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along
Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder where those years have gone)
Tom Schmidt was a dancer! I was fortunate enough to dance with him. 🙂