“Live like you were dyin'”

Friday, October 24, 2014 Permalink 0

IMG_2101I’m less than two weeks out from my annual benefit.  The level of detail involved in maximizing people’s fun while raising the most money is my ongoing-minute-to-minute-never-ending-to-do-list.  Fall also marks Chicago’s official theatre season opening.  If I maximized my scheduling, I could see 9 new shows a week.  This is easily the busiest time of the year for me.   

Despite that, I took a 24-hour detour from my work.  I left Chicago after my 1:30pm meeting on Thursday and headed to my parents in Elkhart, Indiana.  My plan is to be back in Chicago for my 2pm meeting on Friday.  My quick trip was to spend time with my sister Cindy and her kids.  Although I will see my other 7 nieces and nephews during the upcoming holidays, Cindy’s family is not usually present for the holiday traditional get togethers.  And even though I’ve had extensive family time with other members of the clan, I’ve only seen Sammie Q, Sabrina and Noah twice in 2014. We spent MLK weekend together.  And I also made a brief appearance at an Olive Garden dinner in August.  Where does the time go?

When I was nearing Exit 92 on the Indiana Tollroad, a country song came on the radio. I had never heard “Live like you were dyin’” before.  This part of the refrain especially  resonated with me…

“And I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter,

“And I gave forgiveness I’d been denying.”

An’ he said: “Some day, I hope you get the chance,

“To live like you were dyin’.”

 It was a powerful message to hear as I was speeding to a mini family reunion.  In books and movies, the dying person asks for forgiveness for all their life mistakes.  This flipped  notion of giving forgiveness is a much more beautiful mind bender.  As is often my philosophical intent, the song “live like you were dyin’” is about being kinder.

One of my goals for 2014 was to formalize my will.  It’s been on my mind particularly since I lost two college mates in the last couple of years.  I want the arrangements made so my family and friends don’t have the burden of deciphering my wishes.  I find the task completely morbid but it will be my final gift to those I love.  And it’s something I must do sooner because who knows how long later is?   

Meanwhile, I do try to live my life like I’m dyin’…

*I’ve gone skydiving.

*I’ve gone rocky mountain climbing.

*I try to love deeper.

*And speak sweeter. (doesn’t come natural to me).

*And I give forgiveness I’ve been denying.  I don’t hold grudges.  I forgive.  There is only one person that I haven’t forgiven for being an ass.  My former Satanic boss, 2000-2001.  I’m working on it.

I don’t know how long my Katy Trail is.  Or where it’s leading me.  All I know is I’m going to thoroughly enjoy the journey.

LIVE LIKE YOU WERE DYIN’

by Tim McGraw

He said: “I was in my early forties,

“With a lot of life before me,

“An’ a moment came that stopped me on a dime.

“I spent most of the next days,

“Looking at the x-rays,

“An’ talking ’bout the options an’ talkin’ ‘bout sweet time.”

I asked him when it sank in,

That this might really be the real end?

How’s it hit you when you get that kind of news?

Man whatcha do?

An’ he said: “I went sky diving, I went rocky mountain climbing,

“I went two point seven seconds on a bull named Fu Man Chu.

“And I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter,

“And I gave forgiveness I’d been denying.”

An’ he said: “Some day, I hope you get the chance,

“To live like you were dyin’.”

He said “I was finally the husband,

“That most the time I wasn’t.

“An’ I became a friend a friend would like to have.

“And all of a sudden goin’ fishin’,

“Wasn’t such an imposition,

“And I went three times that year I lost my Dad.

“Well, I finally read the Good Book,

“And I took a good long hard look,

“At what I’d do if I could do it all again,

“And then:

“I went sky diving, I went rocky mountain climbing,

“I went two point seven seconds on a bull named Fu Man Chu.

“And I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter,

“And I gave forgiveness I’d been denying.”

An’ he said: “Some day, I hope you get the chance,

“To live like you were dyin’.”

Like tomorrow was a gift,

And you got eternity,

To think about what you’d do with it.

An’ what did you do with it?

An’ what can I do with it?

An’ what would I do with it?

“Sky diving, I went rocky mountain climbing,

“I went two point seven seconds on a bull named Fu Man Chu.

“And then I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter,

“And I watched Blue Eagle as it was flyin’.”

An’ he said: “Some day, I hope you get the chance,

“To live like you were dyin’.”

“To live like you were dyin’.”

“To live like you were dyin’.”

“To live like you were dyin’.”

“To live like you were dyin’.”

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