Remembering David

One year ago today the world lost a hero.  Oh, he wasn’t what we have come to think of as a hero in this day and age.  You see, he wasn’t a soldier, although he battled his opponent as valiantly as any warrior.  And he didn’t invent anything, although because of his courage, medical breakthroughs may indeed be made.  He wasn’t an activist or a motivational speaker, although the life he lead continues to inspire others.  No, he wasn’t a typical hero at all.  He was much more. 

David was 16 years old when he received a diagnosis that would bring most of us to our knees … a brain cancer called glioblastoma multiforme.  Even the name is scary.  And with the diagnosis came labels like invasive, aggressive … terminal.  Terrible news for anyone, much less a 16 year old.  But rather than bemoan his bad fortune, David comforted everyone else and then he fought …  he fought hard … and for awhile there was hope.  Everyone knew if anyone could beat it, it would be David.  So he endured surgeries and treatments, keeping a positive outlook, smiling and doing what David did … looking forward, planning for the future and making the day of everyone he encountered a little brighter.  This was a guy it was impossible not to like … beautiful smile, great sense of humor, upbeat, fun and a friend to everyone … from classmates to fellow patients and even a celebrity or two!   Yes, he was a great guy and that’s why today so many are marking his passing. 

And while it’s great to remember the fun stuff, there was so much more to David.  To call him typical … definitely an understatement.  For example … how easy would it have been for him to have fallen into self-pity, anger?  How many of us would have done just that? Instead, while fighting the battle for his life, he continued to think of others.  While hospitalized, he organized a holiday gift drive for other kids who were also hospitalized … THAT was his Christmas wish.  Nor did David ever give up hope for the future, continuing his education, graduating and  receiving his high school diploma AND attending his senior prom!  No, he did not, in the words of poet, Dylan Thomas, “go gentle into that good night”.  He fought and went forward and lived and in the process served as an inspiration, an example of grace and dignity and courage.

Of course, by now you know how the story ends.  After a two-year battle, on May 11, 2012, the cancer won.  I refuse to say David lost the battle …because he may have been defeated, but he NEVER surrendered!

I did not know David that well; I did not have that privilege.  His parents were friends of a friend and I met him only a handful of times.  So maybe you’re wondering why I was moved to write about him.  Because even in those brief encounters, I could see what a great kid he was; what a great man he was going to become …except Fate had other plans … and that makes me sad for what might have been.  I’ve heard it said many times, we all come here with a purpose and when we fulfill that purpose, then we leave.  If that is the case, then David was one hell of an over-achiever!  Or maybe God just needed him back in Heaven … I think I’ll go with that.  So, thanks for the love, the inspiration, the great example … hope those of us left down here on the old Earth plane can do you proud, but you ARE a hard act to follow!

In closing, May is brain cancer awareness month.  To learn more, visit www.abta.org.  Do it for David.

 

Hello Again!

 

Hey there … remember me?  Yeah, I’m the one who, way back in January, wrote that blog post about being inspired to write and kicking down doors and stuff.   And I was going to be a writing machine and then … I wasn’t.  Oh, I was inspired to write …and I did … bits and pieces, a phrase here, a paragraph there, even some truly amazing and insightful (if I do say so myself) journal entries.  But as for blog entries that I would actually post?   Nada.   Don’t get me wrong, there were days when I wrote some pretty great stuff … in my head … it just never made it out of my head onto the page or computer screen.  That’s because I was busy … busy being anal, second guessing and critiquing every syllable to the point of absolute gridlock.  In short, nothing was good enough … and how could I put something out there that wasn’t absolutely perfect and brilliant and inspiring?  You see, I forgot that writing isn’t always perfect and brilliant and inspiring, although sometimes it is.  In fact, much of the writing that I enjoy most is far from those things, but what it is, is authentic. It is about freedom … to say what we are feeling, to use our voice to vent our rage, share our joy, question the status quo, stand up for a cause … or even to just be silly … in other words to be ourselves.  That’s what I forgot.  But then I remembered … and got over myself!   So, I’m just going to take a bit of my own advice, let the freak flag fly  (I love that saying!) and say what’s on my mind without worrying about it being eligible for a Pulitzer. 

So here I go again … relaunching …which I seem to be doing a lot of lately … hmmm, probably a really good idea for a blog topic …

The Illustrated Crone!  See you again soon … meaning way sooner than another 3 months … promise! 

P.S.  I love elipses!

 

In The Beginning ...

This story has a happy ending.

There is something magical about good writing.  The ability to paint a picture with words is an amazing and beautiful gift and it has long been a skill I have wanted to master.  I’ve always enjoyed writing and at times even seemed to have a knack for it… at least that’s what I’ve been told by a few highly intelligent and extremely discerning friends.    Wow, I can hear those eyes rolling out of your heads from here!  But in all seriousness, I have had the good fortune to have my writing received well and shown critical appreciation a time or two.  There was even a time I entertained the idea of writing  professionally.  But as it does for most people, things change …

And when those things change, as it does for most people, when “real” life takes over with jobs and bills and responsibilities, we put aside those dreams of what we really wanted to be when we grew up, for some day.  For me the writing as a creative outlet was put aside and self-expression became something reserved for philosophical conversations with friends after a few drinks.  Eventually writing actually became a chore, done only for business.  And that dream of writing professionally?  It was placed on the back-burner where it slumbered. 

But before you stop reading to go pour yourself a potent drink to get through the rest of what you think is going to be one of those sad, poor me, what might have been stories … STOP!  This story has a happy ending, remember?  It's about faith and the renewal of dreams and maybe even a little bit of magic. Because my desire to write has reawakened, but it was not a leisurely Sunday morning with nothing to do but relax type of awakening.  No!  It awoke with a start, kicked down the door of the room that contained it and is taking no prisoners.  It is in your face and refuses to be ignored! Now don’t ask what caused the kick-start to this need to write, because I couldn’t tell you.  It could be one thing or a thousand and each would make no sense and complete sense at the same time.  Could it be the realization that this is the year I will be 60 and want more than anything to show the world who I truly am, to stand in my truth and  live life on no one’s terms but my own?  Yeah, that probably has something to do with it.  But more than that, I don’t want to, in the words of Dr. Wayne Dyer “Die with my song still in me”.  In other words, the time has come and the song will no longer be silenced.  I want to learn and explore and do and be and live and enjoy whatever strikes my fancy and encourage everyone else to do the same ... and I want to write about it!  So, I've decided what better way to get the juices stirred; the writing muscles flexed; the mojo working … than to start a blog.  And here it is and I’m calling it … The Illustrated Crone.

Yeah, you heard right  …  The Illustrated Crone!   There are two reasons for the title.  The first reason is a matter of age.  As I close in on 60, I am now officially chronologically a Crone … more on that later.  And the second reason is, as those with whom I am acquainted know … I am tattooed, heavily by some standards, with plans for more.  I love my ink!  Each piece that I proudly wear holds special meaning to me.  They are living milestones of my journey thus far … and that’s enough explanation for now. 

Finally … what you read here is not intended to be, nor will it be, an example of proper English, or as an exercise in syntax and punctuation and all the formal rules of writing.  So if any grammar police are out there reading and shaking your heads and harrumphing  … fingers twitching in anticipation of typing a post to point out errors, here’s my advice.  Put your blue pencil away.  Those rules will not apply here.  The intent of this blog is to encourage readers to embrace and live an authentic, inspired, out loud kind of life and to support everyone in that quest ... unless your quest happens to be perfect grammar and punctuation.  Then, sadly, you are on your own.  The last thing I'll add before closing is that if this blog had a motto, it would be “Live Now!”  If you agree (or even if you don’t, but are perhaps a bit intrigued) then jump on-board and let’s see where we go from here.  The adventure begins!