"In an hour, all this will be at the bottom of the Atlantic."
Oh-kaaaaaayyyyyyy.
It would be easy, and also something of a shibboleth, to say, well, we're all facing that iceberg, and we're all facing something we can't escape.
But most of my life, I didn't think like that. Heck, even now, sometimes I forget, and think that I'll still win through.
Until I'm reminded by a day like today, when the really painful swelling in my neck's got me in a vise, each breath hurts, and it feels like I'm being cut from navel to ribs.
And I still don't think that soon all this will be at the bottom of a metaphorical Atlantic.
I'm too busy creating and nurturing the intention to enjoy today. Sure, movement hurts, eating is hard (iced-cold light beer does relieve some of the neck pain and allows me to get some food down), and getting down to the workshop to weld...uh, no.
But I still can do a little bit of work on the aeroplane (Barb's allowed the woodworking tools into a spare room, bless her!), I can read, watch a DVD, hang out with the dogs, and most of all, enjoy my dear wife's company.
Life is good. Even with cancer, life is good.
And the band's playing ragtime.
Still and all, I thought Titanic rather a downer, so I took the liberty of rewriting it.
It
was unsinkable, so they said,
but
iceberg, he had another plan,
so
many thought that's it, we're dead,
but
deliverance came from far Graceland.
Lightning
falling from the sky,
'twas
Elvis in the Mother Ship!
Soon
he had them high and dry;
"Hey
folks...enjoyin' the trip?"
Singing
closed the rifts that rent the hull,
he
posed for selfies with the crew,
ate
caviar 'till he was full,
and
then set ship's course for shores anew.
He
made Titanic really fly,
for
he had a date in Blue Hawaii.
Music, of course, from Celine Dion, with My Heart Will Go On.
Thanks to Carol Ashby, Blessed Are The Pure Of Heart is back on Kindle, and will be available in paperback soon.
Friends are everything. I couldn't have done it.
Marley, the canine waif from Afghanistan, whom WE helped save, has a Facebook page! Please drop by to see how happy he is today.
Below are my recent releases on Kindle -please excuse their presence in the body of the blog. I haven't the energy to get them up as 'buttons' in the sidebar. You can click on the covers to go to the Amazon links.
Always a funny guy, Andrew, despite your pain :). What an inspiration.
ReplyDeleteLife's for enjoying, Anita! Thank you so much.
Deleteyes, life is good, despite pain. :) and oh... what a silly poem! What fun!
ReplyDeleteAnnette, I'm so glad you enjoyed it. Thank you being here1
DeleteI remember seeing the original movie as a kid. Maybe that is where my fear of deep water stems from :) Andrew, you manage to keep your sense of humor, motivating so many of us to live each day to the fullest and to His honor. Praying for you and Barb now.
ReplyDeleteJoanne, I'm not fond of deep water, either. Swimming in mid-ocean, knowing that there are maybe thousands of feet of darkening ocean below...gives me the willies.
DeleteThank you so much for your kind words, and for your prayers!
My team and another team had a "Titanic" of a week after a manager rammed us into the iceberg. Your ending made me laugh so hard. Laughing provided much comfort to my drowning soul. Thank you. Continued prayers to you and Barb.
ReplyDeleteMichele, I'm so glad that I could give you a laugh!
DeleteWe truly appreciate your prayers.
I like your rewrite of Titanic! I always felt that knowing how the film would end spoiled it a bit, but with our life stories, I am glad we know how things will turn out in the end for those of us who trust in Jesus. Praying for hope and comfort for you today!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you enjoyed this, Lesley! And I agree...knowing how our stories turn out, trusting Jesus, is a good thing.
DeleteThank you so much for the prayers!
Dude. Seriously. I LOVE reading your stuff. What a blessing you are! THANK YOU for sharing your humor, your intention, and your vision with the world! I am better for it! God bless you!
ReplyDeleteJennifer, gosh, thank YOU for these lovely uplifting and affirming words.
DeleteBlesings back!
Wow! With an attitude like yours you'll be flying high instead of sinking.
ReplyDeleteJan, thank you so much for this!
DeleteI didn't like the movie at the time I saw it, maybe because it was only a few months after my son died in November 2013 when I finally did watch... everything with bad endings was a "downer" and hard for me to get through. I haven't seen it since then either. No plans to do so. I prefer to remain happy and avoid sad/bad endings as much as possible. Grief is a hard, hard thing. Even years later. Sometimes it seems the iceberg is out to get me, you know? Ha!
ReplyDeleteSorry for my "downer" there. But really, yes, knowing how my story is going to end for me is Glory in itself. I will get to be with Jesus and worship Him in eternity. And see my son.
I much prefer your re-write. Can't you just see Elvis doing all that? LOL!
Prayers always from us, lifting you up to the Lord for comfort and peace!
iana, I sure understand here you're coming from, and I do my best to avoid downers of any form (including sad songs).
DeleteI'm so glad you like the rewrite!
Thank you or the prayer; you guys are in ours.
Hey you ain't goin'down, you're goin' up...but I like the rewrite. You just might see Elvis, and his blue suede shoes. Wonder if they do selfies in heaven...nah, no one is that into themselves. Into the now, that's wise. "Now faith is the substance of things unseen"....Now faith, present tense. Faith is always for the now....not mine, can't take credit for this gem. Let later take care of itself. Love your life now. Glad you're still with us now.
ReplyDeleteMary, thank you for this; it got me to thining about selfies in heaven, and how I was going to ask Jesus, and do the 'rabbit ears' behind His head...
DeleteBut I suspect EVERYONE oes that.
And yes, faith is always for the now.
Thanks so much for being here!
I'm so glad to hear that you've been able to indulge in some lovely distractions, Andrew! I hope that they get your mind off the pain, if only for a brief moment or two. You certainly are the most industrious guy I know, given the pain and difficulty you face each day! Prayers are being lifted up, my friend!
ReplyDeleteAnd I will be trying to find some distractions near the end of October. I'm having a hip surgery that is NOT a hip replacement, but I'm told by the doctor is going to be more painful! Yikes! I've had my share of painful stuff to plod through in life--nothing compared to what you're facing! But because of it, I have some idea of how to cope the best I can. Thankfully, mine will result in better health and mobility without pain. That, in and of itself, is something to keep my eye on! Prayers would be appreciated though! Hugs to you, my friend!
Beth, my gosh! We will be praying for the surgeons' hands to be guided, and for a speedy recovery.
DeletePrayers will be constant, and hugs back!
Still, life is good. What a reminder! Thank you Andrew, for your ever funny take on this movie (I watched it in awe as a kid because of all the hype when it came out. When I watched it again as an adult I was disappointed how overdone it was.) Have a good week, Katha
ReplyDeleteKatha, I truly get your response...the whole event was big enough, and for me the romance just seemed to diminish it.
DeleteOddly enough, I almost became an extra in the film, but the press of work prevented that.
Thanks so much for being here!
Stephanie, thank you so much!
ReplyDeleteAndrew, I have blogged in a while but I always find your post so poignant in their honesty. And always so witty! :)
ReplyDelete