Final Destination

The absolute most wonderful thing about being amongst the living is that you get another chance to get it RIGHT.  Life's unexpected dynamics have the potential to circumvent this potentially good deed.  In other words, you never know when one will breathed their last breath. Age has taught me that you funeralize someone every time you encounter them, life may render future opportunities void. 

My mother spent several years in the nursing home before her passing.  The inevitability that she would die there was always with me.  I accepted that she would never return to her glorious self.  During her years at the nursing home, I mourned her transition.  I had the opportunity to say my goodbyes, cuddle in bed beside her frail body, hug and kiss her and whisper "I LOVE YOU', repeatedly.  This was the last time I would see her alive and I knew it would be.  Oh! What I would give to whisper I love you to her just one more time.  

I was lucky, many are not.  Too often, loves ones are plucked from us in an instance.  Another wonderful thing about aging is that you are well aware that the sunlight may never dust your face again.  Life is too short and too precious to be spent unforgiving, unyielding, uncompromising and un-everything.  

I have learned that most things that we get heated about really aren't that important.  We are mere mortals and guaranteed to screw a few things up along life's journey. And, if your have lived for any length of time, you have probably felt that "No good deed goes unpunished". 

The phrase 'No good deed goes unpunished' is a sardonic commentary on the frequency with which acts of kindness backfire on those who offer them. In other words, because life is inherently unfair, those who help others are doomed to suffer as a result of their being helpful.

Many of us have experienced this feeling and resolved to never position ourselves to feel it again.  For most of us, it's just a passing thought and we're right back issuing out those good deeds.  I have said many times that I have gotten it WRONG.  I have been wrong and have been wronged.  I accept it as the cost of being human. Life is the great teacher.  If you are wondering who has your back, the answer is often just a screw up away- only the strong survive.  When it comes right down to it, you don't choose your family.  It is my belief that your family is whoever has your back, tell you when you’re wrong and tell you when you're right. Only someone who does not care about you will sit on the sidelines and remain mute. Oftentimes, caring is  the willingness to take a punch, even if it seemingly appears that you've lost.  Sometimes, losing really is winning. The truth can, shall and will set you free. 

It is my hope that we all take a moment and remember that love covers a multitude of sins.  Know that the unknown always lurks in the background.  And, you may not be afforded the opportunity to RIGHT a WRONG.  Do not wallow in anger; final destinations are ALWAYS in play - there are no TOMORROWS promised.

My favorite Michael Jackson's song, "Man In The Mirror"is worth repeating:

 "Man In The Mirror"

I'm Gonna Make A Change,
For Once In My Life
It's Gonna Feel Real Good,
Gonna Make A Difference
Gonna Make It Right . . .

As I, Turn Up The Collar On My
Favourite Winter Coat
This Wind Is Blowin' My Mind
I See The Kids In The Street,
With Not Enough To Eat
Who Am I, To Be Blind?
Pretending Not To See
Their Needs
A Summer's Disregard,
A Broken Bottle Top
And A One Man's Soul
They Follow Each Other On
The Wind Ya' Know
'Cause They Got Nowhere
To Go
That's Why I Want You To
Know

I'm Starting With The Man In
The Mirror
I'm Asking Him To Change
His Ways
And No Message Could Have
Been Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The World
A Better Place
(If You Wanna Make The
World A Better Place)
Take A Look At Yourself, And
Then Make A Change
(Take A Look At Yourself, And
Then Make A Change)
(Na Na Na, Na Na Na, Na Na,
Na Nah)

I've Been A Victim Of A Selfish
Kind Of Love
It's Time That I Realize
That There Are Some With No
Home, Not A Nickel To Loan
Could It Be Really Me,
Pretending That They're Not
Alone?

A Willow Deeply Scarred,
Somebody's Broken Heart
And A Washed-Out Dream
(Washed-Out Dream)
They Follow The Pattern Of
The Wind, Ya' See
Cause They Got No Place
To Be
That's Why I'm Starting With
Me
(Starting With Me!)

I'm Starting With The Man In
The Mirror
(Ooh!)
I'm Asking Him To Change
His Ways
(Ooh!)
And No Message Could Have
Been Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The World
A Better Place
(If You Wanna Make The
World A Better Place)
Take A Look At Yourself And
Then Make A Change
(Take A Look At Yourself And
Then Make A Change)

I'm Starting With The Man In
The Mirror
(Ooh!)
I'm Asking Him To Change His
Ways
(Change His Ways-Ooh!)
And No Message Could've
Been Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The World
A Better Place
(If You Wanna Make The
World A Better Place)
Take A Look At Yourself And
Then Make That . . .
(Take A Look At Yourself And
Then Make That . . .)
Change!

I'm Starting With The Man In
The Mirror,
(Man In The Mirror-Oh
Yeah!)
I'm Asking Him To Change
His Ways
(Better Change!)
No Message Could Have
Been Any Clearer
(If You Wanna Make The
World A Better Place)
(Take A Look At Yourself And
Then Make The Change)
(You Gotta Get It Right, While
You Got The Time)
('Cause When You Close Your
Heart)
You Can't Close Your . . .Your
Mind!
(Then You Close Your . . .
Mind!)
That Man, That Man, That
Man, That Man
With That Man In The Mirror
(Man In The Mirror, Oh Yeah!)
That Man, That Man, That Man
I'm Asking Him To Change
His Ways
(Better Change!)
You Know . . .That Man
No Message Could Have
Been Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The World
A Better Place
(If You Wanna Make The
World A Better Place)
Take A Look At Yourself And
Then Make A Change
(Take A Look At Yourself And
Then Make A Change)
Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! Hoo!
Na Na Na, Na Na Na, Na Na,
Na Nah
(Oh Yeah!)
Gonna Feel Real Good Now!
Yeah Yeah! Yeah Yeah!
Yeah Yeah!
Na Na Na, Na Na Na, Na Na,
Na Nah
(Ooooh . . .)
Oh No, No No . . .
I'm Gonna Make A Change
It's Gonna Feel Real Good!
Come On!
(Change . . .)
Just Lift Yourself
You Know
You've Got To Stop It.
Yourself!
(Yeah!-Make That Change!)
I've Got To Make That Change,
Today!
Hoo!
(Man In The Mirror)
You Got To
You Got To Not Let Yourself . . .
Brother . . .
Hoo!
(Yeah!-Make That Change!)
You Know-I've Got To Get
That Man, That Man . . .
(Man In The Mirror)
You've Got To
You've Got To Move! Come
On! Come On!
You Got To . . .
Stand Up! Stand Up!
Stand Up!
(Yeah-Make That Change)
Stand Up And Lift
Yourself, Now!
(Man In The Mirror)
Hoo! Hoo! Hoo!
Aaow!
(Yeah-Make That Change)
Gonna Make That Change . . .
Come On!
(Man In The Mirror)
You Know It!
You Know It!
You Know It!
You Know . . .
(Change . . .)
Make That Change.