From: someone@anywheret.net   
      
   "JimD"  wrote in message news:2018013012491853480-email@nowherecom...   
      
   > Had my yearly eye exam today.  Very early in the morning for a lazy   
   > musician :-)  I'm good for another year.   
      
   What, no warranty? ;)   
      
   > I'm feeling better lately, related to the recent deaths close me. I   
   > realized something yesterday .. hey, I'm alive.  Ok, so I outlived some   
   > people that by some measure I shouldn't have. But I did.  So there.   
      
   I know the feeling all too well. Last week, my brother's girlfriend's mother   
   succumbed to a combination of a heart condition and pneumonia and snuffed it   
   at age 92.   
      
   Then Sunday, my Soulmate's friend, whom I knew too, while enjoying a   
   premature birthday party - his birthday was early in February, suddenly fell   
   down dead right in front of everyone, a massive heart attack. He was only   
   59.   
      
   > I don't mean to be disrespectful, then again, at some point it's time to   
   > move on.   
      
   There's not really a choice there, because   
   life is Animating!   
      
   > I'm still alive, and I'm happy about it.   
      
   I'm Working on being happy about it - that's what the Music venture is all   
   about...but I do feel honored, and Blessed, particularly considering   
   everything that's happened to me, starting on day one.   
      
   > The thought just crossed my mind. It's tricky to stay alive.  People who   
   > win Darwin awards by doing something really stupid are just that, stupid.   
      
   I'd venture that staying alive, just like ANYthing else worth while,   
   requires effort - in other words, NOT LAZINESS!!!   
      
   > It takes brains to stay alive.   
      
   From my own experience, I'd say it takes a Very Active, THINKING Mind...in   
   other words, NO ZOMBIES!   
      
   > Not that random chance can't kill you, it can. Leaving aside some random   
   > accident, some unexpected fatal disease, or just pure bad luck, staying   
   > alive to live another day does take some effort.  Do stupid things,   
   > collect the consequences.   
      
   Random in only an appearance which results from failing to see a Much Bigger   
   Picture!   
   And Stupidity is definitely Not random, it's Very Deliberate - Deliberately   
   Stupid!   
      
   > There is a thing called " surviror guilt ".   
      
   I could never understand how anyone could ever feel guilty about surviving,   
   assuming of course that it was not done at the expense of others' survival.   
      
   > I had a bit of that, but it's quickly going away.  I'm gonna enjoy my   
   > life. No point sitting around moping.   
      
   There's really nothing else to do, except die...because Life is for Living!   
      
   > Hope that doesn't seem too disrespectful.   
      
   How could it be?   
   The only thing disrespectful is to be disrespectful of Life by not Living   
   it!!!   
      
      
      
   > It's not meant to be. Rather, it's the result of realizing I'm still here,   
   > got life to live, and I'm going too.   
      
   Yep. Just like the song "Go For It"!   
      
   > Until my turn to take the dirt nap arrives.   
      
   Jim   
      
   NO THANKS!!!   
      
   That's what I've been saying to that character you'd previously referred to   
   as "Mr. Death", ever since day one as he's been my constant companion ever   
   since then - no, not like a friend, rather a companion who's a constant   
   PEST, ever waiting for the opportunity to separate me from Life...but I've   
   got Living to do...so I'm not going along with it!   
      
   I will not lie down! - I will not go quietly!   
      
   If "Mr. Death" still thinks, after all these years, that taking me is going   
   to be easy, 'he's' not too bright, and in for a surprise, and one HELL of a   
   FIGHT!!!   
      
   Sounds a bit like lyrics...hmmmm.....maybe a new song ;)   
      
   Ouisie   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)