It's really too bad
Movin' on before he understood
Here is a guest blog from Husker.
Husker and his daughter, Erika.
Without further ado:
On a road trip last fall I started a little list I called “Too bad…”
… Some radio ads are so bad
… I have to listen to the radio
… I don’t have an I-pod
…people drive slow in the left lane and have no clue
… Road construction ruins an otherwise great view
…cancer affects so many lives in so many ways
… I can’t calculate the difference between worry and independence with my children
… I don’t take time to enjoy the small things
… I’m not a superhero
… Plumbers chew their finger nails
… I’m always in such a hurry
… You don’t retire from 40 to 60 and then finish your work life out until death takes over
… Sons and Fathers, Daughters and Mothers still die as the price of freedom
… My brother lost his childhood baseball card collection with the Mickey Mantle rookie card
… I don’t make more money
… Some people take advantage of others with out an ounce of guilt
… I don’t see members of my family more often
After reviewing this list on my return home it hit me, why all the negative BS, can’t - don’t - not ; so I quit the list with one final… too bad I don’t think more positively. I’m on my way Lincoln to watch the Huskers play football and I can’t think of better things?? Hell, shit happens all the time to everyone and you know what -- we move on.
There are truly sad things that happen in peoples live. There is seemingly no explanation for why some things happen, especially tragedy involving death and needless suffering. But the other things in life that come our way, hey get over it, move on, or insert your favorite cliché.
Ray lived in the big house on the corner; it was a group home for the mentally handicapped folks. He spent his days sitting in his favorite chair watching the traffic go by and giving a big smile and wave anytime someone would honk. I honked all the time just thinking it made his day. When Ray passed away, the drive down Center St. didn’t seem the same. No more crooked little smile and feeble wave of the hand that apparently made my day as much as my honking did Ray’s. I think at his level Ray had life figured out. Do what I enjoy, smile, wave, and make a difference for others.
They put a bench on the corner in Ray’s memory. He obviously made a difference for others. So I end my “too bad” list with a final entry…Too bad I’m not a little bit more like Ray.
Thanks, Husker.
Husker and his daughter, Erika.
Without further ado:
On a road trip last fall I started a little list I called “Too bad…”
… Some radio ads are so bad
… I have to listen to the radio
… I don’t have an I-pod
…people drive slow in the left lane and have no clue
… Road construction ruins an otherwise great view
…cancer affects so many lives in so many ways
… I can’t calculate the difference between worry and independence with my children
… I don’t take time to enjoy the small things
… I’m not a superhero
… Plumbers chew their finger nails
… I’m always in such a hurry
… You don’t retire from 40 to 60 and then finish your work life out until death takes over
… Sons and Fathers, Daughters and Mothers still die as the price of freedom
… My brother lost his childhood baseball card collection with the Mickey Mantle rookie card
… I don’t make more money
… Some people take advantage of others with out an ounce of guilt
… I don’t see members of my family more often
After reviewing this list on my return home it hit me, why all the negative BS, can’t - don’t - not ; so I quit the list with one final… too bad I don’t think more positively. I’m on my way Lincoln to watch the Huskers play football and I can’t think of better things?? Hell, shit happens all the time to everyone and you know what -- we move on.
There are truly sad things that happen in peoples live. There is seemingly no explanation for why some things happen, especially tragedy involving death and needless suffering. But the other things in life that come our way, hey get over it, move on, or insert your favorite cliché.
Ray lived in the big house on the corner; it was a group home for the mentally handicapped folks. He spent his days sitting in his favorite chair watching the traffic go by and giving a big smile and wave anytime someone would honk. I honked all the time just thinking it made his day. When Ray passed away, the drive down Center St. didn’t seem the same. No more crooked little smile and feeble wave of the hand that apparently made my day as much as my honking did Ray’s. I think at his level Ray had life figured out. Do what I enjoy, smile, wave, and make a difference for others.
They put a bench on the corner in Ray’s memory. He obviously made a difference for others. So I end my “too bad” list with a final entry…Too bad I’m not a little bit more like Ray.
Thanks, Husker.
posted by Joe at
9:46 AM
4 Comments:
The list doesn't strike me as negative, but I see your point. I've pondered a majority of the same things. But not this one, until now: Too bad … Plumbers chew their finger nails. (Ha!)
Or this one, which I think is an exceptional idea: Too bad … You don’t retire from 40 to 60 and then finish your work life out until death takes over
too bad more people didnt get to know ray
I worked with Ray for about a year and 1/2
i was touched when i saw the bench.
too bad i wasnt there more often after i stopped working there
without putting too fine a point on it,Ray grew up hard
farm folk
impoverished
neglected for the most part
abused
malnourished
so to say it was "hard" is sugar coating it
from what i knew of Ray he didnt laugh much until he was at the place on Center St
he seemed to be somewhere else most of the time and would come back from time to time with a sudden awareness that made you wonder
if he had been given the chances a lot of other's take for granted , would Ray have turned out to have been more aware or willing to be more a part of the world around him
the world around him didnt realy interest him all that much until he instilled himself one day on the front lawn of the house in his lawn chair and thus began the ritual of people that would honk and waive
Ray would wave to anyone who would honk
anyone
equal opportunity salutations for all
the beautiful thing about it was Ray didn't judge the car,the person,the moment even.
he was happy just to be acknowleged with that sound..(HONK! beep,beep AoooooGA!)
too bad more of expect more and give less.
Husker, that was very well-written.
Made me think.
It also makes me feel grateful for moving out here and doing what I do, living my dream.
I am glad you came through and had a taste of God's Country.
Husker is a cutie. What is it about men with gray hair?
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