A month ago, I attended a memorial for Barry, a friend I knew through my closest pal Bobbo. Barry and Bobbo became close when they were on the same bicycle racing team for years. The memorial was held at a craft brewery as one of Barry’s passions was sampling various specialty beers whenever possible. The first time I met Barry was many years ago on a car ride up to Summerfest in Milwaukee. He and I just clicked talking about music, movies, sports and more. Bobbo’s wife Tammi was with us and commented how quickly and easily we bonded.
Barry had a fatal heart attack while out on a bike ride. Some might say he died doing what he loved but being just a couple years older than me, his leaving this world was way too early. It really didn’t matter what Barry was doing when he was stricken, leaving behind a wife and two teenage daughters just ain’t right.
So fast forward to the last week. Meeting up with three different sets of friends, I learned of the deaths of five other contemporaries. Two of those deaths occurred a couple years ago and I was just learning of the news now. These were guys who I knew well back in grade school and high school. I played sports with a couple of them and knew the others from being in classes together. I hadn’t talked to any of them in years but had fond memories of the times we spent together.
As sad as their passings were and are, two of them I learned died due to long battles with alcoholism. I’ve known other classmates who succumbed the same way but it’s still a shock to learn how an addiction can grab someone so hard that they can’t break free and it becomes their cause of death.
I’m at the age (61) where passings of my former classmates are becoming more common. I remember my 40th high school reunion three years ago. They held a memorial role call of those in the York class of 1979 who were no longer living. Some of the names read stunned the hundreds in attendance. I heard many audible gasps and there were tears streaming down some faces.
I often quote a line the late great Harry Caray used to say when he’d talk about the passing of some notable at a younger age. Harry would comment, “Live now, it’s later than you think.” True enough.
So where does this leave me? This summer I had a good report back on my annual physical. Some weight was lost (plenty more to go there) and all blood panels, heart rate and blood pressure, etc. are all good. I can thank my good parental and grandparental genes for much of that.
But like anyone else, I could go at any time. Stroke, heart attack, aneurism, car crash, shooting, freak accident, etc. Anything can happen to any of us at any time. So, I keep learning to appreciate every day above ground that much more. Heck, Barry’s passing shook my dear pal Marko so much that he’s altering his retirement plans so that he can enjoy more of the life he has left.
I’m so sorry to learn of those guys I knew way back when who are no longer living. It’s sobering news and makes me think of the words spoken by Morgan Freeman in The Shawshank Redemption. “Get busy living or get busy dying. That’s Goddamn right.” Duly noted.
I’ll close off this post with a song from Clint Black. He wrote and recorded it almost 30 years ago and it’s as true now as it was back then.
NEXT BLOG- Remembering a busy 1982.