I spent the other day with my friend who’s dying of cancer, and we talked about how being sick makes you live completely in the moment — because it’s all you have. Life seems very precious these days, and this Shirley Horn song really does say it all:
No complaints and no regrets
I still believe in chasing dreams and placing bets
For I have learned that all you give is all you get
So give it all you’ve got
I had my share, I drank my fill
And even though I’m satisfied,
I’m hungry still
To see what’s down another road beyond the hill
And do it all again
So here’s to life,
And all the joy it brings.
Yes, here’s to life
The dreamers and their dreams
Funny, how the time just flies
How love can go from warm hellos to sad goodbyes
And leave you with the memories you memorize
To keep your winters warm
How love can turn from warm hellos to sad goodbyes
And leave you with the memories you’ve memorized
To keep your winters warm.
There’s no yes in yesterday
And who knows what tomorrow brings or takes away
As long as I’m still in the game I want to play
For laughs, for life, for love.
So here’s to life and every joy it brings
Yes, here’s to life
And dreamers and their dreams
May all your storms be weathered
And all that’s good get better
Here’s to life, here’s to love, here’s to you.
May all your storms be weathered
And all that’s good get better
Here’s to life, here’s to love, here’s to you.
May all your storms be weathered
And all that’s good get better
Here’s to life, here’s to love, here’s to you.
A close friend (from college and born on the same day/same year as me) fought breast cancer for several years. She, too, tried to live every day in the moment. She more or less succeeded, but especially at the end when her family wanted her to keep trying things that had no chance of helping her.
This song is very poignant.