"But I've still got Checks???"

"But I’ve still got checks in my checkbook, how can I be broke?" With an incredulous look, and a lot of naivete, and after a few bounced checks, one can say with wonderment, "How can I be broke when there are still lots of checks in my checkbook?."

This weekend I visited Shirley. Shirley is about 80. She has lived a good life. She feels fine, she is active, she has lots of friends and has done a lot of good things in her life, touched a lot of people. The doc tells her she has an aneurism near the brain, 70% clogged arteries, and a few other things. He also tells her, that operating could kill her, and to just hang around til something goes and she expires. Her response, "How can I be so sick and not feel sick?"
Its like the checks in the checkbook, her life is cookin’ along, she is having fun, but... her bank account has run out and she’s gonna be saying goodbye. Goin out with a smile, and ... leaving a few tears behind.

As I drove the 400 miles home, I listened to my Rod McKuen CD’s. I teared up and cried a bit, thought about lots. My life, Shirley’s, and my friend Janette’s too. It’s spring, its Easter, it’s the start of a new year, but... I went to visit Shirley to say good bye, it’s the autumn of her life. And my friend Janette is slowly saying goodbye to her father, who is her best and most trusted friend as well as her dad.

Rod’s song Season’s of the Sun hit me as I drove, listened, and sang along with Rod. Poignant and right on with Shirley, and Janette... and for me as I hit the autumn of my life. Its hard to say goodbye, Shirley still has LOTS of checks in her checkbook, lots of stories to tell, lots of kindness to share, and plenty more brownies to make for her family and friends... but her account has run out on this earth as we know it. And Janette knows its time for dad to leave, but for her they have gone through all the seasons together, lived life fully, shared, talked and loved each other... but its still hard to say goodbye as the flowers bloom and the birds are singing.

"Adieu my friend, it's hard to die, when all the birds are singing in the sky. Now that the spring is in the air....
We had joy we had fun we had seasons in the sun, but the hills that we climbed were just seasons out of time.
Adieu my friend, please pray for me, I was the black sheep of the family. You tried to teach me right from wrong, Too much wine and too much song, Wondered how I got along
Adieu my friend, it's hard to die, when all the birds are singing in the sky. Now that the spring is in the air, little children everywhere, When you see 'em I'll be there.
We had joy we had fun we had seasons in the sun, but the wine and the song, like the seasons have all gone.
Goodbye.... my friend, it's hard to die when all the birds are singing in the sky, Now that the spring is in the air. With the flowers everywhere. I wish that we could both be there."