Life is Very Short

While driving my 2,300 kilometers to and from, and all around Southern Ontario this past week, I twice heard the Beatles’ song, We Can Work it Out, playing on the radio.

The first time it played, I stumbled slightly in my sing-a-long — it had been quite some time since I had last heard and sung it.  When it finished playing, I resolutely turned off the radio and continued to sing, so I could keep the words in my head.

A couple of days later, when I heard the song for the second time, I was in full swing and  sang the lyrics with gusto and with tears running down my cheeks; by then, they were much riper with meaning.  You see, the night before, Bruce had passed away right in front of me.

Yes, life is very short.

Our dear brother was only 58 years old, and for the previous several years he, along with the love of his life, had been passionately involved in building his beautiful dream home.  It was very close to completion.  ( “But I haven’t finished the trim!” )

Bruce had everything to live for.  He had planned, and prepared, and worked diligently, for a wonderful retirement with his wife, children and grandchild to keep him company.  He was full of joy and full of life — a life that he had lived so well.

Bruce never wasted his time and energy on “fussing and fighting.”

So, in part, this post is in memory of Bruce.  “Life is very short, and there’s no time for fussing and fighting, my friend.”  Let’s just work it out and think of what we’re saying to each other.  Everyone.  Every day.

But The Beatles said it first:

  We can Work It Out

Try to see it my way,
Do I have to keep on talking till I can’t go on?
While you see it your way,
Run the risk of knowing that our love may soon be gone.
We can work it out,
We can work it out.
Think of what you’re saying.
You can get it wrong and still you think that it’s alright.
Think of what I’m saying,
We can work it out and get it straight, or say good night.
We can work it out,
We can work it out.
Life is very short, and there’s no time
For fussing and fighting, my friend.
I have always thought that it’s a crime,
So I will ask you once again.
Try to see it my way,
Only time will tell if I am right or I am wrong.
While you see it your way
There’s a chance that we may fall apart before too long.
We can work it out,
We can work it out.
Life is very short, and there’s no time
For fussing and fighting, my friend.
I have always thought that it’s a crime,
So I will ask you once again.
Try to see it my way,
Only time will tell if I am right or I am wrong.
While you see it your way
There’s a chance that we may fall apart before too long.
We can work it out,
We can work it out.

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