Growing Old

 

 

Isn't that quote amazing? And something got me thinking of that today. A person. A band director. A man dying from cancer. He is 76 years old, and today was the first time I ever met him. Mr. Crew.

 

He walked into the room, and it became silent. Because there was an ancient look in his eyes, an ache, a sigh. And yet he looked so happy. Our teacher looked at him, and tears came to his eyes, "Mr Crew, everybody." He didn't really talk that much, but the music we played was in his narrowed eyes as he thought about it. And in a mellow, warbling voice, he told us what needed to be better. We played it again. It was better. He is the type that demands excellence, but not in a harsh, cruel way. He told us what needed to be done, and it was done. Warmth filled his eyes when he spoke, I could tell. And right before we had to leave for the last period of the day, he decided to talk for a bit. He told us how devastating it was. Having cancer. And how the chemo wiped him out, how we felt he couldn't do anything. And how he missed band and helping out. "It was the worst thing," he said, "I felt awful about not being able to show up as much as I used to." And then he told us about the card he had gotten from us all back in August. He said, "I was awful. But that card...that card gave me the strength to go on..." and in that moment, I think a lot of people got tears in their eyes. The room was silent. It was still. The bell rang, and no one moved. Tears brimmed in eyes. Because here was a man, withering from cancer, and yet going on. Here was a man who received one card in the mail, and with those words, took strength. Here is a man who doesn't let age defy him. And I think that that is beautiful.

 

"Time is a concept that humans created." 

 

 

I couldn't agree more. This man was devastated by cancer, but he didn't become old by it. He accepted it, is fighting it, and I don't know what will be the outcome. I just wanted to share that because it was in my mind, and I couldn't get it out. Life is not fair, but then again, it's life.

 

xoxo,

 

Robin