Life Love Loss – Sound familiar?
Every human being who was ever born, is being born now, or will be born will experience these same three things: Life Love Loss. Obviously if you were born and you’re reading this now, you’ve experienced life. And no matter who might think something to the contrary, you’ve also experienced love…at least once in your life. Finally, since the birth to death ratio is always gonna be 1:1, you WILL experience loss. If not now, soon. But the life, love, and loss you experience here in this space/time continuum isn’t the final word on your existence.
Way back in 1986 my Dad died after battling with kidney failure for nine years. After suffering some unexplained illnesses for multiple weekends in a row, he finally decided to see a doctor. The doctor and hospital ran tests and discovered that his kidneys had failed, and they told him he would probably only live 2 to 4 years more. He did the hard work…in addition to dialysis…and proved them wrong by living more than twice that long. However, at the age of only 51 he finally succumbed to the “terminal” condition and slipped away into the presence of the living, loving, Creator.
To say I was close with my Dad would be an understatement. In fact, I quote him to this day. He was far from perfect (sort of like the rest of us), but he was MY Dad. And that made him the most important man in the world. Being a young man myself (I was 31 when he died) I felt the need to grieve the loss internally. You know…big boys don’t cry. And it would be six years before I wrote a musical tribute to him.
I’m sharing the words with you today. I hope they somehow help you cope, if you’re dealing with a loss…and rejoice if you’re experiencing a great love…and recognition of how precious your life is. What about you? What have you written or created as a memorial to life love loss or someone you love? Share it with me if you like. Here are the lyrics to the song for my Dad…
Fandango Street
Dwight was a boy anybody would employ
‘Cause he worked his fingers to the bone.
But he said he had to fly, get a piece of the sky.
So he took off for the great unknown.
Everybody said no, no, no. But he still had to go
To make his whole life complete
And look for Fandango Street.
He took himself a wife, as he made the change of life,
And the boy became a regular man.
They had a couple kids just like everybody did.
But it really wasn’t in the plan.
And his spirit said no, no, no.
That’s not the way you should go.
Should be pointing your feet on up to Fandango Street.
Oh, but somewhere the world took over
And left him thirsting for more.
Where was the milk and the honey
He had dreamed of all those years before?
He was moving right along feeling permanently strong
Thinking all he had to do was behave.
But a terminal disease slowly drove him to his knees,
And it took him to an early grave.
And his family said no, no, no.
But he still had to go
To make the journey complete and look for Fandango Street.
And to this day I say no, no, no.
But I know he had to go.
To make the journey complete and look for Fandango Street.
I hear him tapping his feet up on Fandango Street.
And so his life is complete, he dance on Fandango Street!
© 1992 Tony Funderburk
This song could be featured on an episode of the FunderCast. So, be sure and subscribe, if you haven’t already, and listen for my song for my Dad…and lots more besides Life Love Loss
Stay tuned,
