I Will Remember Him Fondly

On Thursday, April 19, 2012, the world lost a great musician.  His name was Greg Ham and he was the saxophonist, flutist, and keyboardist for the 1980’s group Men At Work.  Personally, I am a big fan of Men At Work’s and have been since I was kid … which is when they were a band.  It’s a very sad loss, especially since he was only 58 years old.

A couple of year’s ago, there was a scandal going on when Men At Work was accused of stealing the flute tune from one of their biggest hits, and one of my favorites, Down Under.  They lost the case and Greg feared that he would go down in music history as the man who stole a flute solo, and this seemed to be something that haunted Greg until his death.  Friends stated that he was not the same man after that.

Personally, I feel the case was shifty, but that’s just my opinion.  I mean, why sue someone over 20 years after the fact.  Strange, but true.  And I honestly don’t know every single detail about it.  My intuition just tells me it’s bull.  Again, … my opinion.

That being said, … I wanted to write a little note to Greg on here from a fan for life.

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Dear Greg,

You don’t know me, but I am a huge fan of Men At Work. I grew up with listening to your music … literally.  I feel sad because you were taken so soon from this world, but I know you will find true peace on the other side.

I know you had your fears about how people would remember you after the court case concerning your song Down Under.  I know it hurt you and you felt angry and embarrassed by it.  Please know that I am pretty sure that most of your fans will not think about this when they listen to your music.

I remember watching you in a concert that my dad had taped.  I was so amazed and impressed by the fact that you played so many different instruments and so beautifully.  I have always seen you as a very talented individual who created a wonderful legacy of beautiful music.  And this is coming from one of your fans!

I really, truly do believe that you will be remembered for the good contributions you left in this world and not something frivolous law suit.  I am sorry that it was so tough on you and that this world brought you so much pain when you tried to bring them joy.

Please know that your fans still love you and will always remember you fondly.  Please rest in peace, my friend. May we one day meet on the flip side so that I can Thank You personally for giving me the gift of your wonderful music with Men At Work.

Thanks for the music, Greg Ham!

With Love … Your fan,

Deanna

Expecting The Unexpected

25 Year’s Ago Today …

My beloved Uncle, Chester Smith, went to heaven.  I was only 12 … almost 13, years old, and when it happened, it truly hit me hard.  I was not prepared for what had happened, as many people aren’t when their loved one’s die suddenly.  All I knew was that one minute the man I had loved my whole life was there, then the next, he was gone.  He had had a major heart attack and died within a few hours from when the ambulance had picked him up in our front yard.  (My uncle lived in the house that my family and I now live in.  We lived behind him in a trailer at the time.) 

I had been sent over to my aunt’s home – on my mother’s side of the family; my uncle is on my father’s side.  I was over there for hours waiting to hear what was going on, but didn’t hear anything.  My cousin ended up taking me to the hospital to see what was going an and soon after arriving, I received a big shock that still hits me kind of hard to this day.  A very insensitive nurse came out told me the news by saying, “He died.”  Just like that.  “He died …”  And that was all she wrote.  I barely made it back to the elevator before bawling my eyes out.  It just hurt so bad.  My parents never meant for me to find out that way, and my aunt still feels bad to this day for having my cousin bring me there.  I’ve told her that I don’t blame her.  I mean, she didn’t know any more than I did.  We just wanted to know what was going on.

So, … anyways …

Wow!  It has been twenty-five years now.  It’s so strange.  It was after 1987 and that event that my life began to change.  It started when we moved from the trailer into my uncle’s house.  Since then, … so many “unexpected” changes have occurred in my life.  In 1989, I began my struggle with depression.  In 1997, I was stricken with panic disorder.  In 2004, I came down with severe preeclampsia and HELLP Syndrome and had to give birth to my son via c-section 6 weeks early.  I believe it was 2005 that I found out that I have a blood clotting disorder called prothrombin gene mutation. Then, in 2006, I was diagnosed with secondary unexplained infertility.

Most of what I thought would happen in my life so far hasn’t happened.  Of course, that doesn’t mean that something else won’t come along because it always does.  Do I get disappointed by things that happen in my life that are totally unexpected?  Sure, of course I do.  I’m still dealing with a lot of those feelings and emotions. 

What my point is in all of this is that things happen.  Some things are good … while some are downright terrible.  In life, we have to learn how to roll with the punches and keep on fighting the good fight, no matter what.  It’s about gaining resiliency and not letting the bad times ruin your life.  Take a good look at your obstacles and try to make the best of them.  There is always something good that can be found even in the worst of situations.  Sometimes you just have to look beyond the darkness to see the light.  One day the sun will shine again and it will shine on you.

© Deanna Smith-Powers/The Lotus Flower Butterfly Girl, 2012.