The Death Of A Musician And Missed Opportunites

 

I was saddened by the passing of David Bowie last week but more upset by the passing of Glen Frey, front man for the band the Eagles. Both men created music that is intricately woven into the fabric of my youth. Both men made huge impacts on popular music. Both even dabbled with acting for a time and left a mark on that art form too.

But the reality for me is that I just like the Eagles music better. It reflects my west coast lifestyle and is a touch more mainstream easy listening. What can I say, it works for this middle class white girl.

I heard the sad news late last night after I came home from enjoying dinner and a movie with a very dear friend. This morning, while in the shower, I pondered why his passing bothered me so much and then I realized the synchronistic patterns that ran around my emotions.

First, let me just say that I am a devout subscriber to the practise of reading signs and symbols from the universe. I have learned long ago that life is always guiding you in the right direction. You need only to get your head out of the sand and look around you for the clues. So even in an event such as the death of an amazing musician, profound wisdom can be found.

I’ll start with my drive home from the movie last night. Before I left the theatre parking lot I decided to insert a CD for some tunes to pass the 20 minute drive home. I picked two choices. The first was The Eagles, “Hell Freezes Over” CD and the second was Linda Ronstadt’s “Cry Like A Rainstorm, Howl Like The Wind”. The Eagles, incidentally began as a backup band for Linda Ronstadt. What I find ironic is that I haven’t pulled out a CD in months and months so looking back, I find my choices interesting. I will be honest here and tell you I picked Linda Ronstadt.

The last song on the CD is called “Good-bye My Friend”. Which got me thinking (and tearing up) about what songs I would like to have play at my funeral some day which in turn got me thinking about death. Pretty maudlin thinking, I agree but the month of January and its dark grey days kind of puts me there. Anyway, I found that having death and saying good-bye to a friend in my head and finding out Glen Frey had just died unsettling.

 

Being one to analyse just about everything coincidental that happens in my life, I got the grey matter fired up and began to ask myself, “Why does this matter to me? What can I learn form this?”

I’ve seen a lot of concerts in my day, even David Bowie, but if you asked me what one band I would like to see play live, I would have said hands down, the Eagles. You could say they were on my bucket list of things I wanted to see, do or accomplish before I die and now I can’t. I had the chance to see them several years ago when they played live in Vancouver but didn’t go for it. With the passing of Glen Frey I have now and forever missed that opportunity. The surviving members may play publically again (I doubt it) but it will never be the true Eagles ever again.

Glen Frey was 67 years young. Hardly an old man by todays standards. Being 52 years old myself, if I only lived to 67 myself, I would only have 15 years left of this life and we all know how fast the last 15 years went. It’s a blink of the eye in the big picture of the universe.

Okay, so here is where the really big wisdom comes to me folks. What other opportunities have I missed thinking I had loads of time to get to later? And the bonus point question. What am I waiting for?

There is no question that both Glen Frey and David Bowie made their own personal marks on history. Their music will forever be their legacy. They certainly did not pass up opportunities and were blessed  with amazing lives as a result.

We are told to live life to the fullest. Always tell your loved ones how you feel. You never know if it will be the last time. To take leaps of faith and especially, live with no regrets. The passing of one of my favourite musicians is a somber reminder that we are all given many chances to enrich our lives with fantastic memories and experiences. What amazing events have you said no to lately? Remember that our lives go so fast, embrace opportunities before they pass you by never to come around again.

Thanks for that Glen.

 

Friends don’t let friends miss out on opportunities that could become amazing memories. Please share this post and help a friend.