Read Thy Book - Sam's Blog
  • Home
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact
  • Pics
  • Home
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact
  • Pics

Picture

March 23rd, 2023

3/23/2023

0 Comments

 
Picture
Who dat?  Well, anyone who had little ones 50 or so years ago (holy crap I'm old) would recognize this guy as Shel Silverstein, or as he was sometimes known, Uncle Shelby.  He's the fellow who wrote the books, "Where the Sidewalk Ends", "The Giving Tree" and "A Giraffe and a Half"  for example.  One of my favourites is, "Uncle Shelby's ABZ's".  Much of what he wrote was particularly beloved by children (and their parents) but he wrote adult things as well.

He was something of a renaissance man, illustrating and writing  short stories, poetry and books.  But are you aware that he also wrote music? (some of my favourite Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show songs were written by him.  Also on his list of accomplishments were several plays:  "Abandon all hope",  "All Cotton" and "Blind Willie and the Talking Dog" for example.  He was a singular talent with an amazing mind.

I mostly adored Shel Silverstein's stuff. And why wouldn't I?  He made us think at the same time that he delighted, informed, educated and entertained people of all ages for a very long time which is an amazing legacy to leave behind.  I was a huge fan.  Anything he wrote, Everything he created, I was on board with. Until I read the following Shel Silverstein quote:  "There are no happy endings.  Endings are the saddest part."  I disagree.  

Well I somewhat disagree.  I disagree with conditions.  Yes it is true that Some ends are sad, I will admit that.  Can't really argue it. I've cried often enought to prove the truth of it.   But not all  endings are sad.  His quote makes a poor blanket statement.

Not all endings are sad.  There, I've said it.  And I stand behind it.

Here are two examples:

Last week, I 'graduated' from Physical Therapy.  Woohoo!  They have taught me well, given me the tools I need to get back to my old self which means that it's now up to me to finish the job.  But my time at PT, my weekly visits and torture session have come to an end.  Everyone there was absolutely wonderful, I learned so much and I was pleased with every minute of it. (well almost every minute, pain is pain, right?)  BUT my time there has come to an end.  And I am happy to wave good-bye to that chapter of my life.  Here is the tee-shirt they gave me as a graduation present.  Wasn't that a nice surprise?
Picture
Here's another example:

Over this past weekend we had a dumpster brought in so that we could finally FINALLY get rid of all of the leftover construction related crap that the builders left behind in multiple piles all over the dang yard.  ARGH!  We finally got to a point in the work in the project room where we do not need anything in any of those piles.  Nor will we be adding any additional large crap to any of the piles.  The small bits of work left in the project room are slow and time consuming but do not create big ungainly debris.  (only small unattractive debris which is easily incorporated into the weekly garbage pick up).

So the dumpser was delivered late last week and Sunday was spent incorporating all of those piles of rubble and rubbish into one big pile in the dumpster!  We dealt with dirt and nails and splinters and bugs and spiders and one seriously PO'd snake to say nothing of just the sweat and strain of the job. But it's done. It's over.  The dumpster people hauled it all away yesterday and there is nothing left but the memory.  I could not be happier about that particular ending.
Picture
And that's just two examples off the top of my head. I know that there are loads of others.  And while yes, I agree, in general that endings can be sad (the end of a bag of M&M's is a very sad moment)  sometimes, endings are not only not sad, but happy and very satisfying.

This one time, Mr. Silverstein, I must disagree with you. Just the one time mind you. The rest of the time you are absolutely correct.

Oh and something else to keep in mind,  The end of everything is the beginning of something else.  And beginnings are, quite often, very good things.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Yup, this is me. Some people said, "Sam, you should write a Blog".   "Well, there's a thought", I thought to myself. And so here it is.

    Archives

    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly