June 12, 2020, limawix
Spring 2020. As I picked up the daily mails, I felt my knee hurting, recalling how a broken knee cap in 2014 left me in crutches for 4 months. “I need to be extra careful” I said to myself, while scanning my mails (of more junk than real mails) while slowly walking back and “BAAMMM” right smack into the garage door!
Exactly 2 weeks ago then, as I pulled the trash containers from the streets, I tripped and fell into the street sidewalk and hit the same right knee. Ugh!
The answer? Growing Old.
Growing old means more white hair and shrinking hairline. Less sleep. More worries and less work done. Yet I know I must be strong for my family, for the twins, for Rene. I need to live more days and years to see them grow and eventually have their own families, and with that I promised to keep myself healthy as much as I can.
For many months, my health has been bothering me “more than usual”. Memory loss is another bothersome thing, I remember Papa saying that human memory is First In Last Out, once your memory is full, it is Last In First Out —> and Yes, I just learned that too.
Writing this song was easier than most. I completed the writing with a more positive note of calling this “Growing Up, Growing Old, Growing Wise”, with some notes on maturity.
I worked with my favorite music friend, Godwin, who can come out with a complete song with my less than 30 seconds of chorus melody. And my favorite duet friends from Austin, Texas – Denise and Vincent. (Also known professionally as the JazzSuite.)
So here you go…
———- Intro 00:00
———- 00:23 Verse 1
(1)
You crawl, you stand, you walk, you run.
Bottles and diapers, and having fun
This boys got no minute to waste
(2)
Now school in navy blue and clean white shirt
Math and science and literature
The kids got a bright future
———- 00:45 Verse 1a
(3)
Growing up, what’s your rush
Did we just start learning A B C
(4)
Step by step, not so fast
Video games, pancakes and hotdogs too.
———- 01:08 Verse 2
(5)
Now things seemed to change
A but shiny shoes, bell-bottoms and some finer things
Wondering what tomorrow would bring.
(6)
Sooner than later, vows exchanged
My teary eyes now feeling strange
A boy and a boy for a joyful family
———- 1:28 Verse 2a
(7)
Growing up, what’s the rush
Did we just start learning how to write
(8)
Step by step, not so fast
You’ve got a whole lot of life ahead
———- 1:53 (Chorus)
(9)
Life is never meant to be a straight line
Shapes and colors are just intertwined.
It goes up and down, round and round and round and round and around
(10)
Maturity is a privilege that’s denied to so many
Living a life that’s full of sweet and bitter memories (a mystery)
———- 2:20 Verse 3
(11)
Meetings, conferences and conventions too,
Business suits, keeping life in line
Finding a way to beat your deadline
(12)
7 days and 80 hours a week,
You make a living by what you get
And make them happy by what you give.
———- 2:41 Verse 3a
(13)
Growing wise, what’s the catch
Success is but failure turned inside out.
(14)
Growing wise, what’s the catch
All that money can’t bring you life
———- 3:04 Verse 4
(15)
Now grayish hair and a shrinking hairline
Yes, life it has its ups and downs,
Wheelchair and cane for a jolly ol’ clown
(16)
Knowledge and wisdom, and experience too
Should we not have comfort over style
Live your life, it really is worth your while
———- 3:25 Verse 4a
(17)
Growing old, what’s the rush
When no one knows what tomorrow brings <1>
When the best days of life is ahead for you
(18)
Growing old, such a blessing.
Old and wise, live long and strong. <2>
The best days of life is up ahead for you
———- 3:51 (Chorus)
(19)
Life is never meant to be a straight line
Shapes and colors are just intertwined.
It goes up and down, round and round and all around (a round-about)
(20)
Maturity is a privilege that’s denied to so many
Living a life that is full of sweet and bitter memories (a mystery)
———- 4:19 (Chorus)
(21)
Life is never meant to be a straight line
Shapes and colors are just intertwined.
It goes up and down, round and round and all around (a round-about)
(22)
Maturing is a blessing that’s denied to so many
Living a life that is full of sweet and bitter memories (sweet mystery)
———- 4:45
(23)
VB&DB Adlib
———- 5:30 End
<1> James 4:14 — Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow
<2> Ephesians 6:2-3 — Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise