If I Die Tomorrow (All Good Things)

Recently I got a phone call that my sister-in-law Liz had died. She was found slumped in her chair, her head down. Apparently she went peacefully. She had been sick for quite some time with a number of ailments but it was still a shock to learn of her death. My wife of course was devastated.

Funny thing about death. Once the initial shock of the news wears off, there is the sobering recollection of one's own mortality and the guilty relief that the Grim Reaper had come for someone else this time. Even so, it made me think about what I'd want to say to everyone when my turn comes. So, file this away for future reference.

IF I DIE TOMORROW

by George Gelish

I've enjoyed a rich, full life with most every important thing a man could ask for.

If I die tomorrow, I don't want anyone to be sad. I've always been a believer in the Gift of Salvation - I'll be headed off to a better place. I hope you'll miss me but believe me, life will go on. Keep me in your hearts until we meet again. There were so many of you that I've loved, although some not as well as I should have.

I've had a great run. I have some regrets but no complaints. I've enjoyed a rich, full life with most every important thing a man can ask for. I do not feel the least bit shortchanged. I really do hate to have to leave it all behind.

I was born into a wonderful family. My brothers Joe and Willee have been lifelong musical collaborators, not to mention my best male friends. I love you both so much. We've had some drama but only a fraction of what most families have. My parents were both extraordinary people. Helen greatly influenced me intellectually, especially in my Liberal political philosophy. Joe Sr. was a great role model - a strong, principled partiarch and someone I really looked up to. My love and gratitute to you both knows no bounds.

I've enjoyed the gift of friendship from so many people over the years. Even so, there were so many others I wish I could have gotten to know better in this life. The friendships I treasured the most were the ones that endured through the years - Rob and Craig, Wendy, Jay, Debi, Leo and yes you too Joel! Some I've lost touch with, some I've had fallings out with but In my life I've loved them all.

The two greatest blessings in my life are the two women in this picture.

My parents sent me not to one but two of the best schools America had to offer - La Salle Military Academy and NYU. C.W. Post was pretty good too. I've enjoyed being an educated man in the knowledge of my times. I enjoyed being at the birth of the Internet age when it really took off in the Nineties and growth seemed unlimited. It was the Gold Rush of our generation. I've had a lot of opportunities and enjoyed exploring many different things in my lifetime, some more successfully than others.

I got to live in the USA, which in my lifetime was the greatest nation in the world. I lived in a somewhat free society and enjoyed my place in it as one of the "haves." As an older white man of a certain socioeconomic station, people called me "Sir." I've never really been poor - I was broke at times but never impoverished. I was greatly blessed in that the times in my life when I had the least money were some of my happiest.

I worked a series of nice white-collar jobs that paid well, but I also worked at blue-collar jobs enough to appreciate how good I had it. I worked construction while I was going to graduate school, and learned at least as much on the job site as I did in the classroom. I learned what an honorable thing it is to carry a union card and earn a living with your hands. I learned how the amount of crap you have to take in your job is inversely proportional to how much money they're paying you. I used to say, "It's another fun day in the factory" at work to remind myself that I once did, how much it sucked, and how even a bad day at the office was better than working there.

I've graduated from not one but two of the greatest schools in America.

I lived, loved, laughed, partied and took care of business. I worked hard and played hard too. I got stinking drunk and high as hell. I took care of my responsibilities (mostly) and enjoyed guilty pleasures. I did good and I did bad; did right and did wrong; I won, I lost; grabbed the laurels and took the lumps. I've had ups and downs in my life but on the whole, mostly "ups."

I have loved and been loved by a truly extraordinary woman. What a blessing it was to have such a smart, loving, energetic, big-hearted wife - partner, lover, friend and muse. Terri was truly The Love of My Life and my Soul Mate. She bugged me, bossed me around, broke my balls, nagged me, challenged me, argued with me - she damn near drove me crazy at times. But in all the years we were together I was never, ever bored! Over a lifetime that is saying quite a lot.

I'm still amazed that any woman would ever have agreed to have my baby. Terri has been, to say the least, a wonderful mother. We bred and raised a fantastic daughter - truly the apple of my eye and my pride and joy. Of all the gifts I have been given in this life, I treasure Stephanie the most.

Over the years so many people told me how lucky I was, although I didn't really need them to. Well, sometimes I did. Although I didn't always show it no man ever loved a woman more than I loved Terri. Meeting her was the single biggest stroke of luck I ever had. What a loser I would have been without her!

I got to do my Rock and Roll thing and pursue my dreams to an age when most men had long given up on theirs. That's because I had a wife who "got it." She understood my passion - nurtured and facilitated it. She was both my inspiration and musical mentor.

Yes indeed, I was lucky. Whatever else people will say about me after I'm gone I hope they'll say, "He had a great life and he lived it well." Most importantly, I realized it. I knew how good I had it, and lived my life mostly in an "attitude of gratitude." Other people are richer, smarter, more famous, more charming, and better-looking. They live glamorous lives, jet-setting around and basking in the spotlight. I wouldn't trade my life for any of theirs.

My epitath.

If I wanted a tombstone (which I don't) it would have this inscription: "Here lies George - it didn't suck to be me."