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A Real Life Story by Glenn Hansen

Dedicated to Sweet Judith, wherever you are in God’s universe.

CHAPTER 1

“Love you to the moon and back!” It was Judy’s absolutely favourite saying. Her wonderful heart willingly shared it with everyone she was really close to, including me. I felt fortunate to be a close enough friend to be a recipient of this caring affection repeatedly and gladly reciprocated so many, many times.

Death. It becomes us all in the end. But, this story is about life, the fight for it, and a celebration of sorts. On a particularly pleasant, sunny spring morning, with a faint fog lingering in the air, I was walking to Riverview Healthcare Centre again to visit my friend Judy. I parked for free on a side street with a two hour time limit. As I went to the centre often, constantly spending my limited resources on the paid parking lot right next to the centre was not a viable option. And, I didn’t have to be a marathoner to do the trek, which was actually good for me.

This is a unique, very special healthcare facility that offers expert, tender loving care to those battling critical illnesses. My visits were bittersweet. I loved to visit my friend and the incredible people who were caring for her. They repeatedly reinforced my hope in humanity in the increasingly toxic world I was trying to peacefully co-exist in. I also knew that with every visit, it was potentially one visit closer to the last one.

I’ve been around on this planet for awhile now. “I’ve seen good times, I’ve seen bad, guess I’ve seen it all,” to quote lyrics from a song I had written some years ago in my naive younger years. Not true. I now realize life constantly challenges you with unexpected occurrences and events you could never have imagined. They’re not all bad ones either. Quite to the contrary, good things can happen too. And good things can emerge from the bad ones.    

From what I just stated, you may have discerned that I am a songwriter. It is one of my many endeavours over the years, a constant one from age eleven, when I first played in the junior high school band. In today’s streaming music world, it’s ridiculously hard to make money in music, period. Sure, I would like to have even some modest success, but, like any other person involved in music, it’s like sports; no matter how much money you make, or don’t make, you do it because you love to do it in spite of all the rigours and roadblocks. Yes, I have made a very small amount of money. Fortunately, I have other modest sources of income to keep me afloat.

So anyway, on this particularly pleasant spring morning, as I walked to the entrance of the Riverview Healthcare Centre, I passed by a number of windows at the facility and in one of them I noticed an older gentleman playing a large Roland keyboard. Roland, by the way, makes great keyboards. He was happily playing away. I could see this from the joy in his round face and by the movement of his body as he played. I estimated his age to be around sixty-four (thank you, Beatles). He was fair and smooth in complexion, had very thinning light hair with a few strands combed over the top, and wore glasses with medium redwood coloured frames. From the movement of his body, I could also ascertain he was playing the digital keyboard on a piano setting. I smiled to myself as I walked past him.

The large healthcare facility’s structure is a wonderful, welcoming building with smooth medium reddish brown bricking, soft beige grout and trim, and organic medium forest green structural features. There is green space everywhere. A large, beautiful treed park with winding walkways, benches and tables is perched in front. When the weather is nice, you can see numerous patients in wheelchairs accompanied by loved ones, family and friends, or hospital staff.

I have never seen so many wheelchairs like I have at this place. The patients in them vary in the movement they can achieve from fairly flexible to extremely limited. Many have oxygen tanks. As you cannot, of course, smoke inside the hospital, smokers go to certain areas outside. It’s vital that the smokers and non-smokers, especially those with breathing difficulties and oxygen tanks, never get near each other. While you may think there should be no smoking anywhere, you have to appreciate that all of these people are at various stages of critical illness. Days can be very long for them, so for smokers, it’s a welcome diversion. Granted, it’s not a good diversion, but, they are in difficult situations, so I have empathy for them. They are usually life-long smokers. Please be assured though there are rules. You have to be a minimum distance away from the building and smokers and non-smokers must and do stay apart. Everyone cooperates.

As you approach the main entrance, there is a circular driveway for picking up and dropping off. You often see ambulance and stretcher vehicles there. The pleasant security staff keeps things moving. Ambulances and stretcher vehicles have priority over private vehicles.

I then walk in through two sets of very wide, automatic sliding doors. The foyer between them is roomy. The pay station for the aforementioned parking lot is here and there is seating for people. There is a hand sanitizing machine, the first of many you will encounter in the facility, and I mean many. When you do get through the second set of doors, there is an open, bright table area awaiting you with security staff. These are some of the most pleasant and capable security people you will ever encounter. Another sanitizing machine is there.

Behind is a huge, bright and welcoming common room. I am going to the right to the west wing. The walk there is along a long, curved hallway that is warm looking and conducive to a positive atmosphere. Next thing I know, I’m at the large, special elevators which are designed to accommodate wheelchairs. No surprise there.

From the elevators I go left and left again and I’m at my friend’s ward. The atmosphere is relaxed given the nature of the patients, but the expertise and warmth of the various personal exudes everywhere. If I should find myself in a critical illness situation, (hopefully not, of course), this is where I would want to be.

And now, I’m at the wide doorway to my friend’s room.

Random luck. Let’s face it, for the majority of people born in a free and wealthy nation, everything you have, everything, is the result of the random luck of being born there. Without this random luck, your lifestyle could be very different, and not in a good way. You did nothing to earn the opportunity this afforded you. You did not deserve it. Random luck.

I grant you what you do with this opportunity plays a role in what you achieve, but, without the fortuitous initial opportunity, who knows where you would be. Yet, we often are not grateful for what we have and some want even more and more. Often, we complain about this and that. Some even get arrogant without empathy or compassion. No appreciation for this unfair initial advantage.

People need to treat each other better, much better. Understanding this starts with the self-recognition of the incredible good fortune of being born where you were born. When you understand this, you can then truly care about and have empathy for others. You will realize most of the world does not have the unearned luck you had in being born where you were born, a free and wealthy nation.

This includes billionaires and oligarchs, most of whom do not share a dime with those in need in the world we live in. Even these high echelon people, some of whom were randomly born into wealth, should be grateful for this random luck. Sometimes egos get in the way.

We should be grateful, but all too often we are not.    

On April 28, Canadians go to the polls for a national election (called a Federal election in Canada). Tonight I watched a two hour debate between the four main party leaders. The debate was strong, spirited and contentious, but, it was, like Canada, respectful and civilized. At the end, the four leaders and the moderator all got together amongst each other in what was the equivalent to the time honoured sports tradition of teams shaking hands after the game, again reflecting respect and even some camaraderie to reflect that while they have different views, they are all there to serve Canada and its people.

India wants to address its mountain of mounting e-waste with new rules that will, among other things, require manufacturers to pay significantly more for re-cycling electronic goods in that country. Of course, global companies like Samsung, Daikin and Hitachi say it is way too costly. What a surprise. This illustrates, once again, that you cannot rely on business to self-regulate. Self-regulation will lead consumers back to the dark ages of consumerism. Next thing you know, lead will be used in paint again and asbestos, which is still immorally used in parts of the world, will be an element in more products again. It’s all about profit.

I reiterate that I have no problem with people and companies making “honest” profits, but not profits with a high human cost.

America, its party time! As in a new political party. I know, the subject has come up a number of times in the past for a variety of reasons. However, there’s never been a past quite like the present for a long time.

I would suggest that the centre-left and centre-right get together to form a new party which would represent the majority of Americans. Yes, it would take work and cooperation among reasonable politicians who really want to serve the people, and the people themselves, but it could extricate America from the current malady of extreme people. It might even still save the country if you start now.

The only thing that doesn’t change is change, and real change can be good. Look at all the wonderful changes that have occurred in medicine. A third party now might be lifesaving medicine for a country that’s being to lost greed, corruption, hate and arrogance with no regard for the Constitution, the law, or its people. Let’s party! 

Money for nothing and justice is free. In spite of the immoral attempt by Elon Musk to buy voters for the Wisconsin Supreme Court election yesterday, as well as having Trump’s support, their candidate Brad Schimel lost to Judge Susan Crawford. It was nice to see that Musk stooping to “bribing” voters with cash did not succeed. I am not talking about the politics of this election, I am talking about the moral principle here. When you are a billionaire and all that matters to you is money, it’s good to see money still cannot buy everything or everyone.      

I have to tell you that I think America is dying as a superpower. Some may tell you it’s a rebirth. It’s not. So many things that made it great are falling away. Kindness, goodness and altruistic behaviour are dying. The rule of law is dying. The Constitution is being mangled. Self-serving economic interests and corruption are moving to the forefront like never before. Hate is viscerally rearing its ugly head. The perpetrators are having a field day because no one is standing up to them and for decency. I wonder what Presidents like Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, FDR, Eisenhower, Kennedy and Reagan would think about the current state of affairs.

I’m not talking politics though, I’m talking about behaviours. I have supported both Republicans and Democrats in the past. I have no vested interest other than to have a structured, free and civilized country and a belief in honesty, goodness, caring and the opportunity to be successful. I want everyone to have a chance to realize their American Dream.

Please note this day. More than the music died today, America is dying. Everything in history points to a faster decline in great empires when they get self-absorbed, uncaring and the rulers get arrogant. I am sadly surprised no one is boldly standing up for true American values. Goodnight America.

Things Jesus did not say:

The more wealth you have the better your chance to get into Heaven.

The more power you have the better your chance to get into Heaven.

Healthcare should only be available to those who can pay for it.

Hate and inhumaneness is the correct way to address grievances against others.

Only white people are eligible to get into Heaven.

Deceive people as much as possible to achieve your worldly goals.

Do not help the elderly cross the street.

Those with meanness will inherit the world.

Its poor people’s fault they are poor and therefore do not deserve assistance.

Look out only for number one.

Empathy, goodness and kindness are weaknesses.

It’s okay to talk the talk but not walk the walk if it benefits you.

Let’s suppose for a moment that the Magaloids’ dreams all come true and they get the country they think they want and deserve. What next? A thousand years of peace and harmony as some theologians refer to as it relates to the return of Jesus Christ. No. The Magaloids are not deities, they are the same old human beings with all the same old human behaviours.

They will do amongst themselves what humans, including some of the supposed holiest, do best: seek power and wealth, form tribes, argue, fight, lie, steal, hate, covet, kill. This is what humans have done throughout history and will continue to do as we don’t seem to want to learn the lessons of history, nor from the Bible’s New Testament. They will destroy their Utopia with precision and speed.

What a truly fantasticalfantasylandwonderworld it would be if we just accepted and helped each other to succeed in life and live in peace with good tidings of comfort and joy for everyone.

By the way, the title is a satirical nod to the king of ridiculous hyperbole, none other than “The Don” himself. He’s so inspiring…for all the wrong reasons.