Monday, October 22, 2007

Just possibly the best damn song ever written :)

I had my Mastectomy August 16, 2006.....3 days later while still in the oncology unit my heart went into A-FIB. I was rushed to the Heart Hospital (same campus) and by the 5 day I was feeling pretty sorry for myself. I was sitting in my bed with my door closed watching my husband Jim try to catch up on some much needed sleep ( he never left my side) I was thinking about how much of this having cancer is going to change everything and everybody.......tears started welling up in my eyes......it was a quiet cry, I didn't want to wake my Jim and I didn't want him to see me defeated by all this.

My room was in one of the corners and even with my door closed I heard what was a violin and an acoustic guitar in the hallway and they were playing "What A Wonderful World" I never did get to see who was playing but suddenly my outlook changed it still was a wonderful world and I was going to remind myself of that everyday. I never had the chance to tell whoever was playing that they made a difference in my life.

Image one sunny winter afternoon while up in the chemo room while I was sitting in front of the floor to ceiling windows a 50-ish couple comes in with violin and guitar in hand and starts playing old, wonderful standards for the cancer patients. I wait for them to finish their set and then I tell them how much they changed my life that day. How that day I was thinking  my life was over, that I would never be happy again....I told them about "What a Wonderful World" did for my outlook on my new life.....they thanked me for thanking them and proceeded to play it for me again....of course I cried like a baby....They day of my Chemo graduation they were there again and played it for me as my gift......it just reinforces life.......my life force.

Even though cancer isn't so wonderful..... life and the world still are, so when I need to be reminded of that again somehow that couple is sent into my life to bring back the wonderment of it all over again!

Life is good and I am blessed!

"What a Wonderful World"
I see trees of green, red roses too
I see them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself what a wonderful world.

I see skies of blue and clouds of white
The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night
And I think to myself what a wonderful world.

The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of people going by
I see friends shaking hands saying how do you do
They're really saying I love you.

I hear babies cry, I watch them grow
They'll learn much more than I'll never know
And I think to myself what a wonderful world
Yes I think to myself what a wonderful world.

52 comments:

Anonymous said...

Just reading this made me cry.

Anonymous said...

I am crying also. But realy glad that the song gave you the strength to carry on.
Love and hugs.
Katie

Anonymous said...

beautiful....really beautiful.
gina

Anonymous said...

Aww what a wonderful entry....just like they helped you cope...YOU will/are helping others cope here who are going through this with you.  I know if I ever have to deal with this I will think of how strong you were and I will be a better fighter because of this journal!  Thank you!  

Anonymous said...

I have never been able to listen to that song without crying.  Love it!  Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers  ~~Kath~~

Anonymous said...

what a wonderful person you are, I am so glad I have gotten to know you via you site, Kim, your strength is amazing to me! I wish you only the best, as you deserve it all~
You friend from New England, Cheryl
CSte609371@AOL.COM

Anonymous said...

It's a great favourite of mine Kim and was my fathers too.Beautiful words beautiful song played for a beautiful Lady.Keep that chin up.and that fight going.Prayers being said thousandfold.Thinking of you always.Take Care God Bless Kath
astoriasand htttp://journals.aolc.o.uk/astoriasand/MYSIMPLERHYMES

Anonymous said...

Kim:  The world is more beautiful because you are in it.  Even with all the suffering and all the pain it is worth living.  You are not only a survivor but you are giving hope to others with the dreaded big C.  Your journal sustains so many.  When I dispair, many times I've said, "if Kim can do it, so can I."  I believe that God works through other people and, for many, you are the conduit to the strength to carry on.  I pray that your treatment will allow you to get back to a semblance of normal life, whatever that may be.  You are needed and loved, not only by your family and friends that you see, but also by the rest of us whose faces are behind the computer screen.

Anonymous said...

((((((((((((((((((((HUGSTOYOU))))))))))))))))))))))Have a nice day.

Anonymous said...

Aw.... I've gotta say: I love your heart!

I'm sorry for all of the yuck in your life right now. But I wanted to thank you for showing so much good in the midst of such bad. You're right, life and the world are still wonderful.

You're precious!

Anonymous said...

lionessCarol said it all in her entry below this Kim.
I can only add that the song is one of my favourites too.
You are a bright and shining example of the purest strength and love for her family that I have ever known.  You are so determined to fight for more time with them all.  There are many of us praying alongside you for your good health to return again quickly.  God Bless!

Hugs
Jeanie  xxx

Anonymous said...

(((Kim))) It is a special song, a reaffirmation of life seen by a beautiful soul. How kind that couple is to bring such joy into sadness and at the right moment to reach you. love, Sandi

Anonymous said...

It is one of my favorite songs too... it was the closing dance at my wedding...

{{{ Kim }}}  It is a song of HOPE and blessings.  You have both... and I am praying for you, my warrior friend, that things keep getting better!!!

be well,
Dawn
http://journals.aol.com/princesssaurora/CarpeDiem/

Anonymous said...

I always cry when I hear that song.
Traci

Anonymous said...

I love that song too. Thanks for sharing that beautiful story, it gave me chills...through YOU, that wonderful couple is touching even more lives. The flame from a single candle can light a thousand others...you're living proof of that. May you have a lifetime of WONDERFUL!

Anonymous said...

A perfect song for a moment like that. Thank you for sharing as always.


Lub Ya .....Brenda

Anonymous said...

Now you've got me bawling reading this.  And I took a moment to thank my God again that I'm still here.  Because of this entry.  Thank you for the nudge.

Nelishia
http://journals.aol.com/nelishianatl/PrayingandBelieving/

Anonymous said...

Kimmie,

Thank you for blessing me with that reminder.  You are in my heart forever.  May our gracious God bless you with many more days like this.

God Bless,
Jamie

Anonymous said...

Kimberleigh, yes I will admit I had tears on reading the words and I am not ashame to admit it.
Love and prayers to and for you, Bill

Anonymous said...

Oh. how special.   I've always loved that song...thanks for the reminder!

Nancy

Anonymous said...

Thanks for reminding me to appreciate good things as they happen.........
Bunny xx

Anonymous said...

after having a crappy day here...you are just what I need!
Becky

Anonymous said...

I love that song too...and I am watching OPRAH right now and there is this young girl who has stage 4 cancer and she has such a positive outlook on her life...and she SO reminds me of you!!!!  You are a truly amazing woman who continues to live her lift to the fullest and appreciates the world around her and everyone in it.  You are a true GEM!!

((hugs))
Jeanne

Anonymous said...

Ah yes, Louis Armstrong...

Anonymous said...

love that song

Kathy

Anonymous said...

A wonderful song made more wonderful by your complete appreciation of the song and the folks who performed it for you.  Thank goodness for the much needed support and surprises in life -- they come from the strangest places sometimes.  ~K

Anonymous said...

what a great thing to do:) enjoy your week

Deb

Anonymous said...

Thanks for reminding me and others it is a wonderful world and even with sickness and pain there is beauty to be found.
Sharon

Anonymous said...

Lovely entry, Kim....I love that song, the original, that is, with Louie...Ü

Anonymous said...

Oh Kim...I love that song too....Since my husband Danny died I have taped a note with the songs that I want played at my funeral on the front of my computer...just in case something should happen...my kids would know...and What A wonderful World is one of them...My love for this wonderful world that God created for us is...well, it is  explained all through that song...Thank you for posting the lirics...
God bless you
love ya,
carlene

Anonymous said...

That's just cool! I'm sure they really appreciated you telling them how much you enjoyed their music.
Pam

Anonymous said...

That is a beautiful song.  What a wonderful gift the memory of that song is for you to bring out when you need that extra little bit of beauty in your life.
Lori
http://journals.aol.com/helmswondermom/DustyPages/

Anonymous said...

That is definitely one of my favorite songs too!  Always makes me get teary...

{{{{{Kim}}}}}}}

Jackie
http://journals.aol.com/siennastarr/Hopefloats/

Anonymous said...

That is my absolute favorite song.  It really makes you stop and think.  I love it.

And you are my absolute favorite pink warrior.  You make me stop and think.  You have such a beautiful heart and soul.

Love ya!
Niki

Anonymous said...

this is a great song, great reminder of the wonderful world we live in.
Gem :-)

Anonymous said...


Thanks for that.

You are doing for a lot of people what that couple did for you. Someone I Love always used to say that you get what you give. What we can do for each other over the internet is give each other words and well-wishes and prayers. But those things are what we really are. Words, just ways to communicate, to sense each other in the darkness, to say that there is someone out there in what can be a truly lonely world. And well-wishes, those day-to-day small kindnesses that make life just a little better like being in the park on a cool-crisp autmun day and smelling the fallen leaves and seeing kids playing and someone walking there dog. The little good things that fill up the spaces between the big events in our lives. And prayers, the way we try to give each other the big good things, the way we try to share are life forces with one another.

Your posts are like a prayer.

Thanks again.

***
(Quotation)

Each person who ever was or is or will be has a song. It isn't a song that anybody else wrote. It has its own melody, it has its own words. Very few people get to sing their own song. Most of us fear that we cannot do it justice with our voices, or that our words are too foolish or too honest, or too odd. So people live their songs instead.

Anonymous said...

It's a wonderful world partially because you are in it.
Love
Marti

Anonymous said...

You are amazing - and with this entry have reminded all of us that there is so much to be thankful for!

Hugs from Minnesota

Sue

Anonymous said...

It is a wonderful world.  Linda

Anonymous said...

My husband can do that guy in a dead-on impression...to the point where I suspect he may be of mixed ethnic background.

Anonymous said...

 It is a great song.  I never really listened to the lyrics before.

                   Julie

Anonymous said...

I couldn't help but cry when I read this story and the words of that song so poignant in the setting you were listening to the song.  Thank god for music and song when they can get us through a very hard time and get us thinking that it is still a great world.  Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts on that day.  Gerry

Anonymous said...

This has always been one of my favorite songs...I recently bought the sheet music to it and am learning to play it (I play the piano)...hang in there, gal...we're praying for you...Ginny

Anonymous said...

Kim you got me crying...Your story touched my heart....and Im so happy your blood work came back great! Praise the lord....
Love LISA

Anonymous said...

great news on the blood work results. (((((hugs))))))
Cindy

Anonymous said...

AMEN! God Bless You

Anonymous said...

This entry made ME cry like a baby, too!!!!  What a beautiful entry and a beautiful theme song for who YOU are!!!

Joann

Anonymous said...

     Wow. Next time I hear that song, I'll think of this entry. Powerful.
Jude
http://journals.aol.com/jmorancoyle/MyWay

Anonymous said...

that is pretty

Anonymous said...

Great song with such meaningful words...... certainly makes you stop and think about things in a different light

Anonymous said...

I've been reading your last few posts, as I haven't been feeling up to much of anything lately, and wanted to catch up and send some good thoughts from my heart your way.

Upon finding these lyrics, I am wondering where I have been, why it's been so hard for me to feel and see and know these things, when life is truly such a blessing...  Thank you, Kim.  For changing my outlook tonight.  You're a true angel.

Wonderful to see the pics ~ love the new wig and the glow in your eyes as well.  Happy Birthday to your brother.

Love,

Michelle

Anonymous said...

Oh Dear Kim,
  I Miss You!