I was never one for acknowledging "famous last words" until I read what Stonewall Jackson said on May 10th, 1863 on his deathbed. For those of you who are not tuned into who Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson was, he was a Confederate General who was loved by his men during the Civil War. He was also General Robert E. Lee's right hand man before his death.
Jackson died as a result of an errant ambush by his own men at Chancellorsville in Virginia. His death sent shockwaves throughout the south. Some say, had he lived, he might of made a difference in the result of the war. Certainly, he would have at Gettysburg. But this is not about any of that. It is about his last words spoken before he passed away.
Laying on his bed dying, Jackson's last words were: "Let Us Cross The River, And Rest Under The Shade Of The Trees."
Pretty poignant words, at a very critical time, in our nation's history. I actually used those same words during my late father-in-law Jerry Bunton's eulogy, that I wrote and read after his untimely passing. Ironically, the anniversary of his passing is this coming October 17th.
It will be 8 years since he passed away. And there is not a day that goes by that all of us who knew and loved him don't think about him.
I pray to him every day. And I know I am not alone. He's also buried in the same cemetery as Stonewall Jackson in Lexington, Virginia.
And speaking of last words and passings in my family, this last October 9th, 2013 was the 6th anniversary of my late mother's passing. It's hard to believe that she has been gone that long.
But my mother's last words were spoken to me only. I was alone with her when she spoke. She had been suffering for days and we all knew the end was near. It was hard to watch her slowly slip away. Before she passed, she opened her eyes and looked at me and said these words: "Lift Me Up, And Carry Me Home."
Such incredibly powerful words. I was both stunned and enlightened by those words at the same time. There are many hidden meanings in those words. She could of been talking about Jesus and heaven. Or, she could of been talking about her own childhood. Or...she could of been talking about our family home. She just wanted me to lift her up and carry her home.
I'm not going to lie to you. I cried. How could I not?
As a songwriter and musician, I wrote a song around that line. They were too powerful not to document. The song is basically about my life growing up, and the chorus is that exact line. I think we all want to go home in the end. No matter where your home is, we all want to go back. And I'm thinking, my mother did in fact, find her way home on that day. October 9th, 2007.
A few days ago, on October 11th, I had a dream that my mother was calling me on my cell, and I was having bad reception as I was deep in the woods. She was calling to tell me that my father was trying to get in touch with me. I simply told her to have my father call back later, or I would call him back when I got out of the woods. Not sure what to make of dreams like that. But I do know, there is a certain amount of comfort, that I get when I do connect with them.
I miss you guys. But it was nice to hear from you.
Topsfield Fair
The oldest continuous Fair in all of America is winding down this weekend. The Topsfield Fair has been something that my family has gone to for many years. When I was a kid we went every year. And once I became a parent I continued that tradition.
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You really have to acquire a certain taste for the Fair. I've had it since I was a toddler. I still have it. There were years when I would go more than once a year. It was that important to me. Of course these days, I am lucky if I attend the Fair at all. I used to take the kids every year and they loved it. That is, until they got too big.
My youngest Noelle, loved going to the Fair with me. And this is the first year she did not go. She's away at college and she is just too far to be able to fly back and go to the fair. We went to the Fair in her honor and had a blast. Besides, she'll be home in the future, and she will be able to start her own Topsfield Fair Traditions.
Surfing, The Fair, and LOVE heals all wounds.
