Week One Hundred and Forty-Seven - R.E.M. - "Fall On Me" - Lifes Rich Pageant

As hopeful as I was that 2015 was going to bring nothing but goodness to me, I have to admit that, here recently, life has been kicking me in the arse pretty hardcore.

So the year started out with a situation involving my sister, and it had potentially severe consequences for her, including me having to assume the role of raising my nephew. Although the situation has appeared to resolve itself, for the most part, there were still some sleepless nights and episodes of intense stress concerning the entire debacle.

Shortly after that, I lost my beloved little dog, Budgie, whom I had for 13 years, to heart failure. Only those who have ever grown close to a pet can understand the heart-wrenching pain that comes along with having to make the decision to end the suffering of such pet, but I will tell you that it hurts like hell!!!

All of this was followed by my dad's mini-stroke that occurred this past Monday. I found myself driving to the hospital in Waco early Tuesday morning with no real indication as to the after-effects of the mini-stroke and what exactly my family and I would have to face as a result. However, my dad seemed to pull through it like a champ with no severe damage to his faculties or systems.

So where most people turn to alcohol or medications or food or sex or whatever to help them through situations such as these, I choose not to indulge in such escapes. My answer to life's challenges these days is to lace up my running shoes, grab my mp3 player, and walk around White Rock Lake, which is exactly what I did yesterday.

While taking in the fresh air, sunshine, and beauty of the outdoors, "Fall On Me" came on. Although I've heard it a million times, for some reason, I seemed to really hear it yesterday. I guess I've just finally come to the realization that, no matter how much I wish it wasn't like this, life is really hard. You've got to take pleasure in the little moments when you feel alive... and as long as the sky hasn't fallen in on you, you have to do your best to keep on keepin' on and to draw from your own inner strength because others don't always have the ability, time, or even the desire to be there for you.

I found a silly little article on R.E.M. in a Spin anniversary edition that I will include for you today. Interestingly enough, the photographer is Anton Corbijn, whom I've mentioned numerous times on this blog, in connection with his work on photographs and videos involving many of my other favorite artists. I will also include a few of my other favorite tunes by R.E.M. called "Strange Currencies" and "Bittersweet Me"... but once again, you owe it to yourself to check out their other stuff if you've never really gotten into R.E.M. on your own because they're simply amazing!!!

There's the problem, feathers, iron
Bargain buildings, weights and pulleys
Feathers hit the ground before the weight can leave the air
Buy the sky and sell the sky and tell the sky and tell the sky
Don't fall on me
(What is it up in the air for)
(It's gonna fall)
Fall on me
(If it's there for long)
(It's gonna fall)
Fall on me
(It's over it's over me)
There's the progress we have found
(When the rain)
A way to talk around the problem
(When the children reign)
Building towered foresight, isn't anything at all
(Keep your conscience in the dark)
(Melt the statues in the park)
Buy the sky and sell the sky and bleed the sky and tell the sky
Don't fall on me
(What is it up in the air for)
(It's gonna fall)
Fall on me
(If it's there for long)
(It's gonna fall)
Fall on me
(It's over it's over me)
Fall on me
Well I could keep it above
But then it wouldn't be sky anymore
So if I send it to you
You've got to promise to keep it whole
Buy the sky and sell the sky
And lift your arms up to the sky
And ask the sky and ask the sky
Don't fall on me
(What is it up in the air for)
(It's gonna fall)
Fall on me
(If it's there for long)
(It's gonna fall)
Fall on me
(It's over it's over me)
Don't fall on me
(What is it up in the air for)
(It's gonna fall)
Fall on me
(If it's there for long)
(It's gonna fall)
Fall on me
(It's over it's over me)
Fall on me
Don't fall on me
(What is it up in the air for)
(It's gonna fall)
Fall on me
(If it's there for long)
(It's gonna fall)
Fall on me
(It's over it's over me)