Last year, arranged a coupla gatherings for our old friend Michael Goldberg, struggling for 15 yrs with brain cancer and living through the most horrific conditions imaginable. We all wondered how in the world he could endure the countless physical, financial, emotional and spiritual curveballs he faced. Wow. Like hometown Philly Rocky Balboa, he kept getting up, even when most thought he couldnt. As his friends, we felt so helpless, but wanted to be there for him in ways that might temporarily ease his pain and give him a boost of will/desire to live. The dude digs people, so lets bring community to our great friend. Had a horse race named after him called, Love You Golds, and a then rented Staples Center suite to see our Sixers play the Clips a few months later...Well, so much for intended hopeful plans! Bet a fortune on a horse with his daughters name, thinking it was meant to be. In the lead, looking like pay dirt, the horse suddenly pulls up lame. Last place...Then we go see our basketball team. By the 2nd quarter they were down by 40! Here we are thinking the higher powers that be would give this guy a friggin break, but it didnt work out as we wanted. But really, it did. Golds wasnt supposed to be alive, much less attend our friend & family gatherings. Seeing his face when friends & family showed up at these events was priceless. Sharing funny stories made us all forget his debilitating illness, even as cancer was eating at his insides. Personally, I cannot tell you how many times I contemplated what this mans journey was supposed to teach, not only for himself, but what were we all supposed to see from all this? Ive been fortunate to be able to supply a lotta laughs through a decades-long career in comedy. One lesson here for sure is that I do not need thousands to laugh at me to feel purpose. Making Golds smile or shoot us one of his patented giggles, filled me as much as a room full of audience. To inspire some modicum of joy for this suffering friend, gives a notch more of defined intent. I often see social media posts of such misdirected rage, whether its towards a race, life choice, religion or political party. We seem to be living in a time of justified anger, which leads to wanting people to join in on the attacks at the chosen enemy. Trust me, that enemy is an illusion. Id like to propose this contemplation: Since we already have prevalent conditions and circumstances that take from our soul, I ask that we figure what we can ADD to the human experience. How bout a little less fighting, and change it to finding who and what we can embrace? Micheal Goldberg left his body this week. He hasnt been the same guy for many years, so accepting his death was relatively easy. For most of us, it was a relief. However, his essence, no matter how much his brain and body were compromised, remained the same all the way till the end. He believed. He believed in the good in people. He believed in lifting up the less fortunate. We are all ONE. Celebrate life together, rather than find what separates us...unless youre playing our Philadelphia teams! Im suggesting that we pause when feeling compelled to attack. Look for the ways we can support one another. See where we can help one another, even in the darkest of times. Set an intention to live in joy and surely that will manifest. Thats what Golds would want. Our shared sports losses were many, coming from where we do, but the camaraderie shared is a huge WIN. Even if you didnt know him, I hope you can join in on a conscious evolution. I appreciate the RIP wishes and such, but really what would make us all happier would be a commitment to one another, to unite in good spirit. Diseases have much less of a chance if we dont give it the broken down body to grow. Remember, shit is fertilizer, so lets honor Golds and move ourselves to higher purpose. Collectively, lets get our shift together! Love with all you got...
Posted on: Sat, 04 Oct 2014 21:21:15 +0000