You can hear her laughter from the other end of the block and see her contagious smile from a mile away. If the airport ever has a power outage, they should place her at the end of the runway to direct planes with her grin. Her eyes are a rich blue, like over-sized sapphires. And equally sparkly. Only 8 years old, she glows with the radiance of saints and yogis and bubbles with the lightness of youth. Only her bald, shining head conveys that she is terminally ill.
She lives on my block in Toronto. Whenever I see her, I’m filled with conflicting emotions. But I’m also reminded of some very important truths.
I’m reminded that it’s not about the number of days we get on this planet, but instead about how we spend the days we get. In her brief, 8-year encounter with humanity, I know that she’s touched and helped more people than most of us will do in our much longer lifetimes. It reminds me of “99 Balloons“. Life, like so many other things, is about quality and not quantity.
I’m also reminded that life is fragile and fleeting. I took for granted that I’d wake up this morning. She did not. I can tell this by the way she savors each moment. It’s like the way my sister opens her Christmas presents, slowly pealing the tape and the packaging to fully enjoy and relish every second. When I see this young girl approaching her life’s end, I’m reminded that death is our constant companion – always only a few breaths away.
When I see her, I want to cry. I’m aware of the voice inside me saying, “It’s not fair to take an 8-year-old.”
But perhaps I should save the tears for myself. At 25, I know so little and have lived so little compared to an 8-year-old. Perhaps that’s the bigger injustice.
June 22, 2009 at 7:22 pm
Touching.
It takes but a moment to understand all that we take for granted during all of the other moments.
June 22, 2009 at 7:22 pm
Finally you are starting to eat some of the nonsense you’ve be ranting about for too long. Yes you have much to learn and experience. Now when are you going to begin?
June 22, 2009 at 8:52 pm
? what’s with that? the purpose of the blog is to share what he has learned.. maybe start your own blog if you’re seemingly that much more evolved…
June 23, 2009 at 7:27 am
My, my, Richard. What did we have for breakfast, ornery flakes?
June 24, 2009 at 7:36 pm
This is why I really dislike davey wavey : http://www.queerty.com/davey-wavey-daily-new-apartment-too-low-brow-for-his-pecs-20090520/
June 23, 2009 at 10:22 am
To Richard Haines. Hi Richard, Of course you’re right in that Davey still has to learn a lot. We all do, that’s how we grow as human beings. And if we’ve learned all that there is to learn and we cannot share this with others, we’re ready to die. In sharing, in any real contact with other people, we will still be learning: when to listen, when to speak, when to reach out and when to keep our distance. The main things to learn in life are wisdom and compassion and I think it is impossible to obtain wisdom without compassion. I think Davey shows compassion when he describes his feelings when he sees this little eight-year old girl and at least some wisdom in trying to cope with the fundamental questions her illness raises. I’m glad you realise this but I’m also saddened by the pain that must be the source of your bitter comment
June 23, 2009 at 1:40 pm
That was beautiful and VERY well-conveyed
June 23, 2009 at 1:43 pm
Well Richard every time I’m on here your comment respond seems to be very bitter and rude on everything Davey Say’s, maybe its time for you to eat some of that bitter comments and you really don’t have to come on here if you think his post is nonsense!!!.
June 24, 2009 at 7:12 pm
I’m just tired of people thinking davey is the best thing since sliced bread when he comes across as a ignorant immature boy to me. so eat that cake.
June 22, 2009 at 7:26 pm
:’( Love you Davey Wavey.
June 22, 2009 at 7:27 pm
Beauty is found every day.
Sometimes, we search it out.
Sometimes, it finds us.
Happiness is achieved by thinking it into existence.
Today I am here, happy, and can see the beauty in this world.
Thanks, Davey, for your insight and your sharing.
—Jackable
June 22, 2009 at 7:31 pm
We should live our lifes like there’s no tomorrow, each moment =)
A big hug (*u*)~
June 22, 2009 at 7:44 pm
What a beautiful tribute for a brave child. Hopefully she will get better.
June 22, 2009 at 8:02 pm
I’ve just found your website by accident and it has already won my daily visits!
I watched some of your videos and found them really cute! You seem nice, centered and intelligent, as well as funny, and I like these stuff.
Congrats for this post, it’s really touching and weel written.
I hope she gets better someday.. here or anywhere else.
Big hug.
June 22, 2009 at 8:15 pm
Death comes for us all. Each life is lived as it should be, remember your thoughts on questioning the moments in life and how we perceive those moments on our own journeys. I don’t think there is any injustice of which to speak except the fact that the little 8 year old girl will not know how you feel unless you try to connect with her on some level. Will you question whether or not you should have, to make peace in your own mind and grow as a person, to live when she cannot? Is she in remission and you just don’t know that she’s a few breaths away from the start of her recovery?
Ciao!
June 22, 2009 at 9:04 pm
wow…..all i can say is……wow
June 22, 2009 at 10:50 pm
that is so beautiful
June 22, 2009 at 11:11 pm
Davey, you said it’s not fair to take an 8-year-old. In your opinion, who is doing the taking? I’m curious. It seems like you could very easily blame that same person for making you gay in a world that does not accept you.
How do you wrestle this stuff out in your mind?
June 23, 2009 at 1:08 am
This is the first time I saw the “99 Balloons” video and all I can say is that I cried for hours. I think how much I take for granted my life and really think that sometimes you have to just enjoy life and not take it so seriously. I think I am going to make more of an effort to smile everyday and just be happy!
Life is good Davey.
June 23, 2009 at 8:26 am
very very touching blog entry-its so nice to get to know your neighbours-hope you do this everyday-considering your thoughtfulness-i trust you will.we can all learn from this encounter.
June 23, 2009 at 9:56 am
Whether young or old (my mother, whom I’m caregiver for is 82), dying is sad. Not just because of their age, but because of how they have touched our lives and how we recognize if they have spent their days reaching out in love to others. And if we take just a bit of that love with us on our life’s journey, then we have benefited and matured. After all, when IT is all said and done, all that remains is love.
June 23, 2009 at 11:05 am
You have been given a gift by this little girl. And you have paid it forward by sharing it with all of us. So, feel good about the fact that you are thinking differently about your life, and you’ve helped more of us do the same… all because of the courage of one little girl.
it really does only take one person to make a huge difference.
June 23, 2009 at 11:18 am
David,
Sure, I was also struck when I met young boys and girls struggling with cancer. It’s sad because they are young, but not sadder than an old person afflicted with the same disease! Alas, it’s not for me a major discovery that this world is full of injustice and moreover when it’s about health. We all have a countdown up on our heads, so we must enjoy every minute, every day of our life not to regret anything when our time has come to be six feet under.
bye,
June 23, 2009 at 12:51 pm
Nice, Davey. You are at your best when you observe and report on your perceptions, share your feelings and wisdom.
June 23, 2009 at 1:43 pm
I was deeply touched reading the story.
June 23, 2009 at 4:04 pm
Davey,
This little girl shows you that no matter what is going on in a persons life you can reach people and with a laugh or the sparkle of your eyes touch a persons heart. She is one of God’s everyday blessings to the rest of us. Enjoy and pray for her best outcome.
June 23, 2009 at 5:07 pm
I’ve always admired people who can be so brave and full of life in the face of such adversity. It’s such a testament to the human spirit, and how, like anything you face, life is only what you make of it.
These were such beautiful words!
June 23, 2009 at 7:22 pm
Davey,
I’s things like this that cause us to pause and reflect as you have done. It gives us great thankfulness for what we have and helps us to realize how fleeting our lives are and to make each day count! Thanks for sharing. You are a real sweetie!
June 24, 2009 at 6:36 am
Davey,
And the rest of the board, I finally found out why I am here on this earth, and that is to spread some hope; I participate in a Prison visitation group, where like 3 times a month, I visit one of the prisons here in Maryland, to talk with the guys inside. I am not a “poor prisoner” kind of guy, rather the group I serve with is gently confrontational, wherein we “teach” the guys inside how to come to terms with what they “chose” to do, that got them there, and then what they will choose to do to make their time inside more livable, some of them even planning what they will do when they get out; although some of them will never get out.
I love you Davey! joey
June 24, 2009 at 7:36 pm
This is why I really dislike davey wavey : http://www.queerty.com/davey-wavey-daily-new-apartment-too-low-brow-for-his-pecs-20090520/
He is what is wrong with America today.
June 27, 2009 at 8:51 am
That was truly a low point for Davey.
Really did make him seem a spoiled Brat, and at odds with all he preaches.
Oh well, Young, Dumb and Full of c*m.
Sometimes so advanced for his age and sometimes so naive.
Guess that makes him Human.
June 25, 2009 at 5:53 pm
richard haines: We don’t “think”He is…, We”Know” Davey Is”The Best!!” Yes,you Are the “Ignorant-Bastard!!!”you and others-of-your-ilk need to GTF-off His blog,you”Jealous-M-F’ers!” davvi
June 27, 2009 at 8:53 am
All bow down
to Davey Wavey!
Do you ever think for yourself?
July 29, 2009 at 8:42 pm
That 2nd comment was very mean… Reading this really touched me. I love what you said here
“I’m reminded that it’s not about the number of days we get on this planet, but instead about how we spend the days we get”
I think you are starting to change the way i see the world. I am learning to look at it as a happy and loving place and everything is beautiful. Thank you
Love Andrew.