Sam I Am

Samuel Clements (a.k.a. Mark Twain) has an often referred to quote of "The news of my death is greatly exaggerated." I thought I would devote this post on that very subject.

Last week I wrote an entry called "Death." It had the most feedback of any single post I ever had. Most of it was how I would be missed if something ever happens to me - which was nice to read. Then I came upon this piece of feedback from TheWriteJerry, "You're kind of freaking me out. Seriously. You've had us worried as it is with posts hinting at troubles at home and troubles inside of you. Now a post about your death. Stop being so vague. Please. Let us help."

At first I was taken aback. I didn't know if he was hinting that I may be hinting about comitting suicide or something or if I was being dramatic about some diagnosis I had recently received.

Then, I thought about what it would take for me to leave feedback like that and I felt, pardon the cheese, cared about. So, I want to say publicly: Thanks Jerry, for caring about me.

Maybe others thought the same thing but didn't want to say anything. I re-read my post and thought it wasn't out of the realm of possibility that this stranger could be hinting at something tragic. I know some know me better than that, but it is foolish to think that all of you do.

For the record, I am not suicidal and I do not have some condition that is pointing to my death - that I know of. I am going to be around for a long time as far as I know.

I am not suicidal because I am nevercompletely hopeless. My Christian faith is grounded by the fact that my purpose here isn't completed until God takes me out of here. I also understand the blessing of suffering. I may whine about it, but I would never end it by ENDING IT. Part of me that hides beneath the melancholia is excited to see how God is going to lead me through it and present the blessing to me. I am not suicidal and am fundementally not spiritually built to carry it out. Let's put that concept to rest forever.

If I ever become gravely ill, I will post it in a "not so vague manner". A lot of you consider me friends; I respect that relationship too much to play with such a dire matter.

As for the last little tidbit from Jerry's feedback, "Let us help." NOW, you're talking! ;) I figure if I can raise $20,000, it will take care of almost every problem I have. It would get me out of student loan debt and the debt I incurred from the wedding and take the pressure off my suddenly unemployed spouse. So dig deep, friends! Help me just as Jerry requested! Show me the love! lol Today is the day! Why? BECAUSE IT IS MY BIRTHDAY!!

16 comments:

Jod{i} said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
ANd the check is in th email ;)

Charles said...

Happy Birthday Jeff!

I know someone with a million dollar bill. LOL

Charles said...

P.S. I'm glad that your not dying or anything like that. Hope your wife is feeling better.

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday, Jeff!

And you're welcome.

Now come on people - let's show him the love with some of the green.

Sayre said...

My cousin slipped my son a 50,000 dong note. We were all very impressed until she told us it was worth about $3.00 American. It's great for freaking out waiters, though...

Happy birthday, Jeff!!!!

I wish I could slip you some green but most of my green is going for a roof in the near future...

Anonymous said...

Woo-hoo!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! Yea!! I hope you have a terrific day, Jeff. ...and, by the way, I never for a second considered you to be suicidal.

A wonderful day to you, my friend.

Meg said...

Happy Birthday! I will put you on my list of people to send money to when I get rich.

Loz said...

Happy Birthday young feller and if I win the $20m powerball jackpot tonight you're on my list :)

Friend of God said...

Happy Birthday bro. I do love your sarcasm.. and i agree with your grounded christian faith, u r not a alone on that.

I'll be buying a lottery ticket today, if i win, we'll split the cash...thats probably as honest an answer as u will get..

wish u many happy returns

Michelle said...

Happy Birthday Jeff!

http://www.doozycards.com/Site/Card.aspx?a=3553&b=415&c=1489


:-D

Shan said...

Happy B-day... now where all my free food!

Nikki said...

Happy Belate B'day!

...and I'd give you some cabbage but that's exactly what it is...cabbage...and I don't think you'd want me to mail it to you.

...and I didn't catch the whole suicide vibe. Kinda freaked me out when you posted this.

Jeff said...

Everyone: Thanks for the birthday wishes. They are much appreciated.

Charles: I appreciate your thoughts on my wife's health.

Sayre: I'll take the the 50,000 dong note! ;)

Steph: I figured those that new me better would not think I was suicidal. Thanks.

Jeff said...

Meg: Thanks Meg, I am pulling for your financial success! :)

Loz: Thanks for calling me young. I'm guessing that you didn't win the jackpot the other night. ;)

Friend of God: Same to you and I will be waiting for your lottery luck!

Michelle: Thanks for the e-card!

Anonymous said...

I was going to post on 'Death' and say that I would spend a fair bit of time looking for signs of you on the net before I asked what's for dinner.
I did read the blog of a woman who had bipolar disorder. Her last couple of posts were about her falling into depression, swallowing a bottle of pills and realising she was about to leave her husband and son and begging her husband to save her. He did, but I don't know if she tried again. Her blog doesn't exist anymore. I still think about her sometimes.

Hope you had a good birthday! How can we send you money without a means? Put a PayPal button up!

Anonymous said...

Thanks so much. I don't think I have the nerve or the humility to put a PayPal button on my blog, though. Dire circumstances call for dire measures so maybe sometime I will change my mind. ;)