What Erick Wujcik says to me . . .

[Kevin]

What Erick Wujcik says to me . . .

I spoke with Erick Wujcik on Monday for quite a while. He sounded great. If you didn’t know better, you’d never know there was anything wrong. In fact, he told me how he drove himself to the dentist office to get his teeth checked and cleaned. An action that surprised many of the people around him.

No, Erick is not enjoying some miraculous recovery. The cancer is killing him. He just refuses to lie down and die.

How unreal it must be, to know you are slowing dying. Yet while your body is suffering and failing, your mind is sharp, your dreams and desires still bubbling within, and the world around you still spins.

So why go to see the dental hygienist and get your teeth cleaned? Because Erick is not done living and it brings such joy to my heart to see that. God, I love you, Erick.

That’s right Erick, go see the dental hygienist. Do NOT stop living for a minute. You are an inspiration to me, my friend, and, I hope, to everyone around you.

Senator Ted Kennedy being diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor has spawned talk about him and cancer all over the airwaves. That news and my experiences with Erick made me stop and think about love, life and how uncertain our lives really are.

Our lives can change in a heartbeat or end in a blink. We never know when, where or how our lives may change – good or bad, expected or unexpected.

Change can be jarring, difficult and often unwanted. It may be scary or painful, but it can also be exciting, liberating and offer a world of new opportunity. Like most everything else in life, ultimately, change is what we make it.

I’m not just talking about death and dying but all kind of change. Several weeks ago I broke up with my sweetheart, Kathy Simmons, and moved into my own apartment. It is a big change. I’d like to think it’s the right thing for both of us. However, it sure wasn’t easy. Even though it was my choice, the transition has been sad and sobering. I’m glad to say Kathy is staying on at Palladium (she does a great job) and we hope to stay friends, but the change in our relationship has been profound and difficult.

That’s why we need to live our lives to the fullest and without regret. To live as if there may be no tomorrow, because that tomorrow we imagine might never come, or it may bring unexpected change. That’s not an endorsement to be wild, stupid, cruel, selfish or hedonistic. Just the opposite. We need to live well. To express our love, dreams and feelings to the people who matter most to us. To show a little kindness and consideration even to strangers. To thank the checkout clerk for ringing up and bagging your purchase. To greet someone with a smile and to show our appreciation and respect for others.

As beautiful as a sunrise may be, it pales when compared to the beautiful smile of a loving parent, the glee of a son or daughter, the approving nod from a caring friend, or the gentle caress of a loved one. It is people who fill our lives with beauty and wonderment. Oh sure, rainbows, sunsets, music, artwork and countless other things can touch our souls and warm our hearts, but nothing – NOTHING – touches us as deeply as the love, acceptance, and camaraderie of another human being. It’s what makes us tick.

Consequently, relationships with people like Erick Wujcik, Kathy Simmons, Alex Marciniszyn, and countless others have brought great warmth, joy, beautiful and meaning into my life. We’ve shared our lives, fears and dreams with each other. We’ve touched each other’s soul, and it has helped to give our own dreams wings, to show us how to live and love better, and helped to discover new things about ourselves and the world around us. Our lives are that much brighter and better because of that friendship, openness and honesty.

When the Crisis of Treachery happened, the foul deeds of one man were set right by an outpouring from thousands. THOUSANDS of people who cared. THOUSANDS of fans and friends who stopped what they were doing to buy a print or some product, and/or to send us their words of love, hope and encouragement in a letter or an email or posting online. Thousands responded in the hope of making a difference, and they did. It was one of the most magnificent things I have ever experienced.

You want to see the face of God? All you need to do is take a look at the face of that special someone . . . your friend, your lover, your spouse, your parent, your sibling, your child . . . or anyone who gives a damn about you, and He’s right there looking back at you.

Oh sure, there are hardships, disappointment, sorrow, pain and loss. Life can be hard. Love that once blossomed may fade away. Friends can drift apart, and the lives of people you hold dear may end much too soon (and isn’t it always too soon when you love somebody, even if they are 99 years old?).

Like I said, life is uncertain and ever-changing. But it can also be wondrous, thrilling, and full of magic. If you let it, life can be beautiful beyond imagination. It can be filled with one miracle after another, and overflowing with love, warmth and satisfaction.

Live life well. Without regret or words left unspoken. Strive to be true to others and don’t forget to be true to yourself. Unleash your talents. Add to the joy, not the dung heap. Try to make the world a better place even if it’s only with a smile or a kind word to someone else. You’d be surprised at how much a gentle hug, a smile, a few kinds words, sincere encouragement, or the simplest act of kindness can mean to someone. It’s a gift. A gift we can all give to others, and it’s a gift that pays dividends to make our own life richer.

My Mom, Dad, Erick Wujcik, Kathy Simmons, Alex, Wayne, and a multitude of other people, from family and friends to casual acquaintances, have enriched my life in countless ways. This magic was done by caring and touching my life in so many little ways.

Erick Wujcik is an example of the wonder and joy living well can bring! Erick is dying, but he’s sure as heck not dead. He is living his life as he always has: to the fullest. A life filled with appreciation for people, ideas and beauty. A life filled with love, goodness, friendship, sharing, and a sense of wonder. Even now, Erick has time and kind words for other people. Even now, he cares about his friends, loved ones and the act of living. He hasn’t curled up into a ball, given up, or lost himself to the darkness of despair. No, he welcomes and drinks in every word and simple pleasure that comes his way. He embraces friendship, love, and life. That’s why Erick feels joy and calm in his final days. That’s why he went to the dental hygienist, because he’s alive and living, and plans to keep doing so until Fate decrees otherwise. That’s why Erick has defied every single estimate placed on him by doctors and experts for his inevitable demise. That’s why Erick Wujcik continues to defy the odds, outlast the prognosis, and continues to enjoy life with a smile on his face and a song (or would that be a game idea?) in his heart.

Even now Erick is softly, subtly, telling us “no regrets, be happy, love and be loved. Live life well with sincerity, openness and honesty. Leave no words left unsaid. Find the humor, kindness, compassion and joy people have to offer. Live life to the fullest, and live it to the very, very end.”

Sincerely,
Kevin Siembieda
Publisher, Writer, Artist and Beloved Friend


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