Stop This Train

No, I'm not colorblind
I know the world is black and white
Try to keep an open mind, but
I just cant sleep on this tonight

Stop this train
I wanna get off and go home
again
I can't take the speed
it's movin in
I know I can't
But honestly wont someone
stop this train

Don't know how else to say it
Don't wanna see my parents go
One generations length away from
Fighting life out on my own

Stop this train
I wanna get off and go home
again
I can't take the speed
it's movin in
I know I can't
But honestly wont someone
Stop this train

So scared of gettin older
I'm only good at being young
So I play the numbers game
to find a way to say that
Life has just begun

Had a talk with my old man
Said help me understand
He said turn 68
You'll renegotiate
Don't stop this train
Don't for a minute change the place you're in
Dont think I couldn't ever understand
I tried my hand
John, honestly
We'll never stop this train

Once in awhile
When it's good
It will feel like it should
And they're all
Still around
And you're still safe and sound
And you don't miss a thing
Til you cry when you're driving
away in the dark
Singing

Stop this train
I wanna get off and go home
again
I can't take the speed
it's movin in
I know that I cant
cuz now I see
I'll never stop this train.

This is one of my favorite John Mayer songs from his album Continuum. Quite often listening to the words makes the tears flow. I've been thinking about this song for a number of reasons; the most important being that J's father died Thursday night. It was expected, but in no way does that make it easier. His mother needs companionship and comfort right now, so our time together is going to be very limited.

Another reason this song is running through my mind is the current firestorm conflangrating around Obama's National Health Care plan and the folks who have taken exception to his ideas about end of life counseling. Correct me if I'm wrong here, but no amount of private health insurance is going to ward off the inevitable! I am totally in favor of allowing a person to take control of that inevitable process by making a living will and preparing for the end of their life. Even physicians recognize that at some point invasive medical procedures can do more harm than good for the aged. There is nothing more repugnant to me than thinking of being old, lying in a hospital bed and having someone in my family decide for me that I should be put on life support. I want the quality of my life to extend all the way to the end and if I choose hospice and to leave life gracefully, that should be my choice. American's aversion to the whole death process is really making itself manifest. It's especially interesting to me that so many self proclaimed Christians have such a fear of death. Not only is it a natural part of the life process, but Christians also have the promise of eternal life.