Where can I find the poem Only The Good Die Young?

Question

Where can I find the poem "Only The Good Die Young" or the poem that has that phrase in it? Thanks to all!

Answer 1

Only The Good Die Young Lyrics

Come out Virginia, don't let me wait
You Catholic girls start much too late
aw But sooner or later it comes down to fate
I might as well be the one

well, They showed you a statue, told you to pray
They built you a temple and locked you away
But they never told you the price that you pay
For things that you might have done.....
Only the good die young
thats what i said
only the good die young x2

You might have heard I run with a dangerous crowd
We ain't too pretty we ain't too proud
We might be laughing a bit too loud
aw But that never hurt no one

So come on Virginia show me a sign
Send up a signal I'll throw you the line
The stained-glass curtain you're hiding behind
Never lets in the sun
Darlin' only the good die young
(woah x5 )
i tell ya
only the good die young x2

You got a nice white dress and a party on your confirmation
You got a brand new soul
mmmm, And a cross of gold
But Virginia they didn't give you quite enough information
You didn't count on me
When you were counting on your rosary
(oh woah woah)

They say there's a heaven for those who will wait
Some say it's better but I say it ain't
I'd rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints
the Sinners are much more fun...

you know that only the good die young
oh woah baby
i tell ya
only the good die young, X2


You say your mother told you all that I could give you was a reputation
Aww She never cared for me
But did she ever say a prayer for me? oh woah woah

Come out come out come out virgina dont let me wait,
You catholic girls start much too late
Sooner or later it comes down to fate
I might as well be the one,
You know that only the good die young

I'm telling you baby
You know that only the good die young
Only the good die young
Only the gooooooooooooooood
Only the good die young
Only the gooooooooooooooood
Only the good die young
Ooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooo oooooooooo...

(Only the good die young)x2

Answer 2

I extracted this information from website below: Posted by S. Ryan on February 25, 2003

In Reply to: Re: Origin: Only the good die young posted by ESC on February 24, 2003

: : Looking for the origin of this phrase.

: THE GOOD DIE YOUNG - " (Whom the gods love dies young; Best go first.) The long history of the saying began with the ancient version, 'Whom the gods love dies young,' and a touching story of how the proverb originated. As told by the Greek historian Herodotus in 'History' (c. 445 B.C.), the story concerns two especially favored youths who, replacing two missing oxen, hitched themselves to a cart and carried their mother to a festival for the goddess Hera. At the temple, the grateful mother asked Hera to reward her sons with the greatest gift anyone might receive, whereupon her sons lay down to sleep and never woke again."

: ".The most recent version, 'The good die young,' can be traced back to William Wordsworth's 'The Excursion' (1814) and the lines, 'The good die first,/ And they whose hearts are dry as summer dust burn/ Burn to the socket'." From "Wise Words and Wives' Tales: The Origins, Meanings and Time-Honored Wisdom of Proverbs and Folk Sayings Olde and New" by Stuart Flexner and Doris Flexner (Avon Books, New York, 1993).

: There's a bunch more, but those are the main points.

: Thank you once again for this forum. One of my students was insisting that Billy Joel was the author until I introduced him to this site.

* Re: Origin: Only the good die young TheFallen 02/25/03 (0)

Answer 3

Here it is :-

We were just out riding
Me and the guys
When the jeep started flipping
We all closed our our eyes
As everything got quiet
I tried so hard to speak
Make sure everyone was okay
But my body was too weak
My eyes wouldn't open
My arms wouldn't move
I know I'll be okay
My condition will improve
When I was finally lifted up
I wasn't prepared to see
The mangled body
That lay before me
I could hear my friends talking
Asking if I was alright
I can't believe this is happening
After all, it's Friday night
The ambulance came
And the choppers were sent to land
There was no turning back
For I was already in God's hands
But only the good die young
And my time on earth was through
One day we'll be together again
At Heaven's gate I'll welcome all of you
So try to be strong
And please don't cry
I've got my wings
I'm learning to fly
Think of the good times
And keep me in your heart
So when you need me most
We'll never be apart

Answer 4

That's from a Queen song

A hand above the water
An angel reaching for the sky
Is it raining in heaven -
Do you want us to cry?

And everywhere the broken-hearted
On every lonely avenue
No-one could reach them
No-one but you

One by one
Only the Good die young
They're only flying too close to the sun
And life goes on -
Without you...

Another Tricky Situation
I get the drownin' in the Blues
And I find myself thinkin'
Well - what would you do?

Yes! - it was such an operation
Forever paying every due
Hell, you made a sensation
You found a way through - and

One by one
Only the Good die young
They're only flyin' too close to the sun
We'll remember -
Forever...

And now the party must be over
I guess we'll never understand
The sense of your leaving
Was in the way it was planned?

And so we grace another table
And raise our glasses one more time
There's a face at the window
And I ain't never, never sayin' goodbye...

One by one
Only the Good die young
They're only flyin' too close to the sun
Cryin' for nothing
Cryin' for no-one
No-one but you

Answer 5

The phrase is from a William Wordsworth poem, in fact it's other uses are basically plagiarism, especially as most do not acknowledge it comes from Wordsworth. The poem I believe is " Intimations of Immortality."

Answer 6

use this search string: poem>only the good die young

Answer 7

search a quote from it i.e. "only the good...." lol

Answer 8

this one


Only The Good Die Young?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wow, what a website! I'm surprised to see different experiences on aneurysm. I got mine May of 2002. Happy 1st birthday to me here in my 2nd life! I am Em, 38 years old from Mandaluyong City, Philippines. Here is my story:

Ana, Cid, Irwin. They are my co-stars in this non-fiction story. We used to be a lot in going out traveling but some of the members of the group are now married so only us, members of the singles' club are still active. Whenever we have time to take a break, we bond, update each other on what's happening in our lives, and commune with nature to be one with the earth. That's us. That first weekend of May 2002, we agreed to go up to Baguio, the summer capital of the Philippines.

And so, on Friday, 3 May 2002, after work, we met in SM Megamall. To sustain us for a 6-hour long trip, we had dinner at Chicken Bacolod. Our trip going to Baguio was replete with music, snacks and stop overs for coffee (for them, I am not a coffee drinker). Upon our arrival in the hotel on the morning of Saturday, 4 May 2002, we took a much-needed rest until early afternoon. Rejuvenated after our nap, we had a big lunch at Pancake and then we went around ukay ukay (i.e., dig for clothes), the market for pasalubongs (gifts), the famous sites of Baguio: Malacanang Palace, Botanical Garden, and Mines View Park. We had a nice time. As nighttime fell on the City of Baguio, we decided to have dinner at Cafĩ by the Ruins where we chatted and delved on the all-important issue on what to do next after dinner. I couldn't believe Ana, Cid, Irwin showed violent reactions when I introduced the idea of going bar hopping or ghost hunting. These three wanted to call it a day at 9:00pm! It's kinda strange, they're not like the friends I've known before! I mean, have they grown old or something? Hmmm, alright, so they had their reasons, fine! they may have been practical and valid, we needed to get up early the next morning to buy fresh veggies, ubi and other items that needed to be purchased fresh for us to take back home. I know when I'm thumped. So we got back to the hotel right after our sumptuous dinner and chatted, watched tv, and texted our other friends and family.

Around 10:00pm, I took a shower before going to sleep. I was in the middle of my shower when I felt something terrible in my head. It's as if somebody was cutting my head from the upper middle of my forehead going down sideways to my nape, something I have never ever felt before in my entire life. The fact that it could have been fatal is what really puts me in a scary mood. While I was trying to make sense of what's happening and kept on tilting my head side to side, up and down hoping to ease the pain, I remembered my Auntie Cecing in New Jersey who died of aneurysm while taking a meal in the mid 90s. That spurred me into action. I immediately finished my shower and dried myself up. I came out as fast as I could from the bathroom and informed my friends that I was experiencing a terrible headache. I will never forget how I told them that I think I have aneurysm. I went straight to bed and kept on touching my head not knowing what to do. I could see my friends observing my condition, texting and calling the people they thought have knowledge on my manifestations and asked them what they have to do with me. I remember hearing Irwin describing my situation on the phone and saying about high blood pressure. Simultaneously, I could hear Ana over the mobile phone saying something about low blood pressure while Cid kept on asking me "how are you feeling, shall we bring you to the hospital?" I could feel they were emotionally panicking but they tried to remain calm.

Since my terrible headache wasn't getting any better and at this point I was throwing up every now and then, I told them, yes, I can go to the hospital. We didn't know the way to the Baguio General Hospital, and afraid of getting there too late, we took a taxicab and went directly to the emergency room.

A chubby resident doctor attended to us and asked us questions while my head never stopped hurting me - it was as if a huge bomb was exploding inside my head. I got really very weak and didn't know what to do to stop the pain. I was afraid as the doctor asked questions so my friends helped me in answering him. They told the doctor that I have been uttering the word "aneurysm". After some tests, the diagnosis was that my blood pressure was high. I was given tablets and medicines, some had to be bought outside the hospital. Ana and Irwin decided to go and get our car in the hotel and they were the ones who bought all the medicines for my intake. After four hours in Baguio General Hospital, I felt a little better. The pain in my head forgotten when I fell asleep. I was in a condition where I was unaware of what was going on. The following is based on my friend's narrative.

The doctor successfully managed to bring down my blood pressure back to normal. At 2:00am, I was discharged and we all went back to the hotel. In the hotel, I was still down and slept. In the morning of Sunday, 5 May, my friends were all packed up. All they were waiting for was for me to get up, not knowing that I could have been in a coma or brain dead (based on other aneurysm victims). But I did wake up at around 10:00am. I was still very weak but managed to get up. All I remember is being helped to the car. The rest of the journey was uneventful. The only meal I can remember was soup from Max's Fried Chicken during a stop over in Luisita, Tarlac Province. Hhmm, I wonder how many times we stopped over for a meal? Would you believe my friends left me in the car while taking coffee in Starbucks? Yes, those are my friends! They said that they enjoyed the ride back to Manila. It was Ana who drove the entire stretch. Actually, the three agreed to take turns driving but since Ana enjoyed to drive an automatic for the first time, her hands stuck to the wheels. She now wants to change her manual transmission car to an automatic.

And so Ana was able to get Irwin and Cid back home first. At 8:00pm that Sunday, 5 May, my sisters were already waiting for me as they were also aware of what happened after my call when we were in Max's Fried Chicken. Ana relayed all information to my sisters on our ordeal.

My sisters, Thelma and Ate Cia, I was sure, were observing me while at home. I could manage to walk around. I remember the last thing I did was brush my teeth before lying down on my airbed which they brought down to the sala (living room) from my bedroom upstairs. I was still weak and just lying flat on my bed when my sister Thelma told me that we're going to the hospital. I was told that this decision was made when my brother-in-law, Philip, told his wife Ate Cia that I might already be having a stroke even without any manifestations, whatsoever. He told Ate Cia not to wait for any facial manifestation like a distorted lip or something. So, around 10:00pm that Sunday, my other brother-in-law, Olif, drove me to the emergency room of Makati Medical Center with Thelma and our helper. There, resident physicians asked me and Thelma what happened. Again, as what I've told my friends and the doctor in Baguio General Hospital, I mentioned aneurysm. Tests were made - like my blood pressure, my temperature, etc. I really didn't know what was happening. Then at 5:00am on Monday, 6 May, I underwent a CT scan. I remember right after the CT scan, I was immediately brought to a certain area and I saw Thelma without any emotion - a blank face as I passed her. They started sticking several needles in my wrist for the dextrose, IVs and catheter. That time, although I still didn't know what's happening, I had a suspicion that there was really something wrong.

As soon as they got everything in place on the parts of my body, I was immediately transferred to a private room. My neurologist came to my room and explained that an artery in my left brain has already burst as seen in the results of the CT scan. Subarachnoid hemorrhage was the diagnosis. Since the bursting happened the night of Saturday and the blood has already spread in my brain, I needed to wait for 12 days before undergoing an operation. Clipping the artery was the operation that had to be done. My family friend from Canada who was also a nurse in the neurological department of a hospital in Montreal initially thought that the procedure that needed to be done to me was coiling. However, in my case, the doctor said it's clipping. And so, the date was set. I was to be operated on 17 May 2002 at 2:00pm. The day before that, an angiogram would be done in order to determine where the artery that burst was exactly located.

For 12 days, I experienced terrible pain in my head. There's this drug called "nubain" that I kept on asking to take whenever I felt that severe pain. For 12 days, I suffered. Ate Cia was always there during daytime while Thelma was in office. And at nighttime, it's Thelma's shift to be with me. My cousin, Christy was always there who has her way in thanking God when she has her life spared after her severe sickness years ago, and that was by assisting sick relatives and friends when needed. These 3 looked after me. They were the ones who told me what's up. No one else. No one because visitors were not allowed in my room. My brain and veins should be calm and I should be completely relaxed and stress-free so the operation could push through as scheduled. For 12 days, I talked to God, asking HIM what's happening? Are these the last days of my life? For 12 days, I thought in retrospect about my life - happy days, sad days, my triumphs and challenges, the people who made my life worth living. And so, I thought, since I didn't owe anything to anybody, no hard feelings to say sorry for, I told God, I am ready to go anytime. My only concern was leaving my 83-year-old mom. But since my sisters are there, I was sure my mom would be well take care of. That was the time I became emotionally strong and ready for anything that could happen. But there's this one prayer I asked of HIM. If He will get me, I asked HIM to allow my friends and relatives to come and visit me. I would like to see them all before I go. But days passed. I needed to be alone and quiet in my room as tests were made for my brain to be calm.

As the news broke out to my relatives, friends, and office mates, my sister Thelma received never ending calls asking her what's happening. Those who were familiar with aneurysm were really afraid, those who weren't began to research through the internet to learn more about it. In the office, my colleagues started to pray regularly everyday. My former office mates from other companies I worked for were also concerned.

All my loved ones were given updates on my condition by Thelma thru emails. She came out with this idea because her work in the office was being affected with all the calls. So, everyday, she made sure that everyone was informed on my condition by emails. As news were immediately disseminated even to my friends and relatives abroad (thanks to emails), we were sure that through prayers, my life would be saved.

Would you believe, I had a "Last Will and Testament"? I told Thelma to look for the diskette in one of the drawers in my bedroom. She found it and even laughed about it. Yes, I have a Last Will and Testament jotted down years ago. I made it not because I had huge properties or money to spread but I want to give my stuff, big or small to people I love. I want to share my things to my relatives, friends, nieces and godchildren. I know to whom I should give my cd collections to as I know my friends who love jazz, pop, dance or whatever. I also know where my collection of movie tapes and discs will go to; my tennis racket; my collection of jigsaw puzzles or books (tho not that many, I'm not a bookworm), etc. So, please, don't laugh at my Last Will and Testament.

On 16 May, I underwent an angiogram. The doctors were successful in locating exactly where the artery burst and with this, confirmed that the operation could be done as scheduled at 2:00pm the next day, 17 May 2002. Some of my relatives, friends went to the hospital on my day of operation. Everything happened so fast. I remember I was brought inside a room and heard classical music, then next thing I did was open my eyes and I saw my sisters moving my bed towards the ICU. I was told that the operation was finished and was a success. They were smiling and I could feel they were very happy. As if they are happy to see me alive - but guess what they were smiling about? - I was bald! Funny looking me! I was bald with a long bandage on the upper left corner of my head. I was still very weak that time and didn't even want to talk to anybody. The process of clipping took 6 hours. In the ICU, I stayed for 2 days. But I said to myself, I made it! God must have been tired and gone deaf because of the prayers of those who cared. He must have said, "-there you can still have your Em". So, there I was, bald and alive. I think it's because my mom still needs me, I still have missions to do, I don't know - hhmmm - or maybe - only the good die young? Am I not qualified???

After 2 days in ICU, I was back in a private room where I had short talks with my surgeon, neurologist, cardiologist, who were really happy for me. My cardiologist mentioned that because of my good health, no bad habits like smoking or drinking, my recovery would be fast. I also asked my surgeon the prohibitions and changes I have to follow in this second life of mine. And I was surprised to hear from him that there's no prohibition. I can do whatever activities I was doing before. That was really a great relief for me - I told my doctor that if there will be prohibitions, I guess that will be the time I'm gonna die. My doctor just laughed.

On Friday, 24, May 2002, I was discharged. A chapter of my life has passed and it's a chapter I'll never forget. This will reveal the power of prayers, the love of my peers, the concern of my family and relatives, and my courage to face the reality that anything can happen. Wherever you are, God can do anything in an instant. You just have to be ready. Consider your day as your last day, so enjoy life, do good to others, love people. I remember the very first poem I memorized when I was a kid and have never forgotten since then -

THROUGH THIS TOILSOME WORLD, ALAS!
ONCE AND ONLY ONCE I PASS;
IF A KINDNESS I MAY SHOW,
IF A GOOD DEED I MAY DO
TO A SUFFERING FELLOW MAN,
LET ME DO IT WHILE I CAN.
NO DELAY, FOR IT IS PLAIN
I SHALL NOT PASS THIS WAY AGAIN.

Answer 9

Instead of finding it i got it write here with me! If you would like to contact me,Krysten Here is my e-mail address [e-mail], what a website! I'm surprised to see different experiences on aneurysm. I got mine May of 2002. Happy 1st birthday to me here in my 2nd life! I am Em, 38 years old from Mandaluyong City, Philippines. Here is my story:

Ana, Cid, Irwin. They are my co-stars in this non-fiction story. We used to be a lot in going out traveling but some of the members of the group are now married so only us, members of the singles' club are still active. Whenever we have time to take a break, we bond, update each other on what's happening in our lives, and commune with nature to be one with the earth. That's us. That first weekend of May 2002, we agreed to go up to Baguio, the summer capital of the Philippines.

And so, on Friday, 3 May 2002, after work, we met in SM Megamall. To sustain us for a 6-hour long trip, we had dinner at Chicken Bacolod. Our trip going to Baguio was replete with music, snacks and stop overs for coffee (for them, I am not a coffee drinker). Upon our arrival in the hotel on the morning of Saturday, 4 May 2002, we took a much-needed rest until early afternoon. Rejuvenated after our nap, we had a big lunch at Pancake and then we went around ukay ukay (i.e., dig for clothes), the market for pasalubongs (gifts), the famous sites of Baguio: Malacanang Palace, Botanical Garden, and Mines View Park. We had a nice time. As nighttime fell on the City of Baguio, we decided to have dinner at Cafĩ by the Ruins where we chatted and delved on the all-important issue on what to do next after dinner. I couldn't believe Ana, Cid, Irwin showed violent reactions when I introduced the idea of going bar hopping or ghost hunting. These three wanted to call it a day at 9:00pm! It's kinda strange, they're not like the friends I've known before! I mean, have they grown old or something? Hmmm, alright, so they had their reasons, fine! they may have been practical and valid, we needed to get up early the next morning to buy fresh veggies, ubi and other items that needed to be purchased fresh for us to take back home. I know when I'm thumped. So we got back to the hotel right after our sumptuous dinner and chatted, watched tv, and texted our other friends and family.

Around 10:00pm, I took a shower before going to sleep. I was in the middle of my shower when I felt something terrible in my head. It's as if somebody was cutting my head from the upper middle of my forehead going down sideways to my nape, something I have never ever felt before in my entire life. The fact that it could have been fatal is what really puts me in a scary mood. While I was trying to make sense of what's happening and kept on tilting my head side to side, up and down hoping to ease the pain, I remembered my Auntie Cecing in New Jersey who died of aneurysm while taking a meal in the mid 90s. That spurred me into action. I immediately finished my shower and dried myself up. I came out as fast as I could from the bathroom and informed my friends that I was experiencing a terrible headache. I will never forget how I told them that I think I have aneurysm. I went straight to bed and kept on touching my head not knowing what to do. I could see my friends observing my condition, texting and calling the people they thought have knowledge on my manifestations and asked them what they have to do with me. I remember hearing Irwin describing my situation on the phone and saying about high blood pressure. Simultaneously, I could hear Ana over the mobile phone saying something about low blood pressure while Cid kept on asking me "how are you feeling, shall we bring you to the hospital?" I could feel they were emotionally panicking but they tried to remain calm.

Since my terrible headache wasn't getting any better and at this point I was throwing up every now and then, I told them, yes, I can go to the hospital. We didn't know the way to the Baguio General Hospital, and afraid of getting there too late, we took a taxicab and went directly to the emergency room.

A chubby resident doctor attended to us and asked us questions while my head never stopped hurting me - it was as if a huge bomb was exploding inside my head. I got really very weak and didn't know what to do to stop the pain. I was afraid as the doctor asked questions so my friends helped me in answering him. They told the doctor that I have been uttering the word "aneurysm". After some tests, the diagnosis was that my blood pressure was high. I was given tablets and medicines, some had to be bought outside the hospital. Ana and Irwin decided to go and get our car in the hotel and they were the ones who bought all the medicines for my intake. After four hours in Baguio General Hospital, I felt a little better. The pain in my head forgotten when I fell asleep. I was in a condition where I was unaware of what was going on. The following is based on my friend's narrative.

The doctor successfully managed to bring down my blood pressure back to normal. At 2:00am, I was discharged and we all went back to the hotel. In the hotel, I was still down and slept. In the morning of Sunday, 5 May, my friends were all packed up. All they were waiting for was for me to get up, not knowing that I could have been in a coma or brain dead (based on other aneurysm victims). But I did wake up at around 10:00am. I was still very weak but managed to get up. All I remember is being helped to the car. The rest of the journey was uneventful. The only meal I can remember was soup from Max's Fried Chicken during a stop over in Luisita, Tarlac Province. Hhmm, I wonder how many times we stopped over for a meal? Would you believe my friends left me in the car while taking coffee in Starbucks? Yes, those are my friends! They said that they enjoyed the ride back to Manila. It was Ana who drove the entire stretch. Actually, the three agreed to take turns driving but since Ana enjoyed to drive an automatic for the first time, her hands stuck to the wheels. She now wants to change her manual transmission car to an automatic.

And so Ana was able to get Irwin and Cid back home first. At 8:00pm that Sunday, 5 May, my sisters were already waiting for me as they were also aware of what happened after my call when we were in Max's Fried Chicken. Ana relayed all information to my sisters on our ordeal.

My sisters, Thelma and Ate Cia, I was sure, were observing me while at home. I could manage to walk around. I remember the last thing I did was brush my teeth before lying down on my airbed which they brought down to the sala (living room) from my bedroom upstairs. I was still weak and just lying flat on my bed when my sister Thelma told me that we're going to the hospital. I was told that this decision was made when my brother-in-law, Philip, told his wife Ate Cia that I might already be having a stroke even without any manifestations, whatsoever. He told Ate Cia not to wait for any facial manifestation like a distorted lip or something. So, around 10:00pm that Sunday, my other brother-in-law, Olif, drove me to the emergency room of Makati Medical Center with Thelma and our helper. There, resident physicians asked me and Thelma what happened. Again, as what I've told my friends and the doctor in Baguio General Hospital, I mentioned aneurysm. Tests were made - like my blood pressure, my temperature, etc. I really didn't know what was happening. Then at 5:00am on Monday, 6 May, I underwent a CT scan. I remember right after the CT scan, I was immediately brought to a certain area and I saw Thelma without any emotion - a blank face as I passed her. They started sticking several needles in my wrist for the dextrose, IVs and catheter. That time, although I still didn't know what's happening, I had a suspicion that there was really something wrong.

As soon as they got everything in place on the parts of my body, I was immediately transferred to a private room. My neurologist came to my room and explained that an artery in my left brain has already burst as seen in the results of the CT scan. Subarachnoid hemorrhage was the diagnosis. Since the bursting happened the night of Saturday and the blood has already spread in my brain, I needed to wait for 12 days before undergoing an operation. Clipping the artery was the operation that had to be done. My family friend from Canada who was also a nurse in the neurological department of a hospital in Montreal initially thought that the procedure that needed to be done to me was coiling. However, in my case, the doctor said it's clipping. And so, the date was set. I was to be operated on 17 May 2002 at 2:00pm. The day before that, an angiogram would be done in order to determine where the artery that burst was exactly located.

For 12 days, I experienced terrible pain in my head. There's this drug called "nubain" that I kept on asking to take whenever I felt that severe pain. For 12 days, I suffered. Ate Cia was always there during daytime while Thelma was in office. And at nighttime, it's Thelma's shift to be with me. My cousin, Christy was always there who has her way in thanking God when she has her life spared after her severe sickness years ago, and that was by assisting sick relatives and friends when needed. These 3 looked after me. They were the ones who told me what's up. No one else. No one because visitors were not allowed in my room. My brain and veins should be calm and I should be completely relaxed and stress-free so the operation could push through as scheduled. For 12 days, I talked to God, asking HIM what's happening? Are these the last days of my life? For 12 days, I thought in retrospect about my life - happy days, sad days, my triumphs and challenges, the people who made my life worth living. And so, I thought, since I didn't owe anything to anybody, no hard feelings to say sorry for, I told God, I am ready to go anytime. My only concern was leaving my 83-year-old mom. But since my sisters are there, I was sure my mom would be well take care of. That was the time I became emotionally strong and ready for anything that could happen. But there's this one prayer I asked of HIM. If He will get me, I asked HIM to allow my friends and relatives to come and visit me. I would like to see them all before I go. But days passed. I needed to be alone and quiet in my room as tests were made for my brain to be calm.

As the news broke out to my relatives, friends, and office mates, my sister Thelma received never ending calls asking her what's happening. Those who were familiar with aneurysm were really afraid, those who weren't began to research through the internet to learn more about it. In the office, my colleagues started to pray regularly everyday. My former office mates from other companies I worked for were also concerned.

All my loved ones were given updates on my condition by Thelma thru emails. She came out with this idea because her work in the office was being affected with all the calls. So, everyday, she made sure that everyone was informed on my condition by emails. As news were immediately disseminated even to my friends and relatives abroad (thanks to emails), we were sure that through prayers, my life would be saved.

Would you believe, I had a "Last Will and Testament"? I told Thelma to look for the diskette in one of the drawers in my bedroom. She found it and even laughed about it. Yes, I have a Last Will and Testament jotted down years ago. I made it not because I had huge properties or money to spread but I want to give my stuff, big or small to people I love. I want to share my things to my relatives, friends, nieces and godchildren. I know to whom I should give my cd collections to as I know my friends who love jazz, pop, dance or whatever. I also know where my collection of movie tapes and discs will go to; my tennis racket; my collection of jigsaw puzzles or books (tho not that many, I'm not a bookworm), etc. So, please, don't laugh at my Last Will and Testament.

On 16 May, I underwent an angiogram. The doctors were successful in locating exactly where the artery burst and with this, confirmed that the operation could be done as scheduled at 2:00pm the next day, 17 May 2002. Some of my relatives, friends went to the hospital on my day of operation. Everything happened so fast. I remember I was brought inside a room and heard classical music, then next thing I did was open my eyes and I saw my sisters moving my bed towards the ICU. I was told that the operation was finished and was a success. They were smiling and I could feel they were very happy. As if they are happy to see me alive - but guess what they were smiling about? - I was bald! Funny looking me! I was bald with a long bandage on the upper left corner of my head. I was still very weak that time and didn't even want to talk to anybody. The process of clipping took 6 hours. In the ICU, I stayed for 2 days. But I said to myself, I made it! God must have been tired and gone deaf because of the prayers of those who cared. He must have said, "-there you can still have your Em". So, there I was, bald and alive. I think it's because my mom still needs me, I still have missions to do, I don't know - hhmmm - or maybe - only the good die young? Am I not qualified???

After 2 days in ICU, I was back in a private room where I had short talks with my surgeon, neurologist, cardiologist, who were really happy for me. My cardiologist mentioned that because of my good health, no bad habits like smoking or drinking, my recovery would be fast. I also asked my surgeon the prohibitions and changes I have to follow in this second life of mine. And I was surprised to hear from him that there's no prohibition. I can do whatever activities I was doing before. That was really a great relief for me - I told my doctor that if there will be prohibitions, I guess that will be the time I'm gonna die. My doctor just laughed.

On Friday, 24, May 2002, I was discharged. A chapter of my life has passed and it's a chapter I'll never forget. This will reveal the power of prayers, the love of my peers, the concern of my family and relatives, and my courage to face the reality that anything can happen. Wherever you are, God can do anything in an instant. You just have to be ready. Consider your day as your last day, so enjoy life, do good to others, love people. I remember the very first poem I memorized when I was a kid and have never forgotten since then -

THROUGH THIS TOILSOME WORLD, ALAS!
ONCE AND ONLY ONCE I PASS;
IF A KINDNESS I MAY SHOW,
IF A GOOD DEED I MAY DO
TO A SUFFERING FELLOW MAN,
LET ME DO IT WHILE I CAN.
NO DELAY, FOR IT IS PLAIN
I SHALL NOT PASS THIS WAY AGAIN.

Discussion, comments, or questions: Em Salle