Farewell Patrick Swayze

I was very saddened to hear the news late last night that Patrick Swayze had finally succumbed to his cancer. Normally I wouldn’t write about a celebrity’s death, but he was in Ghost. I figured if nothing else I could tie that in with the usual theme of blog. But I felt compelled to bid him farewell.

Mostly I just wanted to add my sympathies and condolences to the list of people extending them to his wife, friends and loved ones today. I can only imagine how heavy their hearts are and I wish for them happy memories of Mr. Swayze to comfort and bring them peace to help ease their pain and grief.

Last year, when Mr. Swayze called himself a “miracle dude,” I didn’t appreciate it as much as I came to this year. Regular readers know I recently waged my own battle against cancer. Not pancreatic but lymphoma.

As of now I’m in remission. It gave me great hope to see Mr. Swayze living and beating the odds. I always like an underdog story and adore miracle healing outcomes. I was sure hoping his attitude and fortitude would help him beat the diagnosis doctor’s had given him, which basically amounted to a death sentence.

For a while he was holding tough, but cancer’s a tricky monster. It doesn’t always kill, sometimes it can even be cured, but you have to detect it early to give yourself the best chances against it. But then there are the kinds of cancer that even early detection doesn’t help with. Sadly, that’s the kind he was stricken with.

Still, he showed a lot of class. He didn’t give in without a fight. I stand among those inspired that despite his pain and suffering, he continued to work and seek the most out of life.

I guess I felt moved to write about him today because I’m still trying to come to grips with all I’ve been through with my own cancer story. I think I’m currently in the “Survivor Syndrome/Guilt” phase. I’m not quite sure why I’m still here, and there is a little bit of guilt that some others I’ve known with cancer haven’t been as lucky.Yes, even people I didn’t know personally, such as Patrick Swayze, Farrah Fawcett or even Ted Kennedy, spark this feeling.

It’s the rare person I know who hasn’t been touched by cancer in some way. Some more personally than others.

I guess what I really want to say is, “Mr. Swayze, you entertained us with your performances in movies. Many remember you most from Dirty Dancing or Ghost, but Red Dawn and The Outsiders were the movies I first saw you in and always think of when I think of your acting career. But now I’ll also remember you as one of the fallen soldiers who bravely showed the rest of us how to stand up to cancer with grace and courage. Much in the way you battled the enemy in Red Dawn. Thank you for the blessing of your life. Farewell, noble sir.”

VIDEO OF THE RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS PERFORMING “UNCHAINED MELODY”

This is such a haunting song, and was in Ghost. I felt I needed to include it.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PATRICK SWAYZE MOVIE? (OR THE ONE YOU THINK OF FIRST WHEN YOU THINK OF HIM.)

• The Outsiders
• Red Dawn
• Dirty Dancing
• Ghost
• Point Break
• To Wong Foo
• Other

Courtney Mroch

Courtney Mroch is a globe-trotting restless spirit who’s both possessed by wanderlust and the spirit of adventure, and obsessed with true crime, horror, the paranormal, and weird days. Perhaps it has something to do with her genes? She is related to occult royalty, after all. Marie Laveau, the famous Voodoo practitioner of New Orleans, is one of her ancestors. (Yes, really! As explained here.) That could also explain her infatuation with skeletons.

Speaking of mystical, to learn how Courtney channeled her battle with cancer to conjure up this site, check out HJ’s Origin Story.