The Fighter----From Dad

The Fighter Remains
“In the clearing stands a boxer by trade, and he carries a reminder of every blow that laid him down or cut him ‘til he cried out in anger and his shame-but the fighter remains.” This is from a Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel song about a boxer on the streets of New York. “The Fighter Remains” is my New Year’s invitation to Father Time.
“Just come on, 2009!” We’ll meet you head on. One day at a time we will demolish you like we did your predecessor. “Another one bites the dust!” We took him apart piece by piece. Twelve times we tore pages from the calendar. I feel like a pro now. 67 times I’ve won. I was born in March 1941. The Japanese missed me by bombing the wrong side of the world.
Come on, Mr. 2009! We’ll spar with you. You may hurt us, but through tears and pain we’ll manage a smile. Our tired aching bodies will drag home. But next morning we’ll be there and you will have one less round of ammo. Another day is gone and your arsenal decreases. “Fighters Remain”.
Don’t forget, 2009, what happened to your ancestors. They gave us scars, but they’re history. We don’t figure you’re much tougher. More wars, tornadoes and earthquakes? What do you have in mind? We wonder, but we aren’t scared of you. We’re older and slower, but we’ll keep coming at you. We march forward. You leave us no choice. We will have joy because we have A Source other than circumstances.
I realize, 2009, that you have no feelings for us. I just felt a need to talk to you. Don’t try anything funny now; I’ll tend to that. We will destroy part of you with laughter. We have some tough “cookies”. Your Father, Time, put some in wheel chairs, but they still smile.
You’re not so tough, brand new 2009. We challenge you to 365 rounds. We are the people, fighters, pros. We’ve been trained by The Best. You’d better get us while you can ‘cause I read in the #1 Best Seller that one-day “time shall be no more.” You’re on your way out, Big Boy! Hey! I’m talking to you, 2009!
You say,“I’ll kill you for that!” That was tried on The Man in the year 0 and he’s still alive. He passed His secret on to us. So there! “The Fighter Remains!"