“I’m Alive!”
This is the backstory. I danced with death twice in the early part of 2008. One dance was due to falling off a
ladder, which resulted in a subdural hematoma (traumatic brain injury). The other was prostate cancer that had
metastasized beyond the prostate. Fortunately, I was able to out dance death on my dancefloor of life.
Both the dances radically changed my life in a most positive manner. Initially, I wasn’t aware of the changes.
The accident of falling off a ladder caused me to be hospitalized in ICU for four weeks and a rehab hospital for
another three weeks. However, I don’t remember the fall, going to the hospital, being transferred to the rehab
hospital, and only remember the last week and a half before returning home.
When I finally got home, I had to restart my life. It took a couple months to return to my normal life.
Nevertheless, I lacked a frame of reference of what the old me was like. During my recovery at home, I continued
to make changes in my life, which weren’t considered changes by me at that time. I thought that I was just
returning to my old normal. Nonetheless, it took about five years to realize the new me. I had an anniversary
party, which I called my Humpty Dumpty Party. I planned a family party to celebrate nearly killing myself due to
the fall. It seemed quite reasonable to have that party. Looking back on that party, I realize that it must have
seemed avant-garde by my family members.
It wasn’t until I watched Randy Pausch’s The
Last Lecture before I realized the changes in me. The changes weren’t in direction but in intensity. It
didn’t take but a few moments of watching that video before I realized what a eureka moment means. I
was able to grasp what Archimedes must have felt a couple millennia ago.
That is the backstory. Now, let me explain my second eureka moment to you. I ordered a pair of loafers
from Amazon. A couple days later, they arrived. I love my new shoes. However, what I love more was that the shoe
company enclosed an envelope with a letter and a haunting picture on a postcard in the shoebox. Man, I looked at
that picture of a guy standing on the roof of a crashed airplane for the longest time. It reminded me instantly
of watching Randy Pausch. Pausch, the guy on the plane, and I shared something in common…survival. Eureka is the
only word that I can express how I felt watching The Last Lecture video. As I starred at that postcard, it was
the same eureka experience.
The Last Lecture and the postcard both define who I am. I’m alive! I have had the great fortune of reaching the
twelfth anniversary of my fall. I lucked out. I won’t waste my remaining time on my journey down the yellow
brick road of life wishing that things were different. I don’t want to relive either of my dances, but I would
not delete either from my life.
My two dances made me realize that my clock was ticking. Unless you have done the dance and/or bought loafers
from Amazon with that postcard, you know your clock is ticking…intellectually. Prior to my two dances, I was
just like you. However, it is more than hearing the clock ticking. It is as if I can feel it in my gut. I am
alive! I have things to do on the time remaining on the dancefloor of my life.
![Once Upon a Midnight Dreary](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/once-upon-a-midnight-dreary/trump-thumbnail.gif) |
Once Upon a Midnight Dreary
What Would Kierkegaard Do?
|
07/03/24 |
![A Funny Thing Happened](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/a-funny-thing-happened/exercise-thumbnail.gif) |
A Funny Thing Happened
At My Doctor’s Office
|
06/17/24 |
![I’m Leading Death Again](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/im-leading-death-again/skeleton-thumbnail.gif) |
I’m Leading Death Again
On My Dancefloor of Life
|
06/10/24 |
![A Poem for Ti Ti](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/a-poem-for-ti-ti/titi-thumbnail.gif) |
A Poem for Ti Ti
Who is Now Twenty
|
06/02/24 |
![What’s It All About, Alfie](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/whats-it-all-about-alfie/footprints-thumbnail.gif) |
What’s It All About, Alfie
According to Longfellow
|
05/31/24 |
![Field of Dreams](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/field-of-dreams/archie-thumbnail.gif) |
Field of Dreams
A Haunting Return
|
04/24/24 |
![Immortal Beloved](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/immortal-beloved/titi-thumbnail.gif) |
Immortal Beloved
Beethoven’s, Shakespeare’s, and Mine
|
04/19/24 |
![Legends Often Morph into Facts](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/bushs-bus-ride/bush-thumbnail.gif) |
Bush’s Bus Ride
Leadership or Roadkills
|
04/05/24 |
![Ginger Trains Her Owner](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/ginger-trains-her-owner/ginger-thumbnail.gif) |
Ginger Trains Her Owner
And I’m Obedient
|
04/03/24 |
![Standing on the Hill](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/standing-on-the-hill/robots-thumbnail.gif) |
Standing on the Hill
Our Human Destiny
|
03/20/24 |
![Legends Often Morph into Facts](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/traumerei-2/traumerei-thumbnail.gif) |
Träumerei
Then and Now
|
03/15/24 |
![Legends Often Morph into Facts](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/kicking-the-can-down-the-road-again/chiefs-thumbnail.gif) |
Kicking the Can Down the Road, Again
50th Mass Shootings in America This Year
|
02/16/24 |
![My Hill of Beans Paradox](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/my-hill-of-beans-paradox/multiverse-thumbnail.gif) |
My Hill of Beans Paradox
Created by the James Webb Space Telescope
|
01/26/24 |
![Why Write?](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/why-write/slaughterhouse-five-thumbnail.gif) |
Why Write?
Answers from Vonnegut and Faulkner
|
12/20/23 |
![The Paradox of Learning](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/the-paradox-of-learning/kubla-khan-thumbnail.gif) |
The Paradox of Learning
It Is an Either/Or Knowledge Base
|
12/13/23 |
![Legends Often Morph into Facts](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/on-the-road-again-2/road-thumbnail.gif) |
On the Road Again
Ginger, the Pooh Dog, and Me
|
11/10/23 |
![Legends Often Morph into Facts](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/if-i-were-q/temeraire-thumbnail.gif) |
If I Were Q
I’d Tell the Whole Story of the Téméraire
|
11/08/23 |
![Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/do-not-go-gentle-into-that-good-night/sunset-thumbnail.jpg) |
Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night
A Lesson Taught by Dylan Thomas
|
11/06/23 |
![The Reason for Being](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/the-reason-for-being/sunset-thumbnail.gif) |
The Reason for Being
An Either/Or Situation
|
11/03/23 |
![The Ripple Effect](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/the-ripple-effect/ripple-thumbnail.gif) |
The Ripple Effect
An Either/Or Issue
|
11/01/23 |
![Ginger’s 7th Birthday](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/gingers-7th-birthday/ginger-thumbnail.gif) |
Ginger’s 7th Birthday
What’s Life All About, Alfie?
|
10/30/23 |
![Breath of Fresh Air](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/breath-of-fresh-air/office-thumbnail.jpg) |
Breath of Fresh Air
From My Web Administrator
|
10/20/23 |
![Me and My Echocardiogram](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/me-and-my-echocardiogram/echocardiogram-thumbnail.gif) |
Me and My Echocardiogram
Beyond a Diagnosis
|
10/18/23 |
![Legends Often Morph into Facts](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/gingers-check-up/thumbnail.gif) |
Ginger’s Check-Up
Again, at Purdue Veterinary Hospital
|
10/04/23 |
![My Second Shot](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/my-second-shot/shot-thumbnail.gif) |
My Second Shot
Or the First Insurrection
|
09/22/23 |
![My World of Xanadu](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/my-world-of-xanadu/xanadu-thumbnail.gif) |
My World of Xanadu
Another Personal Parallel Essay
|
09/20/23 |
![Tyson’s Two Thoughts](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/ti-tis-surprising-email/titi-thumbnail.jpg) |
Ti Ti’s Surprising Email
To Her Grandfather
|
09/18/23 |
![Tyson’s Two Thoughts](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/tysons-two-thoughts/neil-thumbnail.gif) |
Tyson’s Two Thoughts
Regarding AI and a Ticking Clock
|
09/15/23 |
![Creating My Alive Life](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/creating-my-alive-life/meds-thumbnail.jpg) |
Creating My Alive Life
Gone Will Be the Days of Being Dead Tired
|
09/11/23 |
![Another Dance for Ginger](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/another-dance-for-ginger/ginger-thumbnail.jpg) |
Another Dance for Ginger
Learn and Live in the Moment
|
09/01/23 |
![Haunting Photos](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/haunting-photos/family-thumbnail.jpg) |
Haunting Photos
Then and Now
|
08/09/23 |
![Oppie and Me](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/oppie-and-me/thumbnail.gif) |
Oppie and Me
The Similarities are Striking
|
07/24/23 |
![Stonehenge and Manhattanhenge](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/stonehenge-and-manhattanhenge/thumbnail.gif) |
Stonhenge and Manhattanhenge
What's it all about, Alfie?
|
06/28/23 |
![The Tree in the Silo](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/the-tree-in-the-silo/tree-thumbnail.jpg) |
The Tree in the Silo
A Metaphor of Me
|
06/23/23 |
![The Lady and Bobby](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/pick-mentors-carefully/lady-thumbnail.jpg) |
Pick Mentors Carefully
The Lady and Bobby
|
06/02/23 |
![Be a Sherpa](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/be-a-sherpa/prayer-flags-nepal.gif) |
Be a Sherpa
Whether or Not You are a Beekeeper or Nepalese
|
05/31/23 |
![Music Explains Me](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/music-explains-me/inlelake-thumbnail.jpg) |
Music Explains Me
Music Drives Me
|
03/03/23 |
![Happy Birthday Moh Moh](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/happy-birthday-moh-moh/family-thumbnail.jpg) |
Happy Birthday Moh Moh
And Many More
|
02/27/23 |
![The Importance of Footprints](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/the-importance-of-footprints/sand-thumbnail.jpg) |
The Importance of Footprints
But the Question is When
|
01/25/23 |
![What’s It All About Alfie?](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/whats-it-all-about-alfie-part-2/thumbnail.jpg) |
What’s It All About Alfie?
From an Eighty-Year Old Alfie
|
01/20/23 |
![My Quest for Eldorado](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/my-quest-for-eldorado/knight-thumbnail.jpg) |
My Quest for Eldorado
In Three Parts
|
01/16/23 |
![Grasping Reality](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/grasping-reality/thumbnail.jpg) |
Grasping Reality
I Can’t Explain It
|
01/09/23 |
![My Way](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/morphing-to-my-mentoring/bocelli-thumbnail.jpg) |
My Way
Morphing to My Mentoring
|
12/02/22 |
![My Twilight Hauntings...](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/my-twilight-hauntings/sunset-thumbnail.jpg) |
My Twilight Hauntings...
About Immortality
|
11/25/22 |
![Ginger is Now Six](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/ginger-is-now-six/ginger-thumbnail.jpg) |
Ginger is Now Six
As We Do the Dance
|
10/28/22 |
![Growing Up Without Transparency](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/growing-up-without-transparency/growing-up-thumbnail.jpg) |
Growing Up Without Transparency
And Finally Discovering It
|
10/14/22 |
![Facing Storms of Life](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/facing-storms-of-life/facing-storms-of-life-thumbnail.jpg) |
Facing Storms of Life
Another Either/Or Situation
|
10/07/22 |
![](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/seeing_things_more_clearly/thumb.png) |
Seeing Things More Clearly
On My Yellow Brick Road
|
08/22/22 |
![](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/triology_of_diseases/thumb.png) |
Trilogy of Diseases
How Are You Going to Address the Trilogy?
|
08/12/22 |
![](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/important_teaching_moment/thumb.png) |
An Important Teaching Moment
Joe and I Are Twins
|
08/10/22 |
![](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/funny_thing_in_surgery/thumb.png) |
A Funny Thing Happened to Me in Surgery
I Talked About What Rattles Me
|
08/3/22 |
![](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/dance_on_steroids/thumb.png) |
Doing the Dance on Steroids
And Promises to Keep
|
06/29/22 |
![](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/battle_of_alamo/thumb.png) |
The Battle of the Alamo…
Past, Present, and Future
|
05/11/22 |
![](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/everything_seems_dark/thumb.png) |
If Everything Around You Seems Dark…
Look Again. You May Be the Light.
|
02/26/22 |
![](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/world/thumb.png) |
My Personality Quirks…
I Have Several
|
02/16/22 |
![](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/reign_in_hell/thumb.png) |
“Better To Reign in Hell…
Than Serve in heaven.”
|
01/12/22 |
![](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/cancer_took_root/thumb.png) |
A Cancer, Too, Took Root
But the Backstory Is More Important
|
01/10/22 |
![](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/reason_for_being/thumb.png) |
A Reason for Being…
The Most Important Reason for My Being
|
12/31/21 |
![](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/young_frankenstein/thumb.png) |
Young Frankenstein
And Her Treatment Plan
|
12/27/21 |
![](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/operation_was_successful/thumb.png) |
The Operation Was Successful
But No Microchip Was Found
|
12/17/21 |
![](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/free_to_me/thumb.png) |
Free To Be Me…
Somewhat
|
12/15/21 |
![](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/more_to_life/thumb.png) |
There Is More To Life…
Than Paddling Around and Accomplishing Nothing
|
12/10/21 |
![](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/waking_up/thumb.png) |
Waking Up…
To Getting Old
|
11/29/21 |
![](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/ginger_and_i/thumb.png) |
Ginger and I
In Our Recovery Modes
|
11/22/21 |
![](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/dreary/thumb.png) |
Once Upon a Midnight Dreary….
“Ride, Boldly Ride”
|
09/27/21 |
![](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/raven/thumb.png) |
Quoth the Raven
My Medical Diagnosis
|
09/22/21 |
![](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/revisit/thumb.png) |
Revisiting Gilgamesh
A Teaching Moment
|
09/17/21 |
![](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/pros-cons/thumb.png) |
The Pros and Cons…
Of Replicating Our Parents
|
09/06/21 |
![](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/gawain/thumb.png) |
Sir Gawain, the Knight
Doing What a Knight Does
|
08/01/21 |
![](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/ginger-dance/thumb.png) |
Ginger Doing the Dance
And An Important Takeaway
|
07/28/21 |
![](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/snows/thumb.png) |
A Follow-Up to Snow’s Email
Another Teaching Moment
|
07/26/21 |
![](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/poets/thumb.png) |
Poets Both Past and Present
Amanda Gorman and Sarah Kay
|
07/09/21 |
![](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/resurrection/thumb.png) |
Resurrection
I’m Alive Along with My Computer, and Ginger
|
07/07/21 |
![](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/scarface/thumb.png) |
Scarface PaPa Al
Isn’t My Nickname
|
06/25/21 |
![](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/goblin/thumb.png) |
If They See the Goblin…
They Might Also See Planet X.
|
06/23/21 |
![](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/little-one/thumb.png) |
The Little One,
A Part of My Family
|
06/09/21 |
![](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/memorial-day-2021/md-mini.jpg) |
Memorial Day 2021
It Is in Giving that We Get
|
05/31/21 |
![](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/one-year-hence/yh-mini.jpg) |
One Year Hence
Reincarnation of Gawain and the Fox
|
05/28/21 |
![](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/reincarnation-of-ra-ra/rr-mini.jpg) |
Reincarnation of Ra-Ra…
Reincarnation of Ra-Ra… |
05/14/21 |
![](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/problems-offer-a-choice/po-mini.jpg) |
Problems Offer a Choice
Either a Cul-de-sac or a Challenge |
04/23/21 |
![](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/a-funny-thing-happened-while-on-zoom/wz-mini.jpg) |
A Funny Thing Happened While on Zoom
My Fourth La Danse Macabre |
04/19/21 |
![](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/quest/thumb.png) |
My Quest to Find Meaning Life
My Search for My Holy Grail |
04/07/21 |
![](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/i-live-in-two-worlds/tw-mini.jpg) |
I Live in Two WorldsI Have Benefited from One World |
03/22/21 |
![](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/aldie/thumb.png) |
What’s It All About Aldie My Haunting Question |
03/19/21 |
![](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/the-pandas-and-my-pooh/mini.png) |
The Pandas and My PoohAnd Other Followers of Gilgamesh |
02/03/21 |
![](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/stopping-in-the-woods/mini.png) |
Stopping in the WoodsWhile Dreaming Dreams |
01/27/21 |
![](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/finding-immortality/mini.png) |
Finding ImmortalityGilgamesh and Ti Ti |
01/22/21 |
![](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/purposeful-lives/mini.png) |
Purposeful LivesOn Steroids |
01/13/21 |
![](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/a-secret-about-life/mini.png) |
A Secret About LifeHow To Be Successful |
12/21/20 |
![](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/we-are-both-dancers/mini.png) |
We Are Both Dancers…Ginger and I |
10/28/20 |
![](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/the-importance-of-the-sound-of-music/mini.png) |
The Importance of the Sound of Music…According to Nietzsche and Me |
10/26/20 |
![](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/hear-ye-hear-ye/mini.png) |
Hear Ye, Hear Ye…Ti Ti Is Starting College Today! |
10/16/20 |
![](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/this-is-an-addendum/mini.png) |
This Is an AddendumTi Ti, the Bridge Builder |
09/25/20 |
![](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/from-then-to-now/mini.png) |
From Then to NowWhat a Difference Seven Years Has Made |
09/23/20 |
![](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/dealing-with-reality/mini.png) |
Dealing with RealityIn the Human and Canine World |
09/18/20 |
![](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/two-poems/mini.png) |
Two PoemsBy Two Ladies |
09/14/20 |
![](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/coming-home-to-roost/mini.png) |
Coming Home to RoostKierkegaard, Mt. Lebanon, Dancing, and My Family |
09/04/20 |
![](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/there-is-more-to-dreaming/d-mini.jpg) |
There Is More to Dreaming…Than Just Dreaming |
08/07/20 |
![](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/a-teaching-moment/m-mini.jpg) |
A Teaching MomentWhile Walking Ginger |
07/31/20 |
|
Egoism vs AltruismThere is a Better Way |
07/27/20 |
![](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/p2s/mini.png) |
"Give Me a Place to Stand...And I Will Move the World.” |
07/20/20 |
|
A Tribute to Ti Ti The Young Lady |
07/06/20 |
![](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/another-of-santayanas-teaching-moment/tm-mini.jpg) |
Another of Santayana’s Teaching Moment Maybe We Will Learn This
Time |
06/24/20 |
|
An Open-Letter to the WorldTimes They Are a-Changin' |
06/05/20 |
![](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/the-use-of-drugs/ud-mini.jpg) |
The Use of DrugsDonnie, Aldie, and Dr. Goodspeed |
05/27/20 |
|
Our Reason for BeingDiscover It |
05/18/20 |
![](https://www.wolverton-mountain.com/articles/images/an-open-letter-to-dr-fauci/ol-mini.jpg) |
An Open Letter to Dr. FauciOne American’s Thank You |
04/01/20 |