~Way Too Soon...~

"And the sons become the fathers and their daughters will be wives
As the torch is passed from hand to hand
And we struggle through our lives
Though the generations wander, the lineage survives
And all of us, from dust to dust, we all become forefathers by and by"

-Dan Fogelberg

On Sunday night December 16th, Dan Fogelberg became the subject of one of his own songs....a forefather. I found out last night, on the way home from work, that he had passed away. If you've never heard of him, that's a shame. Also, if you know who he was but only know his few hit songs like "Leader Of The Band", "Same Old Lang Syne", and "Run For The Roses", that's also a shame. Dan was such a brilliant songwriter, and a gifted singer and guitar player. He had a way of twisting words into a story to catch your heart and emotions, like few have ever had. The list of songs that he wrote, which have touched me in some way, runs very long.

Dan was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer in 2004, and fought valiantly until his passing this last Sunday night. Let's take this chance to celebrate his life, mourn his death, and spread the word about fighting against prostate cancer. For whatever reason, it doesn't get the attention or that others do, like breast cancer, so I'd like to use this journal to change that if just by a little.

Please visit this link [link] for the Prostate Cancer Foundation, and read up on this disease. If you're a man, pay close attention to methods to help avoid getting and checking for this disease. If you're a woman, share what you learn with the men in your life. If you have the means, I humbly ask that you make a donation to help fight the disease. If you're a person of faith, then perhaps a prayer for finding a cure. If you're someone involved with the press...hey....how's about a little exposure, so more people know about this? Regardless of what you do, thanks for at least reading and becoming more aware.

Dan....I never knew you, but somehow I feel like I did, through your lyrics. In that way, I will miss you....and I look forward, in heaven, to hearing the songs you are beginning to write in your time up there.