Sometimes We're gone and Death Enters by Christophe Clugston

I want to post some thoughts about something that has happened that should give everyone a chance to reflect on his or her own motives, directions, ideas and decisions. Often people say I will do it in the future. I will travel to this place or take that vacation cruise some time in the future. Or I often hear also that someone will learn how to sail a boat, fly a plane or how to speak fluently in another language.

Let's face facts--over 90% of the time these are just lies. Yeah, I'm not here to make it palatable for you to lie to yourself or others. It's this very acceptance of the lie that leads you thinking that you do have time. Let me tell you something: those that actually learn how to fly, speak another language fluently (not a short term goal) or travel to K 2 are actually busy doing it. They don't sit around and use it as excuse to NOT do it. It here refers to the Future that never comes. You know as professional fighter the whole life is about a future date and what must be done to be something different on that future date. Most people just go through life trying to make it from one day to the other or think in very hazy terms of getting a job that has retirement, medical (that would be the USA you'd have to worry about), and has vacation time.

The reality here is also that outside of bgeing forced by others to make deadlines or goals with work, the person does not have the self directed force to achieve something by personal force. It was said on this path of fighting/learning about yourself that you must FORGE yoruself form your own will. This Personal Power is what makes you separate from others.

So why do I bring all of this up now?

Well, one of the Group has died. Arthur Gallant, who was part of the infamous French Canadian segment of Comhrac Bas recently died from cancer. He was a mere 50 years old. Fifty years of living, experiencing, adventures and accomplishments. I know that many of the things that he used to talk to me about still had not happened: finding a woman that was exactly what he wanted and would accept him for who he was, is a prime example that comes to mind. However, Arthur had traveled across Canada several times, been part of my assitants for the Street Savage Tapes filmed in 2000 in California. He had also been instrumental in helping with many seminars in Moncton, New Brunswick. He was captured on film and on audio--and now, by friends, that is all we have of him. For all of his songs have been sung and all of his stories have been told. He Still had much left and there were more people left that he hadn't met, yet. But that has all ended.

Arthru was a gifted Chiac Musician (Acadian style music) and was always a hit when he would play at our famous EVENTS. He also was a great person to have at any party, meeting, or seance. He pulled Matt out of some strange bad times: the Natives, the Falling on the Girl Friend thing, etc.

He also was a great person to establish contact. It was his unassuming ways and ability to make others laugh that quickly had others engaged in conversation that they normaly would not do.He had this gift from his bacground: He had done a variety of jobs and there was always something about his Chimney Sweeping episodes or his Truck Driving exploits that could enthrall others. He had a wry way about him and he had a Zest for life.

He also set about Comhrac Bas learning in a head under the water approach to swimming, as it were. The times that Matt, Arthur and others would go at it in the Combat Room was, to say the least, committment.

I can remember many a time from the "Positive, positive, la" and the "skell a dit?" that stlil makes me laugh. It wasn't just the phrase it was the way he said it. And his story of the Dinosaur vs the Bear Anaology for Comhrac Bas has to reign as the greatest story ever told. This was said at one of Rene's after event bashes. Those were times to be cherished now. We will not pass through those times ever again. The gang and the boats that brought them have gone to other places on the Immense Globe.

I have known many peoplewho have died: Died from motorcycle crashes, auto accidents, falls, fires, war, fighting, etc. I know the finality the actual STOP of the forward moving time line and that's why I talk about it so much. If you don't think of the end, you will never do anything on the way to the End. The Future will come, but will you mark it in a way that allows you to have done something that you said you truly wanted to do?

Arthur can no longer be part of the CXS evolution that has launched it far beyond Comhrac Bas. He can never sing us another song of his strange times selling dolls. He can never come to Thailand. He will never learn Spanish. It's over. And those of us who knew him should be feeling the gap that is there without him to fill it. There is a unique vibe gone. The mortal coil has changed its position.

So, what will you do before someone is writing this sort of article about you?