Carver, that is. For these words, engraved on his tombstone:
LATE FRAGMENT
And did you get what
you wanted from this life, even so?
I did.
And what did you want?
To call myself beloved, to feel myself
beloved on the earth.
And this poem, also engraved on his tombstone:
GRAVY
No other word will do. For that’s what it was. Gravy.
Gravy these past ten years.
Alive, sober, working, loving and
being loved by a good woman. Eleven years
ago he was told he had six months to live
at the rate he was going. And he was going
nowhere but down. So he changed his ways
somehow. He quit drinking! And the rest?
After that it was all gravy, every minute
of it, up to and including when he was told about,
well, some things that were breaking down and
building up inside his head. “Don’t weep for me,”
he said to his friends. “I’m a lucky man.
I’ve had ten years longer than I or anyone
expected. Pure gravy. And don’t forget it.”
Andy and I have never had to struggle with alcoholism, but we’re clearly living our gravy years. That’s the beauty of reading and writing. You are never alone. There are a multitude of kindred spirits to connect with.
December 4, 2024
…there were alcoholism problems in my family, I don’t drink!
Same here. Addictions are horrible.
Every day that we get is a gift, and the older we get, the more valuable are those gifts.
Yes. 🙂
These are wise statements. He must have a very large tombstone for all of them to fit on!
It was. You can search for a picture.
I was married twice and both husbands were alcoholics. It didn’t make for the best of times.
Addictions are horrible for everyone. 🙁
that’s a lot for a tombstone and I am happy he had those gravy years, our gravy years are gone and getting worse by the day
That happens all too often. I’m sorry.
I am glad he got to enjoy his last years…
Yes. He died when he was 50, incredibly young.
Profound! I’m living and loving the term, “Gravy years!”
Yay!
I love that tombstone inscription. Gravy indeed.
🙂
Thank you