Of course there is only one song for my twin brother Pete, ‘He ain’t Heavy. He’s my Brother’, written by Bobby Scott and Bob Russell and first recorded by Kelly Gordon in 1969, but in my opinion, this was eclipsed by the Hollies later that year. A beautiful back story to the lyrics; the story goes that an orphanage’s founder, Father Edward Flanagan, saw a boy, Reuban Granger, carrying another boy, Howard Loomis, who had polio and wore leg braces, up some stairs. Flanagan asked Granger if carrying Loomis was hard. The boy replied, “He ain’t heavy, Father, he’s m’ brother.” Then there is the heart felt words in the 1960 song written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman and sung by the Drifters, ‘Save the Last Dance for Me’. Doc who used a wheelchair, constructed the words after his wedding day when he saw his wife, an actor and dancer, enjoying the party. True love Bro. Now, on death? - This is the gospel according to BSB. As the great rasta Bob Marley reckoned, ‘it isn’t an end but rather a transition, a going to rest’. He didn’t fear death; he saw it as part of life’s cycle and a passage into a higher spiritual state with Jah (a shortened, poetic name for God, derived from the Hebrew name Yahweh [Jehovah]). His message was that living righteously, with love and service to others, gave death no sting – because the soul lives on. I reckon that there are two sides to it, one for the deceased, and let’s face it, no one has come back from it I believe (ok, there was some fella who might have, but he didn’t stick around for long, so what does that tell you eh?), then there is one for those yet to transition, that is, those left behind, like you and me! Now, never forget that those that you have said goodbye to, who if you allow, will always be with you. My Ma and Pa are always in my peripherals. A tip, if you find yourself in times of trouble, let your dearest passed on whānau come to you as ‘Let it Be’ the Beatles 1968 hit seems to suggest. I guess it is now, where to from here? If the genes stand up, there is still some life yet, and as we speak, so to speak, I warn you that there could be another story unfolding. Which brings to mind a favourite of mine, ‘I Want to Know What Love Is’ by the British-American rock band Foreigner, written by Mick Jones, it was released in November 1984. I always did wonder. Now that will get you thinking aye! On this matter, I believe that I referred to the fact earlier in this story, that maybe I missed a few critical classes on the way through, relating to long term relationships. I mean just about everyone I know, from my grandparents, parents, uncles and aunties, my twin brother and most of the people I went to school with, are or were ‘lifers’, that is they were or are in relationships that span at least 50 years, and often to 60. Now for reasons unknown to me, that hasn’t been the way my life has panned out. As I say, I may have missed something, but personally, I don’t think that I have. Have I loved? You betcha! Have I been loved? Again, you betcha! Have I enjoyed or endured these ‘states’ more than most? Maybe, but personally I have no idea what other people get up to or feel, but simply the concept of growing old with someone just for the sake of it, sort of did not ever ring my bells. Right, it may be asked, what about companionship in old age? Really? My casual observations of miles on the clock in a relationship, in many circumstances, looked like a sentence not worth considering to me. Two becoming one, and I was never sure who to look at when they both talk to me at the same time, normally, both saying the same thing. Then what is the story when one or other pegs it, what happens to the survivor who is no longer joined at the hip? Call me cynical, I will take it. This song is for you having shared my story, the Dolly Parton written, 1992 masterpiece so superbly sung by Whitney Houston, ‘I Will Always Love You’ just for the fact that you were interested in my story. Yeap, that gal has a voice, in fact, both of them do. And then there is ‘Don’t You (Forget About Me)’, the 1985 Steve Schiff and Keith Forsey, by Simple Minds. Maybe my story will stay with you for a little time. But to this end, as that is where we finally are, let’s share Neil Diamond’s contention that 'money talks, but it don’t sing and dance and it don’t walk' and finish with us all on the imaginary stage of life with a mike each in our hands, singing our hearts out, up close and personal dancing, and slow kissing to ‘Perfect Symphony’ the 2021 composition by Ed Sheeran and Andrea Bocelli. Then let each of us continue our walk on the journey of life with our hearts busting with love and compassion. What a way to go, it doesn’t get better. A great tangi number? Now, go and act like you are living in a powder keg that’s giving off sparks as Bonnie T sang about! Push the boundaries and be yourself. The reality is, that in the great scheme of things, who else really cares? Keep your ear to the ground and your eyes and your heart open; watch those clouds for the silver linings which are there and real, and you know, I reckon that we might meet somewhere. Now fancy that! Finally, let's take time to contemplate the meaning behind the Burt Bacharach and Hal David 1966 song ‘Alfie’. The lyrics explore themes of love, kindness, and the search for a purpose beyond mere self-centred, self-gratification. Basically, the conclusion, it’s all about aroha Alfie! I 100% tautoko that. Now, a few have questioned the name of my publisher, Utu Mawa Et Limited. Simply, the word is Te Awamutu backwards, and in te reo Māori, utu means revenge, and mawa is gentle. An oxymoron? Maybe that pretty much sums up my life and my story. You decide. Nga mihi BSB