It Can't Rain All the Time
A light rumination on mortality and legacy. And yes, that's a Crow reference in the title, nerds.
I feel like I always have, except for the aches, occasional dizziness, and ever-present reminders of impending mortality, as I watch familiar faces pop into my social media feeds with years posted beneath and sympathetic wishes to extant family and friends and fellow fans.
One of my favorite movies is Big Trouble in Little China. I haven’t watched it in years, but I can quote it almost word for word. Or at least, sentiment for sentiment. An out of his depth truck driver gets caught up in a supernatural war for the fate of the world, centered in Chinatown, San Francisco and involving an ancient wizard, his martial artist cadre and an oppossing street gang of American Chinese who want to protect the world from the wizard and his diabolical machinations. All told with tongue planted firmly in cheek, but homages to the great Shaw Brothers (and others!) martial arts epics of the 70’s. You probably know it - it’s a fun, genre-bending and bitingly witty action adventure that one could certainly say laid the groundwork for the James Gunns and Shane Blacks to build upon, as well as every Mortal Kombat game ever.
One of the most visually stunning moments is when three robed martal artists with road-brimmed hats interupt a giant street brawl and turn the tide in the villain’s favor. They are the three storms - Thunder, Lightning and Rain. They appear, do some fancy moves, and wield some decidedly terrifying weapons, then start racking up kills while our truck driver looks on in terror.
The Storms come across like immortal badasses, and there was a sense that extended off camera as well. Like any good martial arts epic, the martial artists are the best special effects.
May 27th 2025, a few days before my 51st birthday, the actor who played Rain, Peter Kwong, died at 73. I’m seeing a LOT of people in that age range passing these days. I always do the math. The numbers get smaller and smaller. 22 years. That is the difference between Peter and me. Which is a lot less than the 51 I already have behind me.
Ugh, it is morbid to dwell on. And a good way to get older in place. Speaking of “Get Older” - it’s become one of my favorite songs by Matthew Sweet, off one of my favorite albums, 100% Fun - a perfect record, in my opinion. Matthew suffered a stroke in 2023. He is ten years older than me. My dad died of a massive stroke at 69. You see where I’m going?
Yet I am smiling. Because I am, in fact, content. I’ve always believed in Jesus and a bigger picture, but have often held tightly to a desire to “make something of myself”. In the meantime, I’ve just lived, and tried to do well as things were handed to me, and love my family and friends. Imperfectly, for sure. I may not get a write up on a fansite when I go, but I hope I’ll have loved those God brought into my life enough so they know I did love them.
Jesus preached against worry for material things - which I feel I can rightly apply to my desire to leave a mark that glorifies myself - and encouraged a redirection of concern towards righteousness - which he defined as selflessness; Service to the needy, love for others - even one’s enemies! - prayer and humility. “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things (The things one actually needs, not just wants - NY) will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:33-34
It certainly does. And if I face outward, perhaps I can do better than worry - perhaps, in humility, I can help others and love them in whatever years I have left. And when I go, rather than just a photo and a memory, I can leave a legacy bigger than any story or song or drawing I can imagine - I can leave a love that those loved can pass along. And the secret is, I can love because I’ve been loved first. And THAT is worth a story and a song - all of them, in fact.