Oh, Congratulations.

There’s an old joke that my Dad used to tell. 

Guy goes to the funeral parlor and sadly says,

“I’m here to bury my wife.”

The funeral director says:

“I’m confused. Didn’t we bury your wife a few years ago?”

The guy says,

“I got remarried.”

And the funeral director exclaims, “Oh! Congratulations!”

Unfortunately, I thought of that joke yesterday as I ran into an ironworker who suffered a stroke a few years back. He was in his early 30’s at the time.

Yet, there he was, back on the iron.

“I’m so glad to see you recovered,” I said.

“I was out of work for three full years,” he said.

“You look good,” I said.

“For now,” he answered. “Found out a few months back that I have stomach cancer and I gave up treatment.”

That’s what made me think of that old joke.

Good Lord.

He battles all the way back through the rehab.

He beats it!

Only to get hammered again.

I didn’t even know what to say as a way of parting.

He answered my question for me.

“I just feel alive when I’m out here. Going to do it as long as I can.”

He put on his harness and raised the lift high into the air.

God, I hope he has another miracle in him.