‘Betes by the decade: Classic rock style

While driving into work this morning, I was listening to a song that seemed to epitomize my life with diabetes so far.  Each verse describes a particular period of my time since diagnosis. And although I’m pretty sure the song has nothing to do with diabetes – nor do any of the band members – some of my favorite and most influential DOC’ers live in Kansas. That counts for something, right?

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A sky-high blood sugar, and the shock of my new reality. Verse 1:

Once I rose above the noise and confusion
Just to get a glimpse beyond the illusion
I was soaring ever higher, but I flew too high

Years 1-9 since diagnosis, trying to live my life as if nothing had changed, even though it had. Verse 2:

Though my eyes could see, I still was a blind man
Though my mind could think, I still was a mad man
I hear the voices when I’m dreamin’, I can hear them say…

Years 10-19 since diagnosis, believing (quite naively) that I’d finally figured this thing out, and that nobody could tell me anything that I didn’t already know. Verse 3:

Masquerading as a man with a reason
My charade is the event of the season
And if I claim to be a wise man, it surely means that I don’t know

Years 20-29 since diagnosis, realizing that if I plan to start a family, I’d better make some changes. Loved ones are depending on me. Verse 4:

On a stormy sea of moving emotion
Tossed about I’m like a ship on the ocean
I set a course for winds of fortune, but I hear the voices say…

Years 30+ since diagnosis, becoming deeply entrenched in the Diabetes Online Community and no longer being alone in this diabetes-life. Verse 5 (added emphasis is my own):

Carry on. You will always remember
Carry on. Nothing equals the splendor
Now your life’s no longer empty
Surely heaven waits for you

And then the song ends.  Does that mean there will be a cure before I start my next decade? Who knows for sure.  But until then, I’ll live by these words:

[Keep calm and] Carry on, wayward-pancreas carrier. Don’t you cry no more. Carry on.

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Music and lyrics by Kerry Livgren. The song “Carry on Wayward Son” was released by Kansas in December 1976.