
I’m not sure how many of you watched the Barbara Walters interview with Patrick Swayze last night, but I was seriously in tears during most of it.
I have never been what you would call a huge fan of Swayze’s, although back in the 8th grade I first saw Dirty Dancing in the theater with my girlfriend then proceeded to watch it another 250 times after it came out on VHS.
I do, however, hate to see anyone being forced to come to terms with their own death.
I had a family member die within 6 months of being diagnosed with a brain tumor two years ago, and what he had to go through was something I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. Swayze is fortunate to at least have a bit longer to spend with his adoring wife. But it isn’t going to get any easier for him. Stage 4 pancreatic cancer is bitterly aggressive.
I jotted down a few things Patrick, wife Lisa Niemi and Barbara talked about in the interview, but this morning went to ABC.com hoping for more quotes, and was shocked to see that the news channel is selling the interview on DVD for $29.99. (!)
No mention of the proceeds going to charity either. A little too opportunistic for my liking. And very, very tacky. Shame on you, ABC.
Patrick, 56, and his wife both seem to be an incredibly strong couple, not that they have a choice, but it was truly inspirational watching them together, taking on the fight of their lives. They aren’t going to take this battle lying down, that’s for sure.
”One thing I’m not gonna do is chase staying alive,” Swayze told Barbara. ”You spend so much time chasing staying alive, you won’t live.”
The part of the interview that really got me was when Barbara asked Lisa, “Have you contemplated life without him?”
Before the tears even hit Lisa’s eye, they were welling up in my own.
Lisa’s answer, “Very, very, difficult. I’ll cross that road when I get there.”
Patrick chimed in, comforting his wife, “She’ll be just fine.”
Patrick admits, he probably only has a couple of years left, at most, but he has made it clear, he is going to live each and every day to the absolute fullest. Something we all should do.
Unfortunately, sometimes it takes death to make us want to hold onto and cherish our precious lives. And when we do pass, it’s only the love we had that matters. Patrick reminds us of this. Like Swayze’s character, Sam, says to his still living lover, Molly (Demi Moore) in the movie Ghost, “It’s amazing, Molly, the love inside, you take it with you.”
I got the address to send Patrick your well wishes, pass it on, Smackaholics!
To write to Patrick Swayze and his wife, Lisa Niemi, send cards, gifts and letters of encouragement to:
PATRICK SWAYZE
C/O W.K.T. PUBLIC RELATIONS
335 NORTH MAPLE DRIVE, STE. 351
BEVERLY HILLS, CA 90210