Somewhere Over the Rainbow

I had heard this song by an obscure artist, with a twist as it played verses of 'Somewhere over the rainbow, with 'What a wonderful' world entwined. It's simply melody strummed on a ukalele mesmerized me as I listened on the radio in the car. I remember saying to my wife, "I want this at my funeral." I was morbidly honest that way. Several years later, I was watching an episode of E.R. in which our favorite character, Dr. Green discovers he has brain cancer, and a short time to live. He's basically given the advice we all wish to avoid. "You don't have long, retire, enjoy the time you have left." Dr Green, plans a vacation with his daughter, who's relationship has been strained since his divorce. For the next three or four episodes Dr. Green and his daughter spend his last days surfing in Hawaii. Mending the relationship slowly, to a degree of understanding only a father and daughter could know. He's still Dad, and she's a teen working on letting go of her resentments. In the last episode of the story, he's not doing well. He keeps passing out and his strength is waning. He knows it's only a matter of days, possibly hours; but doesn't share this with his daughter, the scenary is of a bungalo on the beach, white sands surround the openness of the primitive bungalo, palm trees speckle the beach, and in the distance lies the royal blue waters of the Pacific Ocean. A day of surfing is suddenly changed as he suggests that his daughter go ahead of him, he'll stay back and watch until his strength returns. So he sits in a hammock, and watches out in the water as she strolls off to surf, Background music grows to this song I'd so loved, by and artist named Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwo?ole and as the music is playing softly, the camera pans in on the face of Dr. Green for his death scene, and his last breath. The camera pulls back, from the back of his head, above the bungalo, above the beach as if we are Dr Green's soul departing this earth. Yes, I cried like a little school girl as realized that my favorite character had just been erased from our show, with no chance to come back for a Cameo... What!? of course that's why I cried! OKAY! it was a tear jerker! and the saddest part, was the relationship with his daughter was still in repair . Moral of the story i guess-- You never know when its your time, so don't hold on to petty resentments, and love every minute of life. I later learned, Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwo?ole; had also died