“Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.” — my late-husband, Bill, used to repeat this Mike Tyson quote from time to time. I’ve had a lot of plans, lots of punches too. And I’ve discovered for myself the truth of the old boxers’ axiom – the punch that knocks you down is the one you don’t see coming. But Bill was also fond of this quote from Deadwood: “Pain or damage don’t end the world. Or despair, or fucking beatings. The world ends when you’re dead. Until then, you’ve got more punishment in store. Stand it like a man… and give some back.”
Thinking about this today makes me smile. I don’t think the future is all punishment – all pain. But I think it’s time I got back up anyway.