I’m heartbroken. I’ve lost a dear friend and partner. I’m so grateful that we could spend the last couple of months together doing what we loved best – singing, laughing, and doing shtick.I’ll miss it all so much. Especially the shtick. Rest in peace, Nez.~Mickey Dolenz on the death Michael Nesmith

Last month Mike Nesmith and Mickey Dolenz brought their Monkees Farewell Tour to the Rosemont Theater. Tickets were reasonably priced and although I wasn’t a big fan of the band, I thought it would be a fun evening of entertainment. Plus, the songs would bring back memories of my youth.

Something came up and I wasn’t able to make it to the show. No big deal; I didn’t think much of it. Even though it was billed as a farewell tour, plenty of musicians change their minds about these things.Hell, Elton John has been on his farewell tour for at least three years. I figured I would see them the next time they came through town. There’s always a next time, right?

But, then Mike Nesmith died yesterday at the age of seventy-eight.

I knew he had been dealing with some health issues in recent years. I figured it was like the rest of this age range. We all seen to have something going on physically. We deal with it and move forward. What I didn’t know until yesterday was Nesmith’s issues included a heart bypass surgery that kept him hospitalized for a month.

I wonder if I knew of this beforehand, would have I made an extra effort to see the concert? I’m not sure, but now it’s certainly too late. There isn’t going to be a next time.

I’m taking Mike Nesmith’s death as a sign. When you have an opportunity to see or do something that is important to you, don’t blow it off. GO DO IT— before it’s too late. This isn’t anything new. We’ve all known this for a long time. Today’s news just reinforced it. Just remember, there will not always be next time.

To Mike Nesmith, thanks for the music, the laughs and the fun. Hopefully today, you took that last train to somewhere and wherever it is the people there are moving to the beat of a different drum. Rest easy. We’ll see you next time—–wherever that may be.

Type your email address in the box and click the “create subscription” button. My list is completely spam free, and you can opt out at any time.