Great Loss

Post Traumatic Stress syndrome develops when people are unable to discuss the trauma they have undergone openly. When denial occurs the trauma is buried but does not go away. Depression, suicidal tendencies, and PTS result, and are much more difficult to deal with later than allowing the traumatized individual to react to the trauma openly shortly after it occurs and make their adjustments. The individual does not heal until they deal with it, accepting what has happened to them but also first expressing grief and rage. Then they can put it behind them and get on with their life.

The song below is intended to help those traumatized during the pole shift to talk openly about their trauma in a group setting. Medical care will be scarce, and survivors may need to spend all their time on subsistence, but songs can be sung during work, and when this occurs in a group setting, group therapy results. The song - Still One Hell of a Guy (or Gal) - is intended to encourage creative lyrics, each person talking about their particular loss or injury. The focus is not only on expressing the loss, perhaps crying a bit during this process, but also on realizing that scars and lost limbs or lost lives do not mean that life is over! For those who have been traumatized, living among others with scars can in fact be an opportunity to love others with more empathy, sharing grief and comforting each other.

Still One Hell of a Guy

I may have lost my arm
But I've learned to use my toes
And when anyone comments, I just say
That's the way it goes.

But I'm still one hell of a guy
Yes he's still one hell of a guy (answering chorus)

I may have lost my pep
And I can't seem to rise and shine
But when anyone comments, I just say
This is all due to pass in time.

But I'm still one hell of a guy
Yes he's still one hell of a guy (answering chorus)

I may have lost an eye
And greet the world with a sigh
But when anyone comments, I just say
My good one gets me by.

But I'm still one hell of a guy
Yes he's still one hell of a guy (answering chorus)

I may have lost a child
Would give my life in his stead
But when anyone comments, I just say
I'll love the orphans that aren't yet dead.

But I'm still one hell of a guy
Yes he's still one hell of a guy (answering chorus)

I may have lost my leg
And walk with a funny gait
But when anyone comments, I just say
It gets me from place to place.

But I'm still one hell of a guy
Yes he's still one hell of a guy (answering chorus)

Lyrics by Nancy.