Last Saturday night, I was on a “double date” at a concert in Kingsbury Hall on the campus of the University of Utah. It’s seldom that we get together with James and Laura — which is regrettable. But life being what it is, that’s how life goes. They live in Salt Lake City, and we live in Sanpete.

James, aka Jim, aka Jimi, (Jimi, often to me — an association with Jimi Hendrix who was the performer at our first concert as 15-year-olds) grew up in Vermillion, Utah. If you don’t know where that is, think of the “Greater Sigurd Metroplex” north of Richfield.

Brigham Young gave Vermillion its name in 1876, renaming it from its former name “Neversweat.” Say what you want about “Brother Brigham,” he did some good things.

Jim was a classmate of mine in the Wildcat Class of 1970 at Richfield High School. We’ve been friends for a long time. Along with others, we got involved in rock ‘n’ roll music in junior high and high school.

We didn’t “sell our souls to rock ‘n’ roll,” but we were looking at a “rental agreement.” We were a little obsessed. We were in the same rock band for a while and then in separate ones. We went to USU together, three of us, in the fall of 1970.

It was either in September of 1970 or sometime in 1971 that our “gang” of rock ‘n’ rollers went to the old, now nonexistent, Salt Palace for a concert. We saw the band Three Dog Night perform. The band was new’ish and rising in popularity at the time.

Last Saturday, Three Dog Night was the band we were seeing in Salt Lake again, more than 50 years later. Only one of the original band members was the same from our first concert. Danny Hutton, one of the “three dogs,” is 83 years old now.

Jim figured it was the seventh time he’s seen the band. He interviewed some of the band years ago and followed them closely. He’s a retired newspaper journalist. I’d say it was perhaps the fourth or fifth time for me.

So, all of this story is well and good. And it just might be a little bit interesting for a few of you readers. The rest of you are thinking, “why am I still reading this? — and what’s the point?” I’m not guaranteeing that it’s going to get any better, but keep reading and find out.

Country music artist Cody Johnson released a song in 2021 titled “‘Til You Can’t.” I hear it on our local KMTI Country station once in a while.

There are some country songs that have good messages that I think we should consider taking to heart. Johnson’s song is one of them (as opposed to the approximately 40% of the big hit country songs in the past five years which feature alcohol in the song — so I’ve read).

The song teaches the concept that you can go fishing with your dad later, until you can’t. You can work on an old car with your grandpa, until you can’t. You can put a ring on the finger of your girlfriend, until you can’t.

Key lyrics: “Don’t wait on tomorrow, ’cause tomorrow may not show; Say your sorries , your I-love-yous, ’cause man you never know…If you’ve got a chance, take it; take it while you’ve got a chance…”

It was in the spirit of that song that I initiated our Three Dog Night double date last Saturday night. It was done as a “Celebration of Life” for Jim in particular, and all of us in general. Long story short, Jim recently got test results. “You are cancer free” was the verdict.

After a long time of worry, debilitating treatments, and recovery, it was time for a celebration. It was decided that celebrating life was better appreciated now, while living, than waiting until “the curtains of life had been closed.” Singing “Jeremiah was a bullfrog…” (“Joy to the World”) beats “Abide with Me ‘Tis Eventide” (though I don’t mind “Abide with Me” at a funeral).

I think you now probably get the message that I’m trying to deliver here. It’s not a new concept. It’s just a reminder.

Why do we put off and wait to do the things that “celebrate life” with each other. Many of us, I believe, need to improve our maintenance of our relationships with family and friends.

Last weekend worked out well for us. I’m not saying that I’m the greatest example, but that episode was positive. There are lots of relationships with people and situations in my life that have lots of room for improvement and “celebration.”

So, I’ll say it again. Celebrate life now! Even though we can celebrate life later — “until we can’t.” — Merrill