”NEVER PUT OFF FOR TOMORROW…………”

Do you know the rest of this parable? It is one of the truest things we’ll ever hear. The complete line is:

“Never put off for tomorrow what you can do today.”

Most take that to mean if you have something to do, you have the choice of doing it now or procrastinate and put off until tomorrow. After the last few days I see it completely differently. Here is a story that starts 5 & 1/2 years ago, so please bear with me and you’ll see the point in a little bit.

In 1996 a handsome, smallish blonde man came in the back of the Charlotte Coliseum and asked me if he could referee a match that night. He respectfully addressed me and was disappointed, but cheerful when I told him we had enough refs and wouldn’t need him that night. He asked if he could stay and watch the show and I said, “yes”.

This kind of thing happened a lot in the glory years of Nitro, so I really didn’t think too much of it. This young man came back to more shows in Charlotte and then began to show up in almost every town. I was in charge of referees and had the bulk of the television writing duties at the time. I HAD to concentrate on the writing, but was astonished at this man’s tenacity.

There was so much chaos every Monday night, super stars refusing to follow directions, screwing up more than the one segment they chose not to do. Somehow we got the show done. The stress was intense. We didn’t have the option of putting the show off for tomorrow because it was live, no editing – we were under the gun and had to produce.

The one glaring truth about being in management, we know when the upper brass does decide to make a change they don’t fire the team, they fire the managers. Try working under those conditions for 5 years!

After six months of trying, I finally gave this immaculate young man an opportunity. I was blown away by his skill and professionalism. Everyone starts out being on their best behavior, but as time goes on, most learn the system and take shortcuts and become less motivated. (That’s a kind way of saying LAZY and COMPLACENT) This young man, Charles was always available and willing to help. Most people have no idea how complicated a live television broadcast can be. There are thousands of things that can go wrong. Vince McMahon has a saying, “Nothing bad happens on live TV”, I’m not sure I believe that. I’ve seen my professional life pass before my eyes as EVERYTHING THAT COULD GO WRONG – DID! Murphy’s law has nothing on me!

After saying all this, I hired this co-operative young man and gave him a full time referee position. Actually, he earned his job, I didn’t give him anything. As I got to know him he got married and was happy all the time. His wife came to a lot of the shows and was as sweet as she could be. Now, I could see why Charles was so happy all the time. It’s true, behind every great man is a woman. Women see past our shortcomings and in spite of them - domesticate men. Amy was very good for Charles.

One could see the love and respect they had for each other in all the subtle ways people in love show each other. They lived their lives like today was the only day and didn’t miss out on anything. I thought how wonderful they were together. I assumed neither had any trials or tragedy in their lives so it must be easy for them to be happy. How wrong I was.

Charles first marriage ended in disaster devastating him when his daughter went with her mother. His parents had divorced long ago, so he had no real family. Amy changed all that, but could one have ever guessed Amy was a cancer survivor? It became clearer why they squeezed every ounce out of life, they understood life and true love is a gift not to be taken for granted.

I am honored and privileged to have had the opportunity to know and love Charles and Amy Robinson. From his humble beginnings born out of desire and the tenacity to become a referee with WCW, Charles forged his own destiny. He didn’t put off anything for tomorrow. He and Amy were a team. He continued to love and cherish his precious Amy on Saturday at 8:45 pm as the cancer took her life. He never put off for tomorrow showing her how important she was to him.

Amy knew the cancer could come back at any time from it’s onset 13 years ago and come back it did. She fought it again and won 3 months ago. Suffering through the chemotherapy to battle throat and esophageal cancer. As a precaution, Amy went to get an X ray to make sure the cancer truly was all gone. The X ray proved the throat and esophageal cancer had been cured, but the X ray also discovered rampant, inoperable tumor growth in her stomach. Amy knew she had 2 weeks to 2 months to live.

She had every reason to cry out and ask, “Why me?”, but she never did. She fought with a quiet dignity never cursing her impending death, but rather she was thankful for the time she had. I visited Charles and Amy one month ago when I heard the news. She was still trying to be pleasant, but the pain was etched on her face. She never complained of the pain, she was embarrassed when the tumor made her throw up and she threw up often. I went about my life and got the call from Charles telling me she was slipping badly. I went Saturday and the difference in her appearance was heartbreaking. She had lost 30 pounds in 3 weeks and while the morphine kept her pain at bay, it also made her drowsy. Even then she would muster a faint smile, she didn’t put it off until tomorrow.

My family and I returned tonight from Amy’s funeral. We mourned her death, but we also celebrated her life. She knew her time was limited and lived like – like there was no tomorrow. She didn’t put things off for tomorrow. She lived today, because she knew that’s all any of us have. She knew better than anyone, “Never put off for tomorrow what you can do today” because tomorrow may be too late.

That applies to all of us. I love Charles and Amy Robinson and if you knew them – you would have loved them, too.

Charles is now a referee for the WWF and they have allowed him this time to be by his wife’s side. Our thoughts and prayers are with Charles as he moves on in his life and move on he will. Amy wouldn’t want it any other way.  

Take care until next week,
Terry Taylor