Being Frank, Regrets I’ve Had a Few

Now, the end is near; And so I face the final curtain.
My friend, I’ll say it clear, I’ll state my case, of which I’m certain.
I’ve lived a life that’s full. I’ve traveled each and every highway;
And more, much more than this, I did it my way.

I’ve always regretted an incident that happened on my very first trip to Thailand. I was staying in Pattaya and I’d been seeing a bar girl for about two weeks. Early one evening she was working at her bar and I was nearby in my hotel sleeping off an afternoons drinking session.

I was woken by a gentle tapping on my hotel room door. On answering, I was met by the sight of six badly clothed Thai adults and four equally distastefully attired children. Having not long returned from a holiday in Bulgaria where I had seen a fair few gypsies my mind somehow associated the Thai entourage with the Bulgarian travelling people. 

Regrets, I’ve had a few; But then again, too few to mention.
I did what I had to do. And saw it through without exemption.
I planned each charted course; Each careful step along the byway,
But more, much more than this, I did it my way.

I was greeted with some rapid fire Thai to which I returned “No thank you I don’t want to buy anything.” Another rapid fire burst came from the elder adult and I replied back louder and in a more terse tone  ” Just bloody well bugger off or I’ll call the hotel manager,” and slammed the door shut rather loudly.

I made a mental note for the next morning to buy a gallon of milk and a big bucket, because it must of taken a hell of a lot of cats to drag that lot up three flights of stairs. I went back to my bed and nodded off again feeling pretty pleased that I’d seen off the Thai version of the wooden clothes peg sellers.

Yes, there were times, I’m sure you knew. When I bit off more than I could chew.
But through it all, when there was doubt, I ate it up and spit it out.
I faced it all and I stood tall; And did it my way.

A much louder banging noise replaced the slight tapping one to wake me again a little while later. I hurried to my hotel room door, wrenched it open and was about too bellow at the top of my voice “Why don’t you lot bugger off and leave me alone,” when I noticed a very familiar bar girl stood there on her own. The following conversation took place.

Me: Hello there darling, I was coming to see you soon.

Cute bar girl: Why you angry too much.

Me: I’m not angry, I’m happy to see you.

Cute bar girl: My family knock your door and they say you look angry too much.

I’ve loved, I’ve laughed and cried. I’ve had my fill; my share of losing.
And now, as tears subside, I find it all so amusing.
To think I did all that; And may I say – not in a shy way,
No, oh no not me, I did it my way.

Showered and dressed I headed down in the hotel lift to the bar and restaurant area. I was met with the sight of 12 very quiet Thai people and one confused cute bar girl sat patiently waiting for me. When you’ve dug yourself a hole this deep or in this case a well, only a few thousand baht and a good meal can sort it. A few thousand baht later and everything was fine.

I’ve always regretted that incident. Over the following two years the cute bar girl turned out to be one heck of a lady and her family not quite John Boy and the Walton’s, but nonetheless really nice people. Regrets I’ve had a few. I’ll leave it at that and hand you back over to Frank.

For what is a man, what has he got? If not himself, then he has naught.
To say the things he truly feels; And not the words of one who kneels.
The record shows I took the blows. And did it my way!

Sorry about the grey text between the marvellous words. My apologies to Paul Anka and Frank Sinatra but I just had to do it my way, I couldn’t help it.

Credits

My Way lyrics  written by Paul Anka

Photograph     Frank Sinatra & Gene Kelly   by © sugarbarre

Photograph      Frank Sinatra     by © hiker083