Rumors are flying that Patrick Swayze has died, finally succumbing to the pancreatic cancer he’s been fighting for about a year and a half. 

So far, it’s not true.  Patrick Swayze is still alive.  Mr. Swayze was admitted to the hospital this weekend with pneumonia, but came home Monday.  That might mean he’s doing better.

But let’s be realistic.  Pneumonia often kills people before their presenting disease can do it.  For example, nobody actually dies of AIDS or Alzheimer’s–they just get so weakened that when pneumonia sets in, they can’t fight it, and they actually die of pneumonia. 

People can and do beat cancer; it happens all the time.  But people can and do die of cancer, too.  It happens all the time.  From everything I’ve ever read and heard, Patrick and Lisa Swayze are top-notch human beings, and the world will be a little dimmer when Patrick leaves it.  I hope that’s later rather than sooner. 

But even top-notch humans die.  I wish it weren’t so, and I’ll miss Patrick when his time comes.  However, whatever the rumors are, I don’t think his time is today.  I’ll update if I hear anything different.