Kicking the bucket.
Going six feet under.
Having the angels ask you to fly.
No matter how metaphoric or flowery you put it, death is not a fun or happy subject nor is there a nice way to say it. I realize this blog is (or at least is so far) about more frivolous and less life-altering subjects, but once in a while, a trip down a darker road is deemed necessary.
Let's face it, there's been quite a bit of death in 2009. Personally, my Grandmom and my dog, Tiger Lily, passed on.
Grandmom's death was somewhat expected and "a relief" (as my dad put it) as her health was failing. She also wasn't her usual feisty, spunky self; which was quite strange and sad as she was always busy running around and quick with a sassy comment. Grandmom was also the relative who always told me I was so creative and should really doing something with those talents. Well, it took a few years but I finally listened...thanks Grandmom.
Tiger Lily's passing was completely unexpected which makes it a little sadder on some level. She was also my first pet as an adult, so she'll always hold a special place in my heart. Lily was a good dog that sometimes did bad things (such as eating couch cushions) but overall had a good and happy life. Her mom and her brother Caye also miss her very much.
However, death has affected almost everyone on some level this year as a number of high-profile "rich and famous" people have passed. Not that celebrities overshadow our families, friends or pets passing because that is certainly not the case. But in this years "class of 2009", at least one of them has had some impact on each of us (whether it be directly or indirectly).
Ed McMahon: Carson's sidekick - thus making him the most well-known sidekick in history. The former host of Star Search - arguably the precursor to American Idol (and all the other reality talent competitions). I don't know if I can forgive him for that.
Farrach Fawcett: I remember playing Charlie's Angels as a kid but since I was a brunette I always ended up as Kate Jackson. Honestly, that's probably why I wasn't huge fan of hers in the day. However, the way she publicly and courageously dealt with her battle with cancer speaks volumes. For that alone, she should be admired.
Michael Jackson: Personal life aside, MJ truly was "The King of Pop" and one of the few all-around entertainers of the 80s. Sure he was certifiably bizarre and whiter than I was, but we can only speculate on the "inner" demons. He will be forever recognized (and rightfully so) for his contributions to the music and entertainment industry.
Billy Mays: Maybe a pseudo-celebrity, but the world would be a much dirtier place without Oxy Clean and Orange Glo.
Walter Cronkite: As a broadcast minor, we watched early footage of Mr. Cronkite. Amazing. The man could almost transport you to the live action to the point where you felt like you were experiencing it yourself. How could he do it? "That's the way it is". There is no other way to sum it up.
John Hughes: Perhaps of all the celebrities, this one hits the hardest as his movies were a fabric of our lives in the 80s. We may have forgotten (until recently anyway) that he was involved in Uncle Buck and Home Alone (and thus largely responsible for Macaulay Caulkin's career)...but movies like Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Sixteen Candles and my personal favorite, The Breakfast Club remain true classics. Each one of us could relate to at least one of the characters in The Breakfast Club, and the film helped us to realize that no one social sect in high school had it easy. Hughes effectively tackled the highs and lows of growing up in a humorous way, yet made you think at the same time. I doubt anyone in the near future will come close to capturing the essence of adolescence quite the way Hughes did.
Lily is missed by friends who only knew her for a short time as well. I won't forget taking her for a walk while you took Caye and how Lily always had to be walking in front otherwise she'd get aggitated. That and her inability to stop eating grass before she would have to throw up.
ReplyDeleteJohn Hughes doesn't/hasn't gotten enough credit for how he changed culture and especially movies. Perhaps it is because his movies were aimed at a younger audience. Before John Hughes it was pretty rare to see a movie the focused on the outcasts. He shined a light on and told the story of many people who were not the best at sports or not the most popular. He told their stories and told them well. Without John Hughes you wouldn't have had TV shows like Freaks and Geeks, there would be no Jay and Silent Bob. Shermer, IL lost its mayor, and the world is worse off because of it.