Farewell Roy Scheider

Good bye Roy. Thanks for scaring me out of the water when I was a kid. Thanks for letting the whole world know the meaning of "Jazz Hands". Thanks for letting us know what it's like to be the rainmaker. Thanks for making 7-up yours.

Farewell, dear Tenor

Sad news from Italy. The beloved tenor Luciano Pavarotti has passed away. The world of music will never be the same. But thank the gods we had him here in our lifetime.

Just look at the picture to the left. I think those lovely laugh lines say it all. He always seemed a warm and generous soul. And oh that voice!

Thank you Luciano

Rest well...

More...

Croc hunter has ceased to be...

Steve "The Crocodile Hunter" was killed today. Although I never really watched his program, I was always intrigued and fascinated by his seemingly fearless approach to animals. He educated and entertained a whole generation and I truly believe he will be missed.
The story of his death reads as follows:

"He came on top of the stingray and the stingray's barb went up and into his chest and put a hole into his heart," said Stainton, who was on board Irwin's boat at the time.

I am just glad, for his sake, that he went out as he lived, loving and appreciating life.

On what could have been

A short while ago some friends and I were discussing the untimely deaths of some of our great musicians. Imagining what they would be doing now. What wonderful musical gifts we would have now, if only they hadn't died so young.

Think about it. What would John Lennon be composing now? What musical direction would Freddie Mercury have gone? Croce, Marley, Stevie Ray...

I finally broke down today and bought myself Queen's Greatest hits CD (I have it on vinyl and am still holding out hope that one day I will again have a turntable). Anyway, as I was listening, my mind once again wondered about Freddie and his incredible talent and diversity. There have been so many lost to us, taking with them talents that could never be reproduced. Who would you like to see come back for one last set?

Imagine

It is hard to believe it has been 25 years today that John Lennon was assassinated. I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing when the tragic news hit the airwaves. I was watching "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir" with my mother. The local news broke in with one of those "Special Bulletins" and I remember turning to my mom and saying "Someone just killed John Lennon." She looked at me funny and seconds later the anchor man announced that John Lennon had just been shot outside the Dakota. My mother and I have always had a bit of 'The Shining' as it were, so it wasn't a BIG shock to my mother that my vision was accurate. I was so devastated that my mother allowed me to stay home from school the next day. I still cry every time I hear "Imagine". Imagine indeed. Imagine how different the world would have been for the last 25 years if we hadn't lost such a loving soul so suddenly and violently.

November spawned a monster

I've really been missing Cteev today. I have been listening to some of my 80's stuff, and so many of the songs take on a different meaning now that he is gone. I have so many memories wrapped up in music and often I am taken back to certain moments by just hearing one. I sometimes think about how much I wish I could have spent more time with him during his last few years. I know that "woulda coulda shoulda" is futile. But I cannot help how I feel. The first year was really hard. It would nag at me constantly. I still don't know why I didn't go see him when I was in California last time. I mean I know why, but the reasons seem so petty now. If I had known that was the last opportunity I would have to see him alive, those reasons would have not even been an issue.

I don't live in the past, and I know that there is nothing I could have done to make the present any different than it is. I just have "days". These days are getting fewer and farther between, and perhaps one day the regrets will disappear altogether. But for now I just deal with them as they come. But now, as I write this I am sure I can feel him standing over my right shoulder saying, "Oh Debs, don't even worry! I was always totally stoked on you."

It'll pass. It always does.