He and Bill Cosby were my dad’s favorite comedians. So I grew up listening to him and loving him. When some celebrities die it spurs memories that have been tucked away somewhere. Then the headline kicks it out when you’re not prepared for it.
When I read Carlin (that’s what my dad called him–Carlin) died on Yahoo! I thought about my dad, sitting on his side of the couch, tapping out his pipe, and chuckling hard. He had more of a chuckle than a fully committed laugh, his whole body would shake and Carlin could really get him going.
Unfortunately, so could Gallagher. My brothers and I sat through many a watermelon splattering and bad pun. Not genius by any measure, but funny to my dad, so eventually to us, too.
Carlin was smart and sharp and did a lot of cursing. Though my dad didn’t curse, he seemed to approve of us watching him. So there I was, little, listening to the s-bomb and references I didn’t get–laughing! That must have been worth the lapse in discretion to my dad.
When someone you love dies you say good-bye to them, but then there follows a million other little good-byes. So, though George Carlin was a stranger, I felt tied to him and his passing forced another good-bye to my dad.
I was really really bummed when I heard he passed. He was really a ‘thinking’ comedian. I never cared for his most famous bit about swear words…but there was so much more to his comedy than that…..
This is a sweet post. What a good life you have when people you don’t even know are so touched by your life and passing. The celebrity I teared up for was Katharine Hepburn. I was standing in the Florida heat waiting for a bus home from campus and caught a glimpse of the school paper in someone’s hand. I started crying right there and thought, how can you read that, you punk little girl, and just pass over it to see what the drink specials are tonight?!
My husband is a Carlin lover too. I have a hard time getting to the funny through as I wade through the sea of curse words, but he just CRACKS up.
I’m talking smack about you on my blog today. Check it out. 😉
I felt that way about my dad when Harvey Korman died a couple of months ago. I could just see my dad cracking up at him and Tim Conway. It happens to all of us.
I had a moment like this when John Jr. died years ago. Even though he was a celeb and I didn’t know him, my mom loved the Kennedy’s and she cried and cried when Jackie died. My mom died after her and then when he died It was like I was crying and crying for my mom because I knew she would have if she were still here.
Wether we like it or not, celebs are a part of our lives and their deaths can touch us.
I was sad about George Carlin because I thought he was a smart comedian (like you said) and now a days that is so rare.
I felt a pang too, but the most important thing I got from your post was this line, which is brilliant: “When someone you love dies you say good-bye to them, but then there follows a million other little good-byes.”
I am bracing myself for the day when that becomes truth for me, but I know when that day comes, I can remember posts like these and know that I can move through it. Thank you for your honesty and finding a beautiful way to put your feelings out there.
Gallagher? Child cruelty.
This was a nice.
Thanks everyone for your comments.
Sara, Thanks. Isn’t it funny how we remember these moments?
Krissy, Thanks for the nice words about me on your blog!
Nat, Harvey Korman died? That’s sad. I loved him, especially when he cracked up.
Connie, I remember perfectly when JJ died, that was so sad. It does touch us whether we liked them or not.
Nik, Thanks (sent you an email on more).
Doug, I know, seriously.