Wow, what a day in celebrity world - the loss of both Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett. They were so much a part of my childhood.
It's hard to be 'touched' by celebrities when we live in small town America. But you've got to admit you followed them too.
Like him or not, Michael Jackson changed the things we listened to and saw on tv. I remember when MTV was 'born' and the same cheesy videos played over and over again. Then along came Thriller. There is NO way you can't get up and groove to that! One of my favorite movie scenes is Jennifer Garner getting a stale party going when she breaks out the Thriller dance in '13 Going on 30.'
I know he got weird and I'm not one to think or talk about him but his music was the best of the best and he made his mark on the world in so many ways.
Much sadder for me is the death of Farrah. I loved watching Charlie's Angels and yes I knew who Farrah was. Since I was not some lovesick boy, I didn't have any of her posters or really followed much of her career, until the end.
Her very public telling of her fight with cancer was so raw. It's hard for me to even write this because tears are flowing so hard. Seeing actual video diaries of her getting treatment, losing her hair, extreme weakness, pallid face, hollow eyes - and then her coma-like state and lack of recognition, confusion, and extreme lovingness at the end .... it's just too much.
My grandmother went through all the stages of this except the battles with treatment. Pancreatic cancer took her life just 2 months after being diagnosed. My most painful memory of that time is her unknowingly accusing me of trying to poison her by making me take her meds. Tears were streaming down her face because she thought her granddaughter was trying to kill her. Even though I recognized that as a sign that she is progressing towards death, it floored me nonetheless. My favorite memory of those times is near the end, all she wanted to do was tell people she loved them and how much she cared for us. She even hugged and kissed at the cat (best the cat ever got before was food, water, and an occasional rub). Hearing/watching Farrah go through those same stages really brought back those memories.
It's hard to be 'touched' by celebrities when we live in small town America. But you've got to admit you followed them too.
Like him or not, Michael Jackson changed the things we listened to and saw on tv. I remember when MTV was 'born' and the same cheesy videos played over and over again. Then along came Thriller. There is NO way you can't get up and groove to that! One of my favorite movie scenes is Jennifer Garner getting a stale party going when she breaks out the Thriller dance in '13 Going on 30.'
I know he got weird and I'm not one to think or talk about him but his music was the best of the best and he made his mark on the world in so many ways.
Much sadder for me is the death of Farrah. I loved watching Charlie's Angels and yes I knew who Farrah was. Since I was not some lovesick boy, I didn't have any of her posters or really followed much of her career, until the end.
Her very public telling of her fight with cancer was so raw. It's hard for me to even write this because tears are flowing so hard. Seeing actual video diaries of her getting treatment, losing her hair, extreme weakness, pallid face, hollow eyes - and then her coma-like state and lack of recognition, confusion, and extreme lovingness at the end .... it's just too much.
My grandmother went through all the stages of this except the battles with treatment. Pancreatic cancer took her life just 2 months after being diagnosed. My most painful memory of that time is her unknowingly accusing me of trying to poison her by making me take her meds. Tears were streaming down her face because she thought her granddaughter was trying to kill her. Even though I recognized that as a sign that she is progressing towards death, it floored me nonetheless. My favorite memory of those times is near the end, all she wanted to do was tell people she loved them and how much she cared for us. She even hugged and kissed at the cat (best the cat ever got before was food, water, and an occasional rub). Hearing/watching Farrah go through those same stages really brought back those memories.
On the other side of the coin, Farrah's pain, grief, hair loss, emptiness shown for us all to see was what my mother lived through. Since before she was diagnosed with Colon cancer, she was in pain. Treatment seemed to put her in more pain. Watching a loved one in this much pain should NEVER HAPPEN! I see pictures from that Christmas before she died and I see the pain she was in. She tried to make the best of it for her granddaughter and us. But it was just too much. The week she died, she had a premonition that it was going to be soon. She told each of all week that it wouldn't be long. That phone call during Sunday morning worship service on February 11, 2001 will haunt me for the rest of my life. She was 51 years old - just 12 years older than I am now. Elizabeth is 14.
12
14
Those are numbers that keep going through my head. My sister and I regularly get colonoscopies. We promised mom and dad. As much as they are unpleasant to prepare for, I will ALWAYS get tested.
Right now, if I can make a difference in anyone's life, I urge you to get a colonoscopy at least by age 40. I know the recommended starting age is 50 but my mother was diagnosed when she was 50. She had never had the test. She was in pain for several months and put off going to the doctor for reasons to talk about later. All the medical facts indicate that by the time you 'feel' any symptoms of colon cancer, it's too late. She was immediately diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer.
GET TESTED!!!!!!!!
This cancer is almost 100% curable if caught early.
So today's celebriality brings me to my reality.
Tonight, I cry myself to sleep ... remembering.
A well-written tribute to the celebrities gone and the more important loved ones who have passed. Thank you for your tender post & for giving us the opportunity to "remember" with you. So sorry for your loss.
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