John Hattaway

As I’ve state before, I have this mental list of people that when I hear a news story about them I have to ask myself, “What, he (or she) is not dead?” I can give a quick list of a few people – though I won’t – that fall into that list. However, this week, this time, it’s not really about people who I think should’ve already died, but more the people who passed on in the public eye.

The other day I pointed out that I think the world is a better place without Michael Jackson in it. I also know people who will (and probably do, given a reading of my blog) disagree with me about that. To me, I am not concerned with the musical talent or entertainment talent Mr. Jackson possessed; but rather, I am concerned about the safety risk he was and is to young boys. Just because his money and influence have kept out of jail and away from a conviction does not mean he is innocent. Sadly, I think the victims who were silenced should begin to speak out now because of him.

Farrah Fawcett also died this week. I have no opinion in any direction as to her demise. Given that she was suffering from a rather embarrasing form of cancer (who wants anal cancer? I mean, come on, if you’re going to have cancer might as well pick one of the cool ones . . . not that any form of cancer is actually cool). The reality of having cancer is, more often than not – and regardless of the advances in medicine – that the person is going to die. Heck, the reality of life is that we are all going to die, for some death comes earlier than for others.

This morning the world was informed of Billy Mays‘s death. He is the pitch man for Oxy Clean and other products. Like many people, I can’t really imagine turning on the television and not seeing his face, sooner or later, on a commercial while I am actually enjoying a television show. Sure, I am as wont as not to change the channel, quickly, when he opens his mouth and begins talking, but still, his is a name and a face I recognize. I am pretty certain that Michael Jackson and Billy Mays, both of whom were about the same age, didn’t start last week thinking that by the end of the week they would (individually) be dead. Neither do I believe that anyone thought that a rash of celebrity deaths would hit the news stands this week.

The truth of the matter is that even though I have this list in my head of people I think should be dead and aren’t, I guess as a member of the human race I also have the capacity to be surprised by the passing on of someone who should still be alive and for whatever reason isn’t anymore. I am probably just as shocked as everyone else at the people who died this week. I think one difference, at least for me, is that I am not looking at this as some cosmic scheme or reason to reconsider what I am doing in my life.

Instead, I move forward with the expectation that the majority of people in the world will remain alive, that those who died are quickly replaced by those who are born, and that when a death occurs that directly affects me I will properly and appropriately mourn the life of someone I cared about and who I will not be able to interact with again.

Real Heroes Fly