There are going to be more than a few posts and news stories about the death of Robin Williams. I am sure many of them will focus upon trying to help those who are battling depression but this isn’t going to be one of them.
It is not because it isn’t important because it is. We have a social obligation to help others but we also should remember that he was a husband, a father, brother and son.
There are people who loved him who have a giant hole in their heart’s now and I want to let them know he meant something to me. It might sound obnoxious and or pretentious to suggest they’ll read this because I didn’t know Robin Williams, never met him in real life.
I only knew him from television, movies and tape cassettes. Mork was the character that the boy I used to be loved to watch, but the one that made the biggest impact was John Keating in Dead Poets Society.
It came out during my junior year of college and it is what made me pay attention to poetry. More than a few years later I still find inspiration in the quote below. I am still working on my verse.
John Keating: We don’t read and write poetry because it’s cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for. To quote from Whitman, “O me! O life!… of the questions of these recurring; of the endless trains of the faithless… of cities filled with the foolish; what good amid these, O me, O life?” Answer. That you are here – that life exists, and identity; that the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. That the powerful play *goes on* and you may contribute a verse. What will your verse be?
Goodbye Robin Williams, you touched more than a few lives. There are so many good quotes and clips that could be shared, thank you.
Whit
Such a terrible loss.
Joshua
Horrific and so very tragic.
Jayme Soulati
There is too much pain in this world and life becomes arduous. When people like you and me see a celebrity we love and respect who is larger than life take his that’s when I cry with sadness for his loss. That’s when I did cry when I heard the news because his pain became mine. And, when my friend asked ‘why are you crying?” I couldn’t answer because the answer was larger.
Celebrity or not, we are people together. RIP, Robin Williams.
Joshua
I hear you. There are no words.
Jens P. Berget
Hi Josh,
I had no idea. This makes me sad. I didn’t know the man, but he always made me laugh. I always thought he was the happiest man alive.
Joshua
Hi Jens,
Yeah, he seemed very happy but I guess he wasn’t. Very sad, such a tragic thing.
Gina
Amen.
(This is all I wanted to leave, but I am strongly encouraged to write more. Hope you are doing well. Sad. Sad. Wonder if I’ve said enough now?)
Joshua
Very sad. Crazy busy here kids go back to school tomorrow. Hope your move is going well.